Electronics Manufacturing worked example
PCB Panel Utilization at 90% target panel utilization: a worked example
What does the result look like when target panel utilization reaches 90%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. a PCB fabricator or estimator is comparing panel layouts for cost and material yield
The inputs for this scenario
- Board image area used: 128 sq in (unchanged)
- Usable fabrication panel area: 180 sq in (unchanged)
- Target panel utilization: 90 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 78)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (PCB panel utilization = board image area used ÷ usable fabrication panel area) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 71.11 % utilized for pcb panel utilization, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 18.89 points for panel utilization gap.
- At this operating point the engine returns 128 sq in for board image area used.
- At this operating point the engine returns 180 sq in for usable panel area.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where target panel utilization sits at 78% and the headline result is 71.11 % utilized, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 71.11 % utilized.
- A figure at this level is achievable when target panel utilization is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It is an area-only metric — it ignores routing-channel width, minimum rail clearances, and array spacing rules that may make a theoretical utilization unachievable.
Results at a glance
- PCB panel utilization: 71.11 % utilized (headline result)
- Panel utilization gap: 18.89 points
- Board image area used: 128 sq in
- Usable panel area: 180 sq in
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live PCB Panel Utilization calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.