Pin Header Pitch | 4 Pin Female Header

Pin headers come in a wide range of configurations, enabling PCB designers to create versatile and space-optimized layouts. Whether it’s a single-row pin header for basic connections or a triple-row version for dense signal routing, each configuration offers flexibility to suit specific circuit requirements. Straight pin headers are commonly used when vertical insertion is needed, whereas right-angle pin headers support horizontal connection paths. Additionally, custom pitch sizes, gold-plated contacts, and elevated stacking heights are available for specialized applications. Designers can select from surface-mount or through-hole pin header types based on assembly methods. By choosing the appropriate pin header configuration, engineers ensure reliable performance and easier integration within compact or layered PCB environments. These connectors provide not only mechanical stability but also electrical reliability critical for long-term product operation.

Pin header connectors are essential components used to establish secure and consistent board-to-board or board-to-cable connections in electronic circuits. Typically made of rows of pins aligned on a plastic base, pin headers are designed for easy insertion into mating connectors such as female headers or IDC sockets. Their simplicity, low cost, and adaptability make them widely used across consumer electronics, industrial devices, and embedded systems. A pin header can support multiple pitches (commonly 2.54mm), configurations (single, double, or triple row), and orientations (straight or right angle). Their versatility allows engineers to efficiently design PCBs that require modularity or easy access to test points. As a result, pin header solutions play a crucial role in the compact design of microcontroller boards, power supply modules, and communication interfaces.

Right-angle pin header connectors are specifically designed to provide a horizontal mating interface, which helps save vertical space in compact or low-profile electronic devices. Instead of connecting cables or daughterboards vertically, right-angle pin headers allow connections to be made parallel to the board surface. This layout is ideal for applications like networking equipment, automotive modules, or handheld devices where internal space is limited. Right-angle pin headers are available in both single-row and multi-row versions, with options for SMT or through-hole mounting. Their structure also offers mechanical strength, as the lateral force from the cable or board is better distributed. Using right-angle pin header connectors is a smart design choice when space efficiency, accessibility, and signal routing flexibility are important.

For high-volume electronics manufacturing, the use of tape-and-reel packaging for pin headers significantly enhances automation and throughput. Tape-and-reel pin headers are precisely placed within carrier tapes, making them compatible with automated pick-and-place machines. This packaging format reduces manual handling, minimizes contamination risks, and increases placement accuracy on PCBs. SMT pin headers packaged in reels are especially valuable for compact, high-speed production lines such as those used for smartphones, routers, or wearables. Moreover, using tape-and-reel pin headers allows better inventory management and consistent quality during the soldering process. When designing a product for automated assembly, specifying tape-and-reel packaged pin headers ensures the process remains efficient, scalable, and repeatable without sacrificing component reliability.