Motor Driver IC List
Popular motor driver ICs for DC, stepper, and BLDC motors — voltage, current, and notable features.
Reference
DC / H-bridge
| IC | V range | I (cont.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L293D | 4.5–36 V | 0.6 A per ch | Classic; includes flyback diodes |
| L298N | up to 46 V | 2 A per ch | Widely cloned; wasteful (BJT) |
| TB6612FNG | 4.5–13.5 V | 1.2 A (3.2 A peak) | MOSFET, low drop |
| DRV8833 | 2.7–10.8 V | 1.5 A (2 A peak) | Dual H-bridge, tiny |
| DRV8871 | 6.5–45 V | 3.6 A peak | Single H-bridge, current limit |
| BTS7960 | 5.5–27 V | 43 A | Half-bridge for high-power DC |
Stepper
| IC | V | I / phase | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A4988 | 8–35 V | 2 A | Classic bipolar, up to 16× microstep |
| DRV8825 | 8.2–45 V | 2.5 A | Higher current, up to 32× microstep |
| TMC2208 | 5.5–36 V | 1.2 A RMS | Silent (StealthChop), very popular 3D printer |
| TMC2209 | 5.5–29 V | 2 A RMS | StealthChop + SpreadCycle, UART |
| TMC5160 | 8–60 V | 3 A RMS | High-end industrial |
| L6470 | 8–45 V | 3 A | Built-in motion controller, SPI |
BLDC / three-phase
| IC | V | I | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DRV8313 | 8–60 V | 2.5 A | Three half-bridge |
| L6234 | 7–52 V | 4 A | Used in BLDC, RepRap |
| SimpleFOC Shield | 5–30 V | 5 A | Arduino-friendly FOC |
| VESC (open firmware) | 8–60 V | 50+ A | E-bike, skateboard, robotics |
| TMC4671 | SPI config | 50 A with external MOSFETs | FOC servo IC |
Notes
- Always add flyback protection — most of these are built-in, but verify for your topology.
- Thermal pad to PCB is critical; 2-oz copper and multiple vias extend usable current.
Last updated: