Plating & metallizing · finish comparison
Gold Plating vs Silver Plating
Gold Plating and Silver Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better.
Gold Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$ · instant quote
Gold plating supplies tarnish-free, low-resistance contact surfaces and decorative color.
Silver Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$ · instant quote
Silver plating provides the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of common plated metals.
When to choose which
Choose Gold plate
Choose Gold plate when tarnish-free low-level signal reliability is required.
- Does not form insulating oxide in service
- 0.5–5 µm covers decorative through durable contact classes
- Very low contact resistance
Choose Silver plate
Choose Silver plate when high-current conductivity outweighs tarnish resistance.
- Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity
- Typical 5–20 µm engineering thickness
- Good solderability and high-current contact performance
What the numbers say
- Gold plate resists corrosion better.
- Silver plate is the lower-cost option ($$$$).
- Gold plate is the thinner coating (0.5–5 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Gold plate | Silver plate |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 68 Good | 55 Good |
| Surface hardness / wear | 39 Fair | 39 Fair |
| Cosmetic quality | 92 Excellent | 72 Very good |
| Lubricity | 40 Fair | 42 Fair |
| Cost | 96 $$$$ | 82 $$$$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Gold plate | Silver plate |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.5–5 µm | 5–20 µm |
| Surface hardness | 60–200 HV | 60–200 HV |
| Electrical | Conductive | Conductive |
| Colours | gold | silver |
| Relative cost | High ($$$$) | High ($$$$) |
| Added lead time | 4–8 working days | 4–8 working days |
| RoHS | Compliant | Compliant |
| Instant quote | Yes | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Gold plate | Silver plate |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Nickel Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Aluminum | With care | With care |
| DMLS / SLM | With care | With care |
| Stainless Steel | With care | With care |
| Steel | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | Limited | Limited |
| Polymer | Limited | Limited |
| SLA | Limited | Limited |
| Titanium | Limited | Limited |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Gold plate
- ASTM B488 — Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Gold for Engineering Uses
GOLD PLATE PER ASTM B488, TYPE II, GRADE C, CLASS 1.25, 1.25 µm MIN OVER 2.5 µm MIN NICKEL UNDERPLATE ON CONTACT AREA ONLY
Silver plate
- ASTM B700 — Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Silver for Engineering Use
SILVER PLATE PER ASTM B700, TYPE I, GRADE A, 0.0005 IN MIN ON CONTACT SURFACES; NICKEL UNDERPLATE 0.0002 IN MIN; NO ANTITARNISH
Gold plate vs Silver plate — frequently asked
What is the difference between Gold plate and Silver plate?
Gold Plating and Silver Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better. Silver plate is the lower-cost option ($$$$). Gold plate is the thinner coating (0.5–5 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
When should I use Gold plate instead of Silver plate?
Choose Gold plate when tarnish-free low-level signal reliability is required. Conversely: choose Silver plate when high-current conductivity outweighs tarnish resistance.
Is Gold plate or Silver plate cheaper?
Silver plate is the lower-cost finish ($$$$ against $$$$ 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.