MOSFET Threshold Voltage Calculator
Estimate MOSFET threshold voltage from oxide capacitance, substrate doping, surface potential, and body effect. Get fast Vth results for MOSFET design.
Threshold Voltage in MOSFETs
The threshold voltage \(V_T\) is the minimum gate voltage needed to form a conductive channel between source and drain. It depends on oxide capacitance, substrate doping, and surface potential.
Zero-Bias Threshold
$$V_{T0} = \frac{\sqrt{2\varepsilon_{\text{Si}}\, q\, N_A\, (2\phi_F)}}{C_0} - 2\phi_F$$\(\varepsilon_{\text{Si}}\) is silicon permittivity, \(q\) is elementary charge, \(N_A\) is acceptor doping concentration, \(C_0\) is oxide capacitance per unit area, and \(\phi_F\) is the surface potential for inversion.
Body Effect
When source and body are at different potentials:
$$V_T = V_{T0} + \gamma\left(\sqrt{2\phi_F + V_{sb}} - \sqrt{2\phi_F}\right)$$where the body effect coefficient is:
$$\gamma = \frac{\sqrt{2\varepsilon_{\text{Si}}\, q\, N_A}}{C_0}$$Related tools: MOSFET Calculator and Op-Amp Gain Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical threshold voltage?
Enhancement-mode n-channel MOSFETs in 5 V logic often have VT between 0.7 V and 1.0 V, though exact values vary with process technology.
What is the body effect?
When the source is not tied to the substrate, a back-gate bias raises the threshold voltage. This is called the body effect and matters in analog switches and cascode circuits.
What units should I use for doping?
Enter substrate doping in cm⁻³ and oxide capacitance in F/cm². The calculator uses SI-compatible semiconductor constants internally.
What is surface potential?
Surface potential φF relates to the energy difference between bulk and surface at inversion. Typical values range from 0.2 V to 0.4 V for silicon.
Does higher doping increase VT?
Yes. Higher acceptor concentration makes inversion harder to achieve, which generally increases the threshold voltage.