Minimum Order
Minimum order quantities vary by service type, with flexible options from 5 wafers for prototyping to 25 wafers for production — including Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) programs that allow startups and low-volume customers to access advanced processes affordably.
Wafer Fabrication Minimum Orders
Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) - Lowest MOQ:
- Minimum: 5 wafers (shared run with other customers)
- Typical: 5-20 wafers for prototyping
- Process Nodes: 180nm, 130nm, 90nm, 65nm, 40nm, 28nm available
- Schedule: Monthly or quarterly fixed runs
- Cost: $5K-$100K depending on node and die size
- Best For: Prototyping, proof-of-concept, low-volume production (<1,000 units)
- Lead Time: 8-14 weeks from tape-out
Dedicated Production Runs:
- Minimum: 25 wafers per run
- Typical: 25-100 wafers for initial production
- All Nodes: 180nm to 7nm available
- Schedule: Flexible, customer-specific timing
- Cost: $25K-$425K per run depending on node
- Best For: Production volumes (5K-500K units per run)
- Lead Time: 8-16 weeks from order
Volume Production:
- Minimum: 100 wafers per run (volume pricing)
- Typical: 100-1,000+ wafers per month
- Volume Discounts: 10-30% cost reduction
- Capacity Reservation: Guaranteed allocation
- Long-Term Agreements: 1-3 year contracts with price protection
- Best For: High-volume products (100K-10M units per year)
Packaging Minimum Orders
Wire Bond Packaging:
- Minimum: 100 units (engineering samples)
- Typical: 1,000-10,000 units per run
- Setup Cost: $5K-$20K for new package type (one-time)
- Unit Cost: $0.10-$0.60 depending on package complexity
- Lead Time: 3-4 weeks after wafer delivery
Flip Chip Packaging:
- Minimum: 50 units (engineering samples)
- Typical: 500-5,000 units per run
- Setup Cost: $20K-$50K for new package (bumping + substrate)
- Unit Cost: $1.00-$5.00 depending on complexity
- Lead Time: 4-6 weeks after wafer delivery
Advanced Packaging (2.5D/3D):
- Minimum: 20 units (engineering samples)
- Typical: 100-1,000 units per run
- Setup Cost: $100K-$500K (interposer design, TSV, tooling)
- Unit Cost: $10-$80 depending on complexity
- Lead Time: 6-10 weeks after wafer delivery
Testing Minimum Orders
Wafer Sort:
- Minimum: 1 wafer (engineering evaluation)
- Typical: 5-100 wafers per lot
- Setup Cost: $20K-$100K for test program development (one-time)
- Per-Wafer Cost: $500-$8,000 depending on test complexity
- No minimum for repeat orders once test program developed
Final Test:
- Minimum: 100 units (engineering samples)
- Typical: 1,000-100,000 units per lot
- Setup Cost: $30K-$150K for test program development (one-time)
- Per-Unit Cost: $0.05-$1.00 depending on test time
- No minimum for repeat orders once test program developed
Design Services - No MOQ
ASIC Design Services:
- No Minimum: Project-based pricing
- Scope: From small IP blocks to complete SoCs
- Flexibility: Scale team size based on project needs
- Payment: Milestone-based, not quantity-based
IP Licensing:
- No Minimum: Per-design or perpetual license
- Usage: Use in one or multiple designs
- Royalty Options: Alternative to upfront license fee
Flexible Options for Low-Volume Customers
MPW Programs:
- Share Costs: Split mask and wafer costs with other customers
- Cost Savings: 5-10× cheaper than dedicated masks
- Example: $50K MPW vs $500K dedicated masks for 28nm
- Tradeoff: Fixed schedule, limited die quantity (typically 10-40 die)
Shuttle Services:
- Ultra-Low Volume: Get 5-10 packaged chips for $10K-$50K
- Process Nodes: 180nm, 130nm, 90nm, 65nm, 40nm, 28nm
- Timeline: 12-16 weeks from tape-out to packaged units
- Best For: Research, proof-of-concept, investor demos
Consignment Inventory:
- We Hold Stock: We maintain inventory, ship as you need
- Minimum Production: 100 wafers, but you take delivery in smaller batches
- Payment: Pay for production upfront, no charge for storage (first 12 months)
- Flexibility: Order 1,000 units monthly from 50,000 unit inventory
Volume Scaling Path
Phase 1 - Prototype (5-25 wafers):
- MPW or small dedicated run
- 100-5,000 units delivered
- Validate design, test market
- Cost: $50K-$300K total
Phase 2 - Pilot Production (25-100 wafers):
- Dedicated runs
- 5,000-50,000 units delivered
- Initial customer shipments
- Cost: $200K-$1M per run
Phase 3 - Volume Production (100-1,000+ wafers):
- Regular production runs
- 50,000-500,000+ units per run
- Volume pricing, capacity reservation
- Cost: $500K-$10M+ per run
No MOQ Penalties
Small Orders Welcome:
- No premium for small quantities (within minimums)
- Same quality standards regardless of volume
- Full technical support for all customers
- Access to same processes and technologies
Startup Support:
- Flexible minimums for qualified startups
- Payment terms aligned with funding
- Technical mentorship included
- Path to volume production
MOQ Comparison by Service
| Service | Minimum Order | Typical Order | Setup Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPW Wafers | 5 wafers | 10-20 wafers | Shared |
| Dedicated Wafers | 25 wafers | 50-200 wafers | Masks $50K-$10M |
| Wire Bond Pkg | 100 units | 1K-10K units | $5K-$20K |
| Flip Chip Pkg | 50 units | 500-5K units | $20K-$50K |
| Adv Packaging | 20 units | 100-1K units | $100K-$500K |
| Wafer Sort | 1 wafer | 5-100 wafers | $20K-$100K |
| Final Test | 100 units | 1K-100K units | $30K-$150K |
How to Start Small and Scale
Step 1 - Prototype with MPW:
- 5-10 wafers, 100-500 units
- Validate design and market
- Investment: $50K-$200K
Step 2 - Pilot with Small Dedicated Run:
- 25-50 wafers, 5K-25K units
- Initial customer shipments
- Investment: $200K-$500K
Step 3 - Production Ramp:
- 100+ wafers, 50K+ units
- Volume pricing kicks in
- Investment: $500K-$2M per run
Step 4 - High Volume:
- 500-1,000+ wafers per month
- Long-term agreements, capacity reservation
- Investment: $5M-$50M annual
Special Programs
Academic/Research:
- Minimum: 1-2 wafers through university MPW programs
- Cost: 50% discount on standard MPW pricing
- Purpose: Research, education, publication
Startup Program:
- Minimum: 5 wafers MPW
- Flexibility: Extended payment terms, milestone-based
- Support: Technical mentorship, investor introductions
Fortune 500 Enterprise:
- Minimum: Negotiable based on relationship
- Flexibility: Custom agreements, capacity reservation
- Support: Dedicated team, priority scheduling
Contact for MOQ Discussion:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: +1 (408) 555-0100
- Question: "What are the minimum order requirements for my project?"
Chip Foundry Services offers flexible minimum orders to accommodate customers from startups to Fortune 500 companies — contact us to discuss the best approach for your volume requirements and budget.