Plating & metallizing · finish comparison
Gold Plating vs Tin Plating
Gold Plating and Tin Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better.
Gold Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$$$ · instant quote
Gold plating supplies tarnish-free, low-resistance contact surfaces and decorative color.
Tin Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$ · instant quote
Tin plating is a soft, solderable electrodeposit for copper-alloy and steel electrical parts.
When to choose which
Choose Gold plate
Gold plate is the pick when its strengths below matter more than Tin plate's.
- Does not form insulating oxide in service
- 0.5–5 µm covers decorative through durable contact classes
- Very low contact resistance
Choose Tin plate
Choose Tin plate when a low-cost solderable termination is sufficient.
- Good solderability at 3–15 µm typical thickness
- Low contact resistance for separable low-force contacts
- RoHS-compatible pure tin options
What the numbers say
- Gold plate resists corrosion better.
- Gold plate is the harder surface (60–200 HV vs 5–20 HV).
- Tin plate is the lower-cost option ($$).
- Gold plate is the thinner coating (0.5–5 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Gold plate | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 68 Good | 34 Low |
| Surface hardness / wear | 39 Fair | 0 Minimal |
| Cosmetic quality | 92 Excellent | 45 Fair |
| Lubricity | 40 Fair | 38 Fair |
| Cost | 96 $$$$ | 20 $$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Gold plate | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 0.5–5 µm | 3–15 µm |
| Surface hardness | 60–200 HV | 5–20 HV |
| Salt-spray test duration | — | 24–48 h |
| Max service temperature | — | 150 °C |
| Electrical | Conductive | Conductive |
| Colours | gold | silver |
| Relative cost | High ($$$$) | Standard ($$) |
| Added lead time | 4–8 working days | 3–6 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 | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Nickel Alloy | Yes | — |
| Aluminum | With care | Limited |
| DMLS / SLM | With care | Limited |
| Stainless Steel | With care | Limited |
| Steel | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | With care | With care |
| Magnesium Alloy | Limited | No |
| Polymer | Limited | No |
| SLA | Limited | No |
| Titanium | Limited | No |
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
Tin plate
- ASTM B545 — Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Tin
MATTE TIN PLATE PER ASTM B545, SERVICE CLASS C, 8 µm MIN OVER 2.5 µm MIN NICKEL UNDERPLATE; PURE TIN, NO BRIGHTENERS
Gold plate vs Tin plate — frequently asked
What is the difference between Gold plate and Tin plate?
Gold Plating and Tin Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; gold plate resists corrosion better. Gold plate is the harder surface (60–200 HV vs 5–20 HV). Tin plate is the lower-cost option ($$).
When should I use Gold plate instead of Tin plate?
Conversely: choose Tin plate when a low-cost solderable termination is sufficient.
Is Gold plate or Tin plate cheaper?
Tin plate is the lower-cost finish ($$ 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.