Plating & metallizing · finish comparison
Brass Plating vs Gold Plating
Brass Plating and Gold Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better.
Brass Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$
Brass plating co-deposits copper and zinc to give steel, zinc die castings, or copper alloys a yellow decorative surface.
Gold Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$ · instant quote
Gold plating supplies tarnish-free, low-resistance contact surfaces and decorative color.
When to choose which
Choose Brass plate
Brass plate is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Gold plate's.
- Real metallic brass appearance
- Typical 2–10 µm decorative deposit
- Color can be tuned by copper-zinc ratio
Choose Gold plate
Choose Gold plate when tarnish-free electrical performance is required.
- Does not form insulating oxide in service
- 0.5–5 µm covers decorative through durable contact classes
- Very low contact resistance
What the numbers say
- Gold plate resists corrosion better.
- Brass plate is the harder surface (100–250 HV vs 60–200 HV).
- Brass plate is the lower-cost option ($$$).
- Gold plate is the thinner coating (0.5–5 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Brass plate | Gold plate |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 35 Fair | 68 Good |
| Surface hardness / wear | 44 Fair | 39 Fair |
| Cosmetic quality | 88 Excellent | 92 Excellent |
| Lubricity | 25 Low | 40 Fair |
| Cost | 48 $$$ | 96 $$$$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Brass plate | Gold plate |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 2–10 µm | 0.5–5 µm |
| Surface hardness | 100–250 HV | 60–200 HV |
| Electrical | Conductive | Conductive |
| Colours | yellow brass, red brass, antique brass | gold |
| Relative cost | Premium ($$$) | High ($$$$) |
| Added lead time | 5–10 working days | 4–8 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | On request | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Brass plate | Gold plate |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Nickel Alloy | — | Yes |
| Steel | Yes | With care |
| Aluminum | With care | With care |
| DMLS / SLM | With care | With care |
| Stainless Steel | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | Limited | Limited |
| Polymer | Limited | Limited |
| SLA | Limited | Limited |
| Titanium | Limited | Limited |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Brass plate
No governing public specification — called out by name and thickness.
BRASS PLATE, 5 µm MIN OVER 10 µm MIN BRIGHT NICKEL; SATIN YELLOW-BRASS COLOR TO APPROVED SAMPLE; CLEAR LACQUER TOPCOAT
Gold plate
- ASTM B488 — Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Gold for Engineering Uses
GOLD PLATE PER ASTM B488, TYPE II, GRADE C, CLASS 1.25, 1.25 µm MIN OVER 2.5 µm MIN NICKEL UNDERPLATE ON CONTACT AREA ONLY
Brass plate vs Gold plate — frequently asked
What is the difference between Brass plate and Gold plate?
Brass Plating and Gold Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better. Brass plate is the harder surface (100–250 HV vs 60–200 HV). Brass plate is the lower-cost option ($$$).
When should I use Brass plate instead of Gold plate?
Conversely: choose Gold plate when tarnish-free electrical performance is required.
Is Brass plate or Gold plate cheaper?
Brass plate is the lower-cost finish ($$$ against $$$$ for Gold plate) among the finishes FabDigit quotes. Both are priced per part with a lot minimum; the exact figure appears on the instant quote once the part is uploaded.