Plating, Anodizing & Surface Treatment calculator

Plating Thickness Estimate Calculator

Estimate the mean thickness of a single-metal deposit using applied charge and metal properties. Check the result against representative thickness measurements before adjusting a qualified process.

What this calculator does

  • Estimate mean single-metal deposit thickness from constant current, time, efficiency and measured surface area.

Formula used

  • Applied charge = current × minutes × 60
  • Deposited mass = charge × efficiency ÷ 100 × equivalent weight ÷ Faraday constant
  • Mean thickness (µm) = deposited mass (g) × 100 ÷ area (dm²) ÷ density (g/cm³)

Inputs explained

  • Applied Current: Constant plating current during the entered immersion period.
  • Plated Surface Area: Total wetted area receiving this metal deposit.
  • Plating Time: Time with the entered constant current applied.
  • Current Efficiency: Measured metal yield as a percentage of theoretical Faraday mass.
  • Metal Equivalent Weight: Metal molar mass divided by electrons transferred per deposited atom.
  • Deposit Density: Density of the deposited metal from the supplier.

How to use the result

  • Best suited to constant current plating plans, coupon thickness comparisons.
  • Excludes alloys, electroless deposits and anodic oxide growth. Mean thickness does not establish local minimum thickness.

Current U.S. benchmarks

  • The producer price index for industrial chemicals stands at 336.006 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 13.3% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
  • The U.S. has 14,543 chemical manufacturing establishments employing about 911,245 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

  • Where does equivalent weight come from? Divide the metal molar mass by the number of electrons transferred per deposited atom. Confirm the reaction with the bath supplier.
  • Can I use pulsed current? Use this model for constant current. Variable waveforms require integrated charge and a representative efficiency; a peak current alone is insufficient.
  • Does this predict the thinnest location? No. It estimates mean deposited thickness over the entered area. Measure the locations required by the drawing or inspection plan.
  • What does current efficiency mean? It is actual deposited metal mass divided by theoretical Faraday mass, expressed as a percentage. Use a measured value for matching operating conditions.

Last reviewed 2026-10-06.