# Connector Plating: Gold vs Tin vs Silver vs Nickel - Published: 2026-11-06 - Author: Intorfilters team - URL: https://intorfilters.com/connector-plating-gold-tin-nickel/ > Why contact plating decides corrosion resistance, mating cycles and price — and the rule about never mixing gold and tin. Key points - Gold: low-level signals, many mating cycles, corrosion-free. - Tin: economical, good for power and few mating cycles. - Do not mate gold with tin — fretting corrosion follows. | Plating | Best for | Mating cycles | Cost | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Gold over nickel | Signals, RF, data | High (500+) | High | | Tin | Power, low-cost terminals | Low (≈10–50) | Low | | Silver | High-current contacts | Medium | Medium | | Nickel | Shells, underplate | — | Low | ## Never mix gold and tin Dissimilar platings on mating contacts cause fretting corrosion and rising resistance. Order both halves with the same finish. ## Where plating shows up in our catalog Look for “gold-flash”, “selective gold” or “tin” in the specification table of [pin headers](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/pcb-board-connectors/pin-headers-female-headers/), [contacts](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/contacts-housings-accessories/connector-contacts-pins/) and [RF connectors](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/rf-coaxial-connectors/sma-smb-miniature-rf/). Further reading: [fretting on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretting). **Examples from our pin headers, female headers & jumpers range** — [see all 1,767 →](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/pcb-board-connectors/pin-headers-female-headers/) ![ZWG ZH 1.5mm Pcb Connector JST Connector 1.5mm Pitch 2-15Pin Header Smd Refrigerator Electronics Connector](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/ZWG-ZH-1-5mm-Pcb-Connector-JST-Connector-1-5mm-Pitch-2-15Pin-Header-Smd-Refrigerator-Electronics-Connector.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [ZWG ZH 1.5mm Pcb Connector JST Connector 1.5mm Pitch 2-15Pin Header Smd Refrigerator Electronics Connector](https://intorfilters.com/product/zwg-zh-1-5mm-pcb-connector-jst-connector-1-5mm-pitch-2-15pin-header-smd-refrigerator/) 250V **US$0.012 – 0.12** MOQ 1,000 pieces ![Zif IC Socket Single Row Straight SMT Round Female Header 28 Pin DIP IC Socket Connector](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/Zif-IC-Socket-Single-Row-Straight-SMT-Round-Female-Header-28-Pin-DIP-IC-Socket-Connector.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [Zif IC Socket Single Row Straight SMT Round Female Header 28 Pin DIP IC Socket Connector](https://intorfilters.com/product/zif-ic-socket-single-row-straight-smt-round-female-header-28-pin-dip-ic-socket-connector/) Pin Header · Male **US$0.012 – 0.96** MOQ 5,000 pieces ![Zhg 1.5mm Pitch Connector Manufacturer, Wire to Board Crimp Terminal Housing Header, Custom Available, RoHS](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/Zhg-1-5mm-Pitch-Connector-Manufacturer-Wire-to-Board-Crimp-Terminal-Housing-Header-Custom-Available-RoHS.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [Zhg 1.5mm Pitch Connector Manufacturer, Wire to Board Crimp Terminal Housing Header, Custom Available, RoHS](https://intorfilters.com/product/zhg-1-5mm-pitch-connector-manufacturer-wire-to-board-crimp-terminal-housing-header-custom/) AC/DC · Female **US$0.012 – 0.024** MOQ 1,000 pieces ![Ze05-2p-2h 2.0mm 2 Pin Header SMT Male Female Connector](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/Ze05-2p-2h-2-0mm-2-Pin-Header-SMT-Male-Female-Connector.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [Ze05-2p-2h 2.0mm 2 Pin Header SMT Male Female Connector](https://intorfilters.com/product/ze05-2p-2h-2-0mm-2-pin-header-smt-male-female-connector/) HDR · Male Female **US$0.0012 – 0.012** MOQ 1 piece ![YZ 2.54mm Pitch 1*40pin 2*40pin Single Row Double Rows SMD Type Gold Plating Pin Header for Pcb Connector](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/YZ-2-54mm-Pitch-1-40pin-2-40pin-Single-Row-Double-Rows-SMD-Type-Gold-Plating-Pin-Header-for-Pcb-Connector.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [YZ 2.54mm Pitch 1*40pin 2*40pin Single Row Double Rows SMD Type Gold Plating Pin Header for Pcb Connector](https://intorfilters.com/product/yz-2-54mm-pitch-1-40pin-2-40pin-single-row-double-rows-smd-type-gold-plating-pin-header/) Rectangle · 3A **US$0.072 – 0.34** MOQ 10 pieces ![Yugan Sheet Metal Processing Contact Spring Automobile Electric Pin Header Connectors](https://intorfilters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/electronic-connectors-product-images/Yugan-Sheet-Metal-Processing-Contact-Spring-Automobile-Electric-Pin-Header-Connectors.webp) Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers ### [Yugan Sheet Metal Processing Contact Spring Automobile Electric Pin Header Connectors](https://intorfilters.com/product/yugan-sheet-metal-processing-contact-spring-automobile-electric-pin-header-connectors/) DC/DC · Female **US$0.24 – 1.44** MOQ 1,000 pieces ## Frequently asked questions ### How thick should gold plating be? Flash gold is fine for few cycles; 0.76 µm (30 µin) or more is common for high-reliability, high-cycle contacts. ### Why is silver used on power contacts? Silver has the lowest resistance and handles high current well; it tarnishes but the tarnish stays conductive. ### Find these products in our catalog [Pin Headers, Female Headers & Jumpers](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/pcb-board-connectors/pin-headers-female-headers/) · [Connector Contacts & Mating Pins](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/contacts-housings-accessories/connector-contacts-pins/) · [SMA, SMB, SMC & Miniature RF Connectors](https://intorfilters.com/connectors/rf-coaxial-connectors/sma-smb-miniature-rf/) [Request a quote or sample](https://intorfilters.com/request-quote/) ## Contact & ordering - Request a quote: https://intorfilters.com/request-quote/ - E-mail: info@intorfilters.com - Product catalog: https://intorfilters.com/products.md - Site guide for AI assistants: https://intorfilters.com/llms.txt