Micro vias, blind vias, buried vias - they're impressive engineering tools. They're also some of the fastest ways to double your board cost without realizing it.

Every time you use a non-standard via, you're adding sequential lamination steps to your fab process. That means more time in the shop, more opportunities for defects, and a price tag that can run 2–3x higher than a standard through-hole board.

The fix: Default to standard through-hole vias - 10mil drill, 18–20mil pad. They're fast to fab, easy to inspect, and cheap to run. Reserve micro vias for situations where you genuinely cannot route any other way.

Before your next layout review, do a quick audit: how many micro vias in this design could be replaced with a standard via and a slightly adjusted route? You might be surprised. Even eliminating 30–40% of them can bring you back to standard fab pricing.

Use the advanced stuff when you need it. Not because it fits in the space.