PCB Design Software Market Size, Share and Trends 2026 to 2035

Revenue, 2025

USD 4.13 Bn

Forecast Year, 2035

USD 16.02 Bn

CAGR, 2026 - 2035

14.52%

Report Coverage

Global

What is PCB Design Software Market Size?

The global PCB design software market size was calculated at USD 4.13 billion in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 4.73 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 16.02 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 14.52% from 2026 to 2035. The PCB design software market is rapidly expanding due to the increase in the need for compact and complex designs of electronic devices, the expansion of the automotive & IoT industry, and advancements in AI-driven and cloud-based design tools.

Market Highlights

• North America dominated the PCB design software market, holding a share of approximately 36% in 2025.
• Asia-Pacific is expected to expand with the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
• By deployment type, the on-premise segment held the largest market share of approximately 51% in 2025.
• By deployment type, the cloud/web-based/SaaS segment is expected to grow swiftly between 2026 and 2035.
• By end-user industry, the consumer electronics segment dominated the market with a share of approximately 26% in 2025.
• By end-user industry, the automotive & transportation segment is expected to rise at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.
• By user type, the design engineers/PCB layout team segment held the largest revenue share of approximately 64% in the market in 2025.
• By user type, the R&D/innovation centers segment is expected to show the fastest growth in the forecast period.

What is the PCB Design Software?

The PCB design software market comprises computer-aided design (CAD) tools and platforms used for planning, schematic capture, layout, simulation, validation, and verification of PCB designs across electronics, automotive, telecom, consumer devices, aerospace, medical devices, and industrial equipment industries. Printed circuit board (PCB) design software enables engineers to optimize signal integrity, thermal performance, manufacturability, and design for testability, with features including multi-layer routing, library/data management, 3D visualization, and AI-assisted automation.

The key driving forces of this market include the growing demand for AI-driven automation, 3D modelling, cloud-based collaboration, and integration with mechanical CAD for high-performance and compact-sized electronic devices. This market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing need for advanced and high-performing electronic circuits. Various companies are adopting this software to minimize errors, improve performance, and reduce overall time-to-market, further expanding the market.

How Is AI Utilized Within the PCB Design Software Market?

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the market by automating complex tasks like component placement, routing & design rule checks, significantly minimizing design time, reducing human errors & improving manufacturing efficiency. It enables predictive analytics for thermal and electric performance, accelerating time-to-market. It provides a shared database & automated update, enabling better communication between the design team & producer. AI boosts human expertise rather than replacing it by streamlining circuit board development, making it faster, more reliable, and cost-effective.

• In May 2025, Siemens Digital Industries Software announced the development of its AI-enhanced electronic systems design technology with PADS Pro Essentials software and Xpedition Standard software, enhancing accessibility to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs).

PCB Design Software Market Trends

• AI-Enabled Design Automation: Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the electronics industry by automating routine, complex tasks like component placement, routing, and thermal analysis. It has an improved design leading to smart routing, predictive error detection, and automating layout, accelerating efficiency and reducing time to market.
• Cloud-enabled Teamwork: A shift toward SaaS models and cloud-native platforms enables real-time, remote teamwork, browser-based & instant data access, reducing design cycles and project timelines.
• 3D Visualization & Simulation:The demand for 3D visualization is expanding rapidly due to early error detection, improved AI-powered 3D modelling, and ECAD-MCAD collaboration. It has reduced physical prototyping failures by focusing on thermal analysis & signal integrity testing during the design phase.
• PLM/ERP Integration: The integration of PCB software & PLM system is essential for optimizing design to manufacturing efficiency, improving cost management, and enhancing traceability. This collaboration provides a digital thread for data products, which is important for minimizing errors in increasingly advanced electronic development.

Market Scope

Segmental Insights

Deployment Type Insights

Why Did the On-Premise Segment Dominate the PCB Design Software Market?

The on-premise segment dominated the market by holding approximately 51% of market share, due to the need for strict data security, IP protection, and infrastructure control in the aerospace, defense, and automotive industries. On-premise tools provide a strong, advanced, and highly customizable solution that functions without depending on the internet. Many industries require stringent regulatory compliance, making on-premise a standard solution. Recently, due to technological advances, various deployment types have been introduced, but on-premise continues to be the benchmark for safe, complex, and high-performing systems.

The cloud/web-based/SaaS segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the market between 2026 and 2035, due to the rise in demand for improved productivity, cost efficiency, and smoother joint efforts. The surge of sophisticated, well-connected devices requires complex PCB designs that benefit from high performance and on-demand compute resources provided by the cloud. Web-based tools eliminate the need for a specialized infrastructure to install their hardware components, reducing upfront costs.

End-User Industry Insights

What Made the Consumer Electronics Segment Lead the PCB Design Software Market?

The consumer electronics segment contributed the biggest revenue share of approximately 26% in the market in 2025, due to the growing demand for miniature, faster & complex devices like smartphones & wearables that require advanced high-density and multilayer board designing.
Accelerated innovation cycles, rapid prototyping, and high-volume production are driving the widespread adoption of PCB software. The need for miniature devices like VR headsets and smartphones has necessitated the use of specialized advanced PCB software. The booming market of smart home and IoT devices requires PCB design solutions, further enhancing its dominance in consumer electronics.

The automotive & transportation segment is expected to rise at the highest CAGR between 2026 and 2035 due to the shift in industry from fuel-consuming vehicles to electric vehicles, autonomous driving, & connected car technology. This shift requires advanced, high-performance, and complicated thermally efficient PCB design, surging the demand for PCB design software. The surge in vehicle electrification is fueling market growth in the automotive industry.

User Type Insights

Which User Type Segment Led the PCB Design Software Market?

The design engineers/PCB layout teams segment led the market with a share of approximately 64% in the market in 2025, as they are tasked with turning complex electronic concepts into reliable hardware. Their role is crucial due to the surge of IoT, 5G, & advanced high-speed electronic devices. The market is rapidly adopting AI-driven cloud-based platforms to handle high-density, interconnected multilayer board design, with high-end tools, augmenting the segment's growth.

The R&D/innovation centers segment is expected to expand rapidly in the market in the coming years due to a surge in the need for high-speed, compact, and intelligent electronic devices. This expansion is propelled by the demand for faster time-to-market and increased design complexity in the AI, 5G, and automotive sectors.
R&D sectors are embedding PCB design in larger enterprise ecosystems to improve traceability and cost efficiency, which ensures a smooth transition from design to manufacturing. The market is also witnessing an increase in investments in R&D, leading to innovation-led applications, which further boost the market expansion.
Significant growth is also seen in educational/academic users due to diverse factors, primarily driven by the need to bridge the gap between theoretical electronics engineering and practical application, enhanced low-cost prototyping, and strategic initiatives by major software vendors to cultivate future industry professionals.

Regional Insights

How Big is the North America PCB Design Software Market Size?

Why Did North America Dominate the PCB Design Software Market?

North America dominated the market with a share of approximately 36% in 2025. This market is propelled by a well-established ecosystem of industry leaders and massive R&D investments, and it has huge demand in the aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors. This region's dominance is driven by the need for advanced, high-speed, and complicated multilayer PCB designs for AI, IoT, and 5G technologies. The region, like the U.S., holds the crown for major EDA software providers & electronics manufacturers.

Government initiatives in North America, mainly in the U.S. and Canada, are boosting the market. These initiatives include the CHIPS and Science Act, the Defense Production Act, and the Canadian Quantum Champions Program, focusing on developing highly advanced and complex design tools.

What is the Size of the U.S. PCB Design Software Market?

The U.S. PCB design software market size is calculated at USD 1.12 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach nearly USD 4.41 billion in 2035, accelerating at a strong CAGR of 14.69% between 2026 to 2035.

U.S. Market Trends

The U.S. dominates the market in the North American region due to its advanced electronics ecosystem, robust R&D, & the burgeoning aerospace & defense sectors. The increasing adoption of cloud-based and AI-driven tools and massive investments in technology foster market growth.

Major tech companies are heavily investing in R&D to improve software features such as 3D modeling and simulation of thermal & signal integrity, which further augments market growth. Various government initiatives, like the CHIPS and Science Act and the Supporting American Printed Circuit Boards Act, to secure the manufacturing pipeline for aerospace and defense applications.

How Will Asia-Pacific Grow in the PCB Design Software Market?

Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the foreseeable period due to its dominance in electronic manufacturing, propelled by huge demand for consumer electronics, industrial automation, & IoT devices. There are also other various key factors for its rapid growth, like significant R&D investments, along with rapid adoption of advanced design technology like 3D visualization & cloud-based EDA tools.

This region provides a favorable environment for tech startups & affordable manufacturing abilities that encourage software adoption. Governments in countries like India & China are focused on improving local electronic manufacturing, which further boosts the market. Inter-governmental collaborations with different nations strengthen domestic infrastructure and propel market growth.

China Market Trends

China is leading the market in the Asia-Pacific region primarily because it is an electronics manufacturing powerhouse. It is propelled by massive production capacity and initiative, like Made in China, making it a leader in the market. Shenzhen is known as the Silicon Valley of hardware due to its rapid manufacturing turnarounds with a strong localised supply chain supported by advanced AI design tools. Local manufacturers are rapidly capturing market share by focusing on user-friendly, AI-driven, specialized design tools that meet the demand of the growing electronics sector, further boosting China's dominance.

Will Europe Grow in the PCB Design Software Market?

Europe is expected to grow at a notable CAGR in the foreseeable future, due to investments in AI-driven design and advanced manufacturing & semiconductor research. The European market is driven by the need for a localized supply chain, automotive electrification & strict Industry 4.0 automation standards. European regulation encourages digitalization, clean energy, and environmental compliance, leading manufacturers to adopt advanced software. Hefty investments in specialized high-end prototyping in the industries of medicine & aerospace are further boosting the market.

Germany Market Trends

Germany currently holds the largest share in the European region. Its dominance in this region is due to its robust, well-established automotive, industrial automation, & high-frequency 5G sector. It is driven by strong R&D, AI for design automation, & government backing for technological innovation. With focus, precision, reliability, and strict standards, German software is an ideal choice for global applications.

Who are the major players in the global PCB design software market?

The major players in the PCB design software market include Altium Limited, Cadence Design Systems, Siemens EDA (Mentor Graphics), Autodesk, Inc, Zuken Inc, ANSYS, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., KiCad, EasyEDA, Labcenter Electronics, CadSoft Computer GmbH, and Proteus

Recent Developments in the PCB Design Software Market

• In October 2025, SiCarrier, a China-based company, launched two electronic design automation (EDA) software programs, one for schematic capture and another for PCB design, at the three-day WeSemiBay Semiconductor Ecosystem Expo 2025. The development of new domestic EDA products enhances self-sufficiency in chip design software.
• In June 2025, Siemens Digital Industries Software launched its new EDA AI system, which allows engineers to use generative and agentic AI within EDA workflows, providing secure access and interoperability. The system offers unparalleled customization capabilities and seamless integration across the entire EDA workflows. (Source: https://news.siemens.com)
• In May 2025, Zuken launched eCADSTAR 2025, the latest version of its PCB design software. The software streamlines design workflows, improving high-speed and signal integrity performance, and supporting collaboration between engineering and manufacturing teams. (Source: https://www.engineering.com)
• In May 2025, Cadence launched its Millennium M2000 Supercomputer that integrated NVIDIA accelerated computing hardware and software for semiconductor design, digital twin simulations, drug discovery, and more. The supercomputer leverages NVIDIA HGX B200 systems and NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server Edition GPUs.

Segments Covered in the Report

By Deployment Type

• On-premise
• Cloud/Web-based/SaaS

By End-User Industry

• Consumer Electronics
• Automotive & Transportation
• Telecommunications & Networking
• Aerospace & Defense
• Healthcare & Medical Devices
• Industrial & Automation
• Other End-Users

By User Type

• Design Engineers/PCB Layout Teams
• R&D/Innovation Centers
• Educational/Academic Users
• Service & Consulting Providers

By Region

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa