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Where To Buy Electronic Components?

By 51 Comments

Buy electronic components onlineThere’s a bunch of places to buy electronic components.

Myself, I love to go to a brick-and-mortar store to buy components, because then I can get them without waiting. Unfortunately, many cities don’t have these anymore. So what do you do?

The solution:

Buy electronic components online. And if you’ve never bought components before, check out the links at the end with tips on how to choose components.

Below I’ve listed the stores that I’ve either used myself or that I’ve been recommended.

List of where to buy electronic components

Amazon – www.amazon.com (US)
Adafruit – www.adafruit.com (US)
DigiKey – www.digikey.com (US)
SparkFun – www.sparkfun.com (US)
Jameco – www.jameco.com (US)

Bitsbox – www.bitsbox.co.uk (UK)
Spiratronics – www.spiratronics.com (UK)
Rapid Electronics – www.rapidonline.com (UK)
Quasar Electronics – www.quasarelectronics.co.uk (UK)

Jaycar – www.jaycar.com.au (Australia)
Protostack – www.protostack.com (Australia)

Seeed Studio – www.seeedstudio.com (China)
Tayda Electronics – www.taydaelectronics.com (Thailand, US)

Farnell – www.farnell.com (Worldwide)

If you don’t see your favorite store here, add it in the comments below and I’ll check it out.

How to choose components?

If you’ve never bought components before, it’s a bit intimidating. Some stores have A LOT of different components.

But once you get the hang of it – it’s easy. And suddenly you’re not limited by the supply of one store. The whole world is your shopping center.

Here’s a tip for beginners:

DigiKey has about every component that exists in the universe. That’s great, but a bit overwhelming. Start your search by using a more hobby-oriented shop like Sparkfun or Bitsbox. There you’ll find the most standard transistors, resistors, and capacitors that usually works for most beginner projects. Find the part numbers and use these to order from whatever store that has the best shipping option for you.

Here are a few articles that will help you choose components:

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • They’ve gone through some changes back and forth, so I’m not really sure what they are anymore. But seems like they are selling components online now. Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

  5. Hi Øyvind,

    For the US I would also include Arrow Electronics (arrow.com) and Future Electronics (futureelectronics.com). They are similar to Digikey and Mouser.

    John

    Reply

    • YES! I love Arrow.com and it’s my go to, especially when I only need one or two item, I love that they have free next day shipping with no price minimum.

      Who wants to pay $5-$10 shipping when all you need is one $0.50 5w 10 ohm resistor?

      Reply

  8. Three Internet sources I can highly recommend. Each has its own “inventory type” and their websites have fairly compete technical specifications.

    (1) MPJA http://www.mpja.com New, in Florida
    (2) All Electronics http://www.allelectronics.com/ Surplus & New, in So. California
    (3) Circuit specialists https://www.circuitspecialists.com/ New, esp good instruments, in Mesa AZ

    I live close to #3 and I go to their warehouse and pick up my parts. I have ordered parts from all three several times a year for the last ten years.

    I also have a pot power calculation question.

    X Y, Richard

    Reply

  9. There is also Transfer Multisort Elektronik – TME – https://www.tme.eu/

    Polish company with 9 subsidiaries in Europe, and more coming (China, USA…).

    They have also a sales and customer services’ office for African and Middle-Eastern Markets. Their delivery time and prices are interesting.

    Flo

    Reply

  10. http://www.aliexpress.com has a lot of components. Many of the components have to be bought in bulk, but the bulk prices can be lower than single item pricing at the retail store. For example, buy 100 2N3904 transistors for $1.08 USD total, plus free shipping. It can take up to about a month to arrive however.

    Reply

  11. I recognize that this website is ran and operated by Oyvind N. Dahl, an expert in Electronics. Having said that, I have learned some unique knowledge over the last 2 years that may qualify me as a Guest Columnist. In particular, I can give a few pointers on how to buy from Element14 to minimize cost and delivery time. Are you receptive?

    Reply

    • I haven’t used them in many years. Before, they were only focused on business-to-business and I think they didn’t even sell to you if you weren’t a business. I took a quick look at their webpage now, and it seems like they are more up-to-date with things.

      I recommend you try them out and post your experience here.

      Best,
      Oyvind

      Reply

  13. For my business, I use Mouser/Digikey frequently. Because they provide the most complete selection of parts for my projects.
    https://www.mouser.com
    https://www.digikey.com
    But Electronics is also my hobby, I spent a lot of time for searching parts for my hobby projects. I usually visit Hobby Engineering.
    https://www.hobbyengineering.com
    Recently, I found a online store called LCSC on EasyEDA, an online PCB design tool I’ve used for a long time. The price is incredibly low. the MAX6675ISA+T bought from LCSC is $2.8, but $17.2 from Mouser. That’s so surprise.
    https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Micro-USB-Connectors_ValuePro_micro-USBFemale_MICRO-USB-5S-B-Type-horns-High-temperature_C10418.html
    https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/10118194-0001LF/609-4618-1-ND/2785382

    Reply

    • Thanks Claire for your recommendation. I just went to the LCSC.com. They do have a very attractive price, and prompt customer service. I am going to have a trial order with them, and post my experience here later then. :)

      Reply

  18. I really miss the days of going to the local radio shack. I went through a bunch of your list of website to buy componets. A few of the sites didn’t even have a means to search. A few that had search I typed in 2200uf 50v and came up dry on some of them. I mean I think everyone knows that’s a capacitor. I would just like one site that has a search, vast inventory, fair shipping costs to the USA and where the components are reasonably priced. Any ideas?

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Hey Jeff,
      I would recommend Digikey for that. But leave out that 2200uF and 50V in the search. You’ll get thousands of suggestions, but with a filter where you can specify 2200 uF and 50V.

      Best,
      Oyvind

      Reply

      • I’m going through the same run-around..looking for a couple pots ( potentiometers )….done an open search and a closed search…..I’m getting nowhere….have to start robbing from peter to pay paul..I want new components but have to salvage parts from other non working units..

        Reply

        • You’re not finding any potentiometers? Or you need something very specific? If you just want some standard potentiometers and are having a hard time browsing through digikey, I’d suggest sparkfun.com. They have a smaller selection, so it’s easier to make a choice.

          Reply

  20. I’m pulling my hair out trying to find a qty of 10 YPI6055C TO220 transistor. I can’t find any information, data sheet or substitutes. It’s like the transistor does not exist but I’m starting a Rockville car amp board with 8 of them soldered in. They are TP220 package not the metal can 2n6055. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

    Reply

  21. In Sweden Elfa (now ELFA Distrelec) has always been known to have a large assortment of parts, and they ship to at least all of EU: http://www.elfa.se
    For small orders I prefer Electrokit, they have a good assortment of kits, embedded computers, beginner’s books with components, and the most common components sold individually. The site is in Swedish and English and they ship within EU. Very quick service in Sweden, almost next day: http://www.electrokit.com

    Reply

  22. Here in Johannesburg a company called Communica which is a brick and mortar store sells a wide variety of electronic tools components solvents test equipment etc and R.S.Components Kyalami also brick and mortar and Hobbytronics which is in Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape on line trading from Jo’burg and quite a few more that seem to cater for Engineers

    Reply

  23. I have an account with RS Components online in the UK, for some of my components. I also use Maplin shops in the UK, but they are now in administration, so I am watching the outcome of this situation.

    Reply

  24. Impressive work, great recommendation for common-used parts,
    But if you need some hard to find parts,
    I would recommend win source,www.win-source.net
    also generously provide alternative parts guide to us.

    Reply

  25. It really does take time and a little bit of practice to get the hang of buying electrical components. After all, there are so many different kinds of electronics that it can be hard to figure out what you need to buy. Fortunately the article does provide a pretty great list of places to go where you can get help in choosing the right electronics.

    Reply

    • sometime i need to buy some electronic parts that it is difficult to fond in the market，jotrin electronics is a good choice to personal and small store，mouser，digikey is big distributor，they are have a request for quant

      Reply

  34. Hey you say that you prefer to go to brick and mortar stores, are there any that you would recommend? It would be better if they were a chain because then there would be more of a chance of one being near me.

    Reply

  36. I, for one, cannot stand online shopping. Waiting on delivery takes literally forever, and sometimes they deliver to the WRONG ADDRESS! Expensive items GONE! This is just my opinion but, I think brick and mortar electronic component stores have gone to the wayside because of the “dumbing down” of the USA. Of course they closed their doors, no one here hardly delves into that kind of stuff anymore. Closest thing we have here is a Best Buy, and they only sell overpriced garbage for the idiotic masses. Literally nothing for DIY’ers

    Reply

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