Microstrip Substrate Equations

You can work these formulas manually, or download this great free microstrip calculator (TX Line) from Cadence/AWR.

Here is a really nice summary of many controlled impedance line equations, by Rick Hartley: RF / Microwave PC Board Design and Layout

Equations are given for calculating the effective width and height prior to plugging the dimensions prior to plugging them in to the equations for effective dielectric constant and then for calculating the impedance.

Be aware that there are many microstrip impedance calculators on the Internet that give sometimes widely varying results. Be sure of which one you finally decide to use. Most claim to use some or all of these formulas these formulas, but I have discovered ones, for instance, that appear to mistakenly substitute 0.4 for 0.04 in the ε_eff formula for the W/H<1 case.

	Wavelength
	Phase

RF Cafe: Microstrip calculation equation

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