MPW Cost Explained: What You Actually Pay (and What You Don’t)

Multi-Project Wafer (MPW) runs are often described as a low-cost way to get first silicon.  That’s true — but only if you understand what the MPW fee actually includes and, just as importantly, what it does not.

Many first-time teams underestimate MPW cost, not because MPW is expensive, but because critical cost items sit outside the MPW line item. This article explains MPW cost without vendor marketing, so you can decide whether MPW is the right path for your project.

What the MPW fee usually includes

At its core, MPW means sharing a wafer with other designs. That’s where the cost advantage comes from.

A typical MPW fee includes:

• Access to a shared mask set
• Wafer fabrication for your die area
• Basic foundry processing
• A limited number of raw dies

This makes MPW dramatically cheaper than a full mask run, where you carry 100% of the mask cost yourself.

However, this is only part of the picture.

What the MPW fee does not include

This is where surprises happen.

Most MPW fees do not include:

• Packaging (QFN, BGA, flip-chip, CoWoS, etc.)
• Electrical testing beyond very basic checks
• Yield optimization
• Design fixes or respins
• Backend logistics and lead time buffers

These costs are real, unavoidable, and often larger than teams expect. MPW reduces mask risk — not project risk.

Typical MPW cost ranges (realistic, not exact)

MPW pricing varies by:

• process node
• die size
• foundry
• backend requirements

That’s why publishing a single price number is misleading.

In practice: MPW is significantly cheaper than full mask for first silicon

MPW becomes inefficient if:

• die size is large
• multiple respins are expected
• special process options are required

If your design is already stable and volume is known, MPW may actually delay your project instead of saving money.

MPW vs Full Mask: the cost trade-off people miss

The real decision is not: “Which is cheaper?”

It’s: “Where do I want to pay for risk?”

• MPW lowers upfront cost but limits control
• Full mask increases upfront cost but reduces iteration friction

This is why MPW is ideal for:

• first silicon
• architecture validation
• learning cycles

And risky for:

• late-stage production designs
• aggressive schedules
• complex packaging flows

The hidden cost: time

MPW runs follow fixed shuttle schedules.

If you miss a window:

• you wait weeks or months
• the cost impact is indirect but real

For time-critical projects, schedule risk can outweigh mask savings.

So… is MPW the right choice for your project?

There is no universal answer. MPW makes sense when:

• design risk is high
• volume is low
• learning speed matters more than unit cost

Full mask makes sense when:

• design is stable
• volume is known
• backend flow is defined

If you’re unsure, guessing is expensive.

Compare MPW vs Full Mask for your project

Instead of relying on generic advice, use a quick decision check based on:

• project stage
• volume
• design stability
• backend needs

👉  Run the MPW vs Full Mask decision tool (60 seconds)

This helps you avoid the two most common mistakes:

• using MPW when full mask is already justified
• committing to full mask before risk is reduced

Final takeaway

MPW is not “cheap silicon”. It is risk-managed silicon.

Used correctly, it saves time and money. Used incorrectly, it delays projects and creates false confidence.

Understanding MPW cost is not about the price tag — it’s about knowing what problem MPW is meant to solve.