After the implementation of the 2026 FCC Supply Chain Security New Rules, SDoC costs are no longer a fixed combination of "testing fees + agent fees", but a dynamic sum of "basic compliance costs + new regulation surcharges + risk prevention costs". What truly drives price differences is never basic testing, but product complexity, supply chain compliance requirements, and hidden risk costs.
There is no "uniform quotation" for SDoC. The price gap between CNY 1,000 and tens of thousands of yuan essentially stems from the superposition of three key variables. The first variable is product type: basic devices without wireless functions (e.g., ordinary power strips) have a basic cost of only CNY 1,000–3,500, while devices with wireless modules (e.g., Bluetooth control modules) must switch to FCC ID certification, with costs jumping to at least CNY 6,000 and reaching tens of thousands of yuan for complex devices.
The second variable is new regulation adaptation. Following the 2025 Supply Chain Security Ban, additional costs for supplier verification and declaration filing are inevitable. For simple products, this adds CNY 2,000–5,000, and for module-equipped products, due to higher traceability requirements, the additional cost ranges from CNY 5,000–15,000. The third variable is the compliance pathway: applying for a single model individually versus applying for a series of products together. The latter can amortize testing and verification costs, saving 50%–70% of costs per sub-model.
In short, the core logic of SDoC costs is that "basic fees set the baseline, while additional costs determine the upper limit". Blindly pursuing the "lowest price" often leads to overlooked compliance risks.
II. 2026 FCC SDoC Compliance Certification Cost Breakdown
Total SDoC Cost = Basic Testing Fees + New Regulation Surcharges + Service Collaboration Fees + Hidden Costs. Each component has a clear market price range with no inflated margins.
1.Basic Testing Fees: CNY 1,000–3,500, the Core Threshold for ComplianceThis is the "base cost" of certification. Testing standards remain unchanged in 2026, but product types must be clearly distinguished. For simple unintentional radiators (ordinary power adapters, wired keyboards, non-smart lighting), only Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing is required, covering conducted and radiated emission projects in compliance with the ANSI C63.4 standard, with costs ranging from CNY 1,000 to 3,500. For devices with non-wireless modules (smart lighting, smart sockets, small home appliances with control modules), additional module compatibility testing is needed to ensure that modules do not interfere with the electromagnetic radiation of the entire device, adding CNY 2,000–5,000 to the cost, with a total ranging from CNY 3,000 to 8,500. It is a key reminder that laboratories do not require mandatory NVLAP accreditation—compliance with the ANSI C63.4 standard is sufficient. NVLAP-accredited laboratories charge 20%–30% higher fees but issue reports with higher recognition, making them suitable for high-risk products.
2.New Regulation Surcharges: CNY 2,000–15,000, Unavoidable Costs in 2026This is the main reason for cost increases, which all enterprises must bear, and the cost difference depends on supply chain complexity. Supply chain verification fees cover the cost of entrusting a third-party organization to verify whether laboratories and component suppliers are on the FCC "Covered List" and issue a verification report, ranging from CNY 2,000 to 5,000. Foreign Adversary Control Declaration filing fees include declaration drafting, data collation, and FCC system submission, costing CNY 1,000–2,000 for enterprises with simple equity structures and CNY 3,000–5,000 for those with complex structures. Module traceability fees apply to module-equipped products and cover the cost of tracing module sources and retaining production batch and supply chain flow records, ranging from CNY 3,000 to 10,000, with the cost increasing alongside the number of modules and complexity of sources. In total, new regulation surcharges range from CNY 2,000 to 5,000 for simple products and CNY 5,000 to 15,000 for module-equipped products.
3.Service Collaboration Fees: CNY 1,000–8,000, Essential & TransparentThese fees are indispensable for the application process. In 2026, due to increased service complexity caused by new regulations, fees have increased slightly. Agent service fees cover data collation, communication with laboratories/the FCC, and US Agent coordination, ranging from CNY 1,000 to 3,000, with a 10% increase from 2025 due to the requirement for US Agents to have physical addresses. Document translation & review fees cover translating technical documents and declarations into English and reviewing format compliance to avoid rejection due to document errors, costing CNY 500–2,000. Sample shipping & storage fees cover shipping 2–3 samples to the laboratory, including international logistics and customs clearance fees, ranging from CNY 1,000 to 3,000. Total service collaboration fees range from CNY 1,000 to 8,000, with costs for module-equipped products tending toward the upper limit due to more complex documentation.
4.Hidden Costs: The Primary Cause of Budget Overruns, Accounting for 10%–30% of Total CostsIn 2026, the FCC has strengthened its spot check mechanism, making hidden costs a major source of budget overruns that are often overlooked. Rectification & retesting fees apply when 28% of products fail initial testing, requiring component replacement or design optimization, with costs ranging from CNY 500 to 5,000 (e.g., adding filters to address radiation exceeding limits). Time costs refer to delays of 2–4 weeks due to rectification or supply chain verification, which can result in missed market peak seasons, with business losses often far exceeding certification costs. Compliance risk costs are the most critical hidden costs—failure to conduct supply chain verification may lead to product detention or recall by customs, with fines ranging from 20%–50% of the goods value.
III. 2026 FCC SDoC Compliance Certification Price Reference
Combined with new regulatory requirements and quotes from multiple authoritative organizations, the following are the total cost ranges for different products under SDoC certification, including basic testing, new regulation surcharges and service collaboration fees, but excluding hidden rectification costs, which can be directly used for benchmarking. For simple unintentional radiators (ordinary power strips, wired keyboards, non-smart LED lights), total cost ranges from CNY 4,000 to 11,500, with key influencing factors being whether to choose an NVLAP-accredited laboratory and whether to entrust a physical US Agent since virtual addresses are invalid.
For devices with non-wireless modules (smart lighting, smart sockets, small home appliances with control modules), total cost ranges from CNY 10,000 to 31,500, with key influencing factors being the number of modules and supply chain complexity, as more suppliers mean higher verification fees. For product series (multiple models of power adapters/lighting with the same architecture), total cost for the main model ranges from CNY 8,000 to 25,000, with an additional CNY 3,000–6,000 per sub-model, and the key influencing factor is the degree of difference between sub-models and the main model, as smaller differences mean lower costs. For products requiring FCC ID switch (devices with Bluetooth/Wi-Fi modules), basic cost starts at CNY 6,000, with complex devices (e.g., multi-band routers) reaching CNY 25,000–60,000.
IV. 2026 FCC SDoC Compliance Certification Money-Saving Tips
SDoC certification costs can be reduced by 20%–30% through reasonable planning, and these methods are all compliant with 2026 new regulations and carry no compliance risks. First, apply for a series of products together: for products in the same series with consistent core circuits (e.g., power adapters of different wattages), select one model for full testing and conduct difference testing for others, which can save 30%–50% of basic testing fees and new regulation surcharges per model. Second, conduct initial supply chain screening independently: check if suppliers are on the "Covered List" through the FCC official website and screen for whitelisted suppliers, which can reduce third-party verification fees by 30%–50%. Third, choose non-NVLAP laboratories: non-NVLAP laboratories that meet the ANSI C63.4 standard charge 20%–30% lower testing fees than NVLAP-accredited laboratories, with sufficiently recognized reports, making them suitable for ordinary consumer products.
Under the new regulations, SDoC costs are no longer an administrative expense to "save wherever possible", but a "certainty investment" in US market access. A basic testing fee of CNY 1,000 is just an entry ticket; what truly determines costs is your attention to supply chain compliance and advance planning for risk prevention and control. For professional certification consulting services, contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140.
Related News
