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Trace Resistance Calculator

This calculator calculate the resistance of a copper trace based on width, length, thickness and temperature. The resistance of a trace is important to estimate the power dissipate in a trace or to estimate roughly the voltage drop from a voltage supply based on the current flowing through the trace. The resistance in real life will vary a bit since conductor are not exactly rectangular. The trace on a printed circuit boards is more of a trapezoidal shape.

Width :


Length :


Thickness :


Temperature :



Resistance: Ohms


The equation for resistance of a rectangular copper trace is :

Resistance (\Omega) = \rho * \cfrac{L}{T*W}*(1+Tc*(Temp-25))

where :
\rho = Resistivity
L = Length
W = Trace width
T = Trace thickness (or height)
Tc = Temperature Coefficient
Temp = Temperature

This calculator used the following resistivity and temperature coefficient for copper :

Resistivity of copper :  1.7*10^{-6}\ \Omega \ cm

Temperature Coefficient of copper : 3.9*10^{-3}\ \Omega / \Omega / \textdegree C