Australia, New Zealand, United States, European Union

How much does product certification cost, and how long does it take?

For a typical connected electronic product, certification for one market costs roughly A$10,000 to A$70,000 and takes 6 to 16 weeks after design freeze, mostly lab testing. Each extra market adds registrations and some extra tests, but one CB Scheme safety report and shared EMC and radio testing keep the increase small.

Last reviewed 27 October 2026 · A planning guide, not legal or certification advice.

Check your exact product

Roadblock lists every step that applies to what you’re launching, for each market, in order.

Try: “A Wi-Fi smart plug sold in Australia, New Zealand, the EU and US”

What drives the cost

Lab testing is most of the spend: electrical safety, EMC, and radio for each transmitter. Complexity matters (a simple plug-pack product costs a fraction of a motor-driven appliance), and so does the number of radios. Certificates, registrations and documentation add smaller amounts, and some registrations are yearly fees.

What drives the time

Testing can only start once the design is frozen, and a failed test means a fix and a retest. Labs work through tests that use the same equipment one after another, so plan for staggered reports rather than everything at once. Certificates and declarations follow the tests they depend on. Design-stage work such as cyber security should be finished before freeze.

How to keep it down

Use pre-certified radio modules and power supplies.
Get one CB Scheme safety report with the national differences for every market you need.
Run a pre-compliance EMC scan before formal testing.
Freeze the design before booking the lab.

The table below shows planning ranges from Roadblock’s register for common steps. Real quotes vary by lab and product, so treat them as a budget guide.

Steps, time and cost

Planning ranges from Roadblock’s register (A$, excluding your own staff time). Which steps apply depends on the product; run an analysis for yours.

Step	Market	Typical time	Typical cost
Electrical safety testing	All markets	4–12 wk	A$4,000–40,000
EMC testing	AU / NZ / EU	2–4 wk	A$3,000–18,000
Radio and RF exposure testing	AU / NZ	2–4 wk	A$3,000–10,000
Radio Equipment Directive testing	EU	3–6 wk	A$4,000–15,000
FCC Part 15 Subpart B testing and SDoC	US	2–4 wk	A$1,500–4,000
FCC equipment certification (FCC ID)	US	4–8 wk	A$5,000–15,000
RED cybersecurity requirements	EU	4–10 wk	A$5,000–25,000
EESS Level 3 certificate and model registration	AU	4–8 wk	A$3,000–8,000
EU technical file, Declaration of Conformity and CE marking	EU	1–2 wk	A$1,000–5,000
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity and RCM marking	AU	1 wk	A$0–1,000

Questions

How much does it cost to certify an electronic product?

Roughly A$10,000 to A$70,000 per market for a typical connected product, mostly lab testing. Simple products without radios can cost a few thousand; complex or high-risk ones much more.

How long does product certification take?

Usually 6 to 16 weeks after design freeze. Long-lead items such as Level 3 certificates or notified body reviews add more.

Can one test report cover several countries?

Often. A CB Scheme safety report with national differences is accepted as evidence in Australia, New Zealand, the EU and many other markets (and can support the NRTL listing US retailers often ask for), and EMC testing can be run to several standards at once.