Plating & metallizing · finish comparison
Solder Alloy Plating vs Tin Plating
Solder Alloy Plating and Tin Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; solder plate resists corrosion better.
Solder Alloy Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$
Solder plating deposits tin-lead or lead-free tin-alloy material on terminals, busbars, lids, and machined electronic parts to provide a controlled solderable surface.
Tin Plating
Electroplating & electroless plating · $$ · instant quote
Tin plating is a soft, solderable electrodeposit for copper-alloy and steel electrical parts.
When to choose which
Choose Solder plate
Choose Solder plate when a predeposited solder alloy is required.
- Supplies a ready-solderable 5–25 µm surface
- Alloy can match the assembly solder process
- Reflow can verify wetting and homogenize deposit
Choose Tin plate
Choose Tin plate when pure matte tin satisfies solderability and whisker controls.
- 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
- Solder plate resists corrosion better.
- Solder plate is the harder surface (10–30 HV vs 5–20 HV).
- Tin plate is the lower-cost option ($$).
- Tin plate is the thinner coating (3–15 µm), so it disturbs tight fits less.
Scores side by side
Each score is 0–100 against every finish in this catalog. Corrosion is derived from salt-spray test duration and surface hardness from the finish layer's Vickers hardness where a measured figure exists; a finish that leaves the base metal's own surface is not rated for hardness. Cosmetic, lubricity and cost are FabDigit's engineering assessment. Scores and typical figures are screening data, not matched side-by-side tests or service-life rankings; ASTM B117 is a controlled salt-fog method, not a field-life prediction.
| Score | Solder plate | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | 42 Fair | 34 Low |
| Surface hardness / wear | 9 Minimal | 0 Minimal |
| Cosmetic quality | 35 Fair | 45 Fair |
| Lubricity | 35 Fair | 38 Fair |
| Cost | 30 $$ | 20 $$ |
Key numbers
| Property | Solder plate | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness | 5–25 µm | 3–15 µm |
| Surface hardness | 10–30 HV | 5–20 HV |
| Salt-spray test duration | — | 24–48 h |
| Max service temperature | — | 150 °C |
| Electrical | Conductive | Conductive |
| Colours | silver gray | silver |
| Relative cost | Standard ($$) | Standard ($$) |
| Added lead time | 4–8 working days | 3–6 working days |
| RoHS | Restricted | Compliant |
| Instant quote | On request | Yes |
Bold marks the side that is ahead on a row where more (or less, for cost and lead time) is better. Ranges are the typical specification window; the drawing call-out fixes the class.
Which materials take each finish
| Material family | Solder plate | Tin plate |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Yes | Yes |
| Copper Alloy | Yes | Yes |
| Steel | With care | With care |
| Zinc Alloy | Limited | With care |
| Aluminum | Limited | Limited |
| DMLS / SLM | Limited | Limited |
| Stainless Steel | Limited | Limited |
Specifications and drawing call-outs
Solder plate
No governing public specification — called out by name and thickness.
LEAD-FREE Sn-0.7Cu SOLDER PLATE, 10–15 µm, OVER 2.5 µm MIN NICKEL UNDERPLATE; REFLOW AND VERIFY SOLDERABILITY PER CUSTOMER SPECIFICATION; RoHS COMPLIANT
Tin plate
- ASTM B545 — Standard Specification for Electrodeposited Coatings of Tin
MATTE TIN PLATE PER ASTM B545, SERVICE CLASS C, 8 µm MIN OVER 2.5 µm MIN NICKEL UNDERPLATE; PURE TIN, NO BRIGHTENERS
Solder plate vs Tin plate — frequently asked
What is the difference between Solder plate and Tin plate?
Solder Alloy Plating and Tin Plating are both electroplating & electroless plating finishes; solder plate resists corrosion better. Solder plate is the harder surface (10–30 HV vs 5–20 HV). Tin plate is the lower-cost option ($$).
When should I use Solder plate instead of Tin plate?
Choose Solder plate when a predeposited solder alloy is required. Conversely: choose Tin plate when pure matte tin satisfies solderability and whisker controls.
Is Solder plate or Tin plate cheaper?
Tin plate is the lower-cost finish ($$ against $$ for Solder 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.