Physics

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Skin Depth Calculator.

Calculate good-conductor electromagnetic skin depth.

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Skin depth: 0.000066 m

Skin depth

0.000000m

Results update automatically as you type.

Use Cases

RF and microwave design

Engineers use skin depth to determine conductor thickness for shielding, waveguides, and PCB traces to minimize signal loss at high frequencies.

Example: Calculate skin depth for copper at 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi) to design effective shielding.

Power transmission analysis

In power systems, skin depth affects the effective resistance of conductors at AC frequencies, influencing efficiency and heating.

Example: Estimate skin depth for aluminum at 60 Hz to assess conductor performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is skin depth?
Skin depth is the distance into a conductor at which the amplitude of an electromagnetic wave decreases to about 37% (1/e) of its value at the surface. It depends on frequency, conductor properties, and is calculated using the formula: skin depth = 1 / sqrt(pi * frequency * permeability * conductivity).
How do I use this calculator?
Enter the frequency in Hz, the relative permeability (dimensionless, usually 1 for non-magnetic materials), and the conductivity in S/m. The calculator will compute the skin depth in meters using the formula for good conductors.
What is relative permeability?
Relative permeability (μr) is the ratio of the permeability of a material to the permeability of free space (μ0). For most non-magnetic materials like copper or aluminum, μr is approximately 1. For ferromagnetic materials like iron, it can be much higher, affecting skin depth.

Tips & Common Mistakes

Tips

  • For non-magnetic materials, set relative permeability to 1. For magnetic materials, use the appropriate value (e.g., iron ~200).
  • Ensure frequency is in Hz (not kHz or MHz) and conductivity in S/m (not MS/m) to get correct results.
  • Skin depth is an approximation valid for good conductors where conductivity is high and displacement current is negligible.
  • Use the result to choose conductor thickness: for effective shielding, thickness should be several times the skin depth.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using frequency in MHz or GHz without converting to Hz, leading to incorrect skin depth.
  • Confusing relative permeability with absolute permeability; the calculator uses relative permeability, so multiply by μ0 internally.
  • Assuming skin depth is the same for all materials; it varies with conductivity and permeability.

Last updated: August 13, 2026