SN74HC02DR vs Alternatives: Quad NOR Gate Package & Temperature Selection Guide
Compare SN74HC02DR, SN74HC02D, SN74HC02N, SN74HC02NS, SN74HC02PW, and SN74HC02PWR by package, temp range, and cost to pick the right quad NOR gate variant.
Last updated: May 2026
Bottom Line: The SN74HC02DR is the go-to quad 2-input NOR gate for most production designs — it ships in a compact SOIC-8 reel and offers a proven HC CMOS process (2–6 V supply, 7 ns propagation delay, 5.2 mA output current). When reel size, temperature rating, or board footprint push you toward an alternative, the key decision factors are package format (SOIC vs DIP vs TSSOP vs SOP), operating temperature range (commercial 0–70 °C vs industrial –40–85 °C vs automotive –40–125 °C), and reel economy (tape-and-reel vs tube vs bulk). This guide walks through each parameter and maps them to the six variants in the SN74HC02 family so you can make the right call the first time.
What Is the SN74HC02 Family?
The SN74HC02 is Texas Instruments' quad 2-input NOR gate built on the high-speed CMOS (HC) process. Each device contains four independent NOR gates, each with two inputs and one output, packaged in a 14-pin body. The HC logic family operates from 2 V to 6 V, making it compatible with 3.3 V and 5 V microcontroller I/O banks without level shifting. Propagation delay is typically 7 ns at 5 V and 25 °C, placing it firmly in the "fast logic" category for glue logic and signal-conditioning tasks.
All six major variants — SN74HC02DR, SN74HC02D, SN74HC02N, SN74HC02NS, SN74HC02PW, and SN74HC02PWR — share the same silicon die and electrical characteristics. The differences lie entirely in package, packaging quantity, and temperature-grade options.
Key Selection Parameter 1: Package Format
The choice of physical package determines your PCB footprint, soldering process, and board density.
| Package Code | Package Type | Pin Pitch | Body Width | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D / DR | SOIC-14 | 1.27 mm | 3.9 mm | General SMD, wave/reflow |
| N | PDIP-14 | 2.54 mm | 6.35 mm | Prototyping, breadboard, THT |
| NS | SOP-14 | 1.27 mm | 5.3 mm (wide) | Legacy footprint compatibility |
| PW / PWR | TSSOP-14 | 0.65 mm | 4.4 mm | High-density SMD boards |
The SOIC (D/DR) package is the most versatile and easiest to hand-solder. The PDIP (N) package suits prototyping on breadboards or designs that require through-hole for mechanical robustness. The TSSOP (PW/PWR) package saves roughly 40% board area versus SOIC but requires a finer paste stencil and tighter pick-and-place tolerances. The SOP-NS is a wide-body SOIC variant sometimes preferred where legacy land patterns must be preserved.
Key Selection Parameter 2: Tape-and-Reel vs Tube vs Bulk
Packaging format affects per-unit cost, minimum order quantity (MOQ), and feeder setup on SMT lines.
- DR suffix (e.g., SN74HC02DR, SN74HC02PWR) — Tape-and-reel, typically 2500 parts/reel for SOIC or 2000 for TSSOP. Ideal for automated SMT production. Per-unit price is lowest at reel quantities.
- D suffix (SN74HC02D) — Tube packaging, 50–75 parts/tube. Suited for low-volume or hand-placed boards. MOQ is lower, but feeder setup still required.
- N suffix (SN74HC02N) — Bulk DIP, typically 25 or 50 parts/bag. Best for prototyping and hand assembly.
- NS suffix (SN74HC02NS) — Tube, wide-body SOP. Niche choice for boards with existing SOP-14 footprints.
- PW suffix (SN74HC02PW) — Tube TSSOP. Lower MOQ than PWR reel, suited for pilot runs.
For production volumes above 1000 units/month, the tape-and-reel variants (DR, PWR) almost always yield the lowest landed cost per gate when factoring in feeder efficiency and reduced handling.
Key Selection Parameter 3: Operating Temperature Range
The SN74HC02 family covers three temperature grades that map directly to application sectors.
Commercial grade (0 °C to +70 °C): Standard variants — SN74HC02DR, SN74HC02D, SN74HC02N, SN74HC02NS, SN74HC02PW, SN74HC02PWR — all carry the commercial temperature range unless explicitly marked otherwise. Sufficient for indoor consumer electronics, desktop peripherals, and lab instruments.
Industrial grade (–40 °C to +85 °C): The same part numbers are rated to –40 °C minimum on the HC process; TI's datasheet confirms the –40 to 85 °C range across the full voltage supply. This covers industrial PLCs, outdoor kiosks, and embedded systems in unconditioned enclosures.
Automotive grade (–40 °C to +125 °C, AEC-Q100 qualified): If your design targets automotive body electronics, ADAS, or under-hood applications, the standard SN74HC02 variants do NOT suffice. Use SN74HC02QDRQ1 or SN74HC02QPWRG4Q1, which carry AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualification (–40 °C to +105 °C ambient). Always verify the Q-grade suffix before releasing a BOM for automotive builds.
Key Selection Parameter 4: Board Density and Pitch Tolerance
Board real estate and assembly capability set the minimum viable package for your design.
- SOIC (D/DR): 1.27 mm pitch — compatible with most standard SMT lines and manual rework. Board area: ~51 mm² for SOIC-14.
- TSSOP (PW/PWR): 0.65 mm pitch — requires paste printing accuracy < ±0.1 mm. Board area: ~29 mm² for TSSOP-14, a 43% reduction.
- PDIP (N): 2.54 mm pitch — through-hole, cannot be used on reflow-only boards. Occupies the largest footprint but tolerates all soldering methods.
If your contract manufacturer supports 0402 passives and fine-pitch BGAs, they certainly handle TSSOP. For boards assembled in-house or by low-cost shops with older equipment, stick with SOIC.
Key Selection Parameter 5: Price and Availability
Within the SN74HC02 family, street price varies primarily by packaging quantity and market conditions, not by electrical variant.
Representative pricing (spot market, May 2026, quantities 1000+):
| Part Number | Package | Typical Price (USD, 1000 pcs) |
|---|---|---|
| SN74HC02DR | SOIC-14 T&R | $0.06–0.10 |
| SN74HC02D | SOIC-14 Tube | $0.07–0.12 |
| SN74HC02N | PDIP-14 Bulk | $0.09–0.15 |
| SN74HC02PW | TSSOP-14 Tube | $0.07–0.11 |
| SN74HC02PWR | TSSOP-14 T&R | $0.06–0.10 |
| SN74HC02NS | SOP-14 Tube | $0.08–0.13 |
Pricing converges at high volumes; the 2–3× spread between 10-piece and 10 000-piece orders is where package choice matters most. Use FindMyChip's quote tool to compare live distributor pricing across all variants simultaneously. You can also search across 200+ verified distributors for the best available stock.
Key Selection Parameter 6: Supply Chain Depth and Lead Time
The SN74HC02DR is TI's flagship reel variant and commands the deepest distributor inventory globally. When spot supply is constrained, the D (tube) variant often has independent inventory that is not co-depleted with reel stock.
The PDIP (N) variant sees slower replenishment cycles as production lines shift to SMD-only. If you design a new board with an N-package NOR gate, consider the D or DR as a drop-in replacement now to avoid obsolescence exposure in three to five years.
Recommended Products Comparison Table
| Product | Package | Qty/Reel or Pkg | Temp Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SN74HC02DR | SOIC-14 T&R | 2500/reel | –40 to +85 °C | High-volume SMT production |
| SN74HC02D | SOIC-14 Tube | 50/tube | –40 to +85 °C | Low-volume / pilot runs |
| SN74HC02N | PDIP-14 Bulk | 25/bag | –40 to +85 °C | Prototyping / breadboard |
| SN74HC02PW | TSSOP-14 Tube | 50/tube | –40 to +85 °C | High-density SMD, pilot |
| SN74HC02PWR | TSSOP-14 T&R | 2000/reel | –40 to +85 °C | High-density SMT production |
| SN74HC02NS | SOP-14 Tube | 50/tube | –40 to +85 °C | Legacy footprint compatibility |
Selection Decision Flowchart
Use the following logic to choose your variant:
Is your application automotive (under-hood or AEC-Q100 required)?
- Yes → Use SN74HC02QDRQ1 (SOIC T&R) or SN74HC02QPWRG4Q1 (TSSOP T&R). Stop here.
- No → Continue.
Is this a prototype or low-volume build (< 100 pcs)?
- Yes, need breadboard → Use SN74HC02N (PDIP).
- Yes, need SMD → Use SN74HC02D or SN74HC02PW (tube).
- No → Continue.
Does your board require high-density assembly (< 30 mm² per 14-pin device)?
- Yes → Use SN74HC02PWR (TSSOP T&R for production) or SN74HC02PW (TSSOP tube for pilot).
- No → Continue.
Is production volume ≥ 1000 units/month?
- Yes → Use SN74HC02DR (SOIC T&R reel).
- No → Use SN74HC02D (SOIC tube).
Do you have a legacy wide-body SOP footprint?
- Yes → Use SN74HC02NS.
FAQ
What is the difference between SN74HC02DR and SN74HC02D?
Both are the same SOIC-14 quad NOR gate with identical electrical specifications. The only difference is packaging: SN74HC02DR ships in tape-and-reel (2500 parts/reel) for automated SMT production, while SN74HC02D comes in tubes (typically 50 parts/tube) for lower-volume assembly. Choose DR for production efficiency and D when you need a smaller minimum order quantity or faster sampling.
Can I replace SN74HC02N (DIP) with SN74HC02D (SOIC) on the same board?
No, not directly — the PDIP and SOIC packages have different footprints and pin pitches (2.54 mm vs 1.27 mm). You would need a PCB respun with the SOIC land pattern. The electrical function is identical, so a PCB change is the only work required. For new designs, it is strongly recommended to adopt the SOIC or TSSOP package to future-proof against PDIP end-of-life.
Is the SN74HC02DR automotive-grade?
No. The standard SN74HC02DR is rated –40 °C to +85 °C (industrial temperature) but does not carry AEC-Q100 qualification. For automotive applications requiring AEC-Q100 Grade 2 compliance and 125 °C operation, use TI's automotive variants with the Q suffix in the part number.
What is the maximum supply voltage for the SN74HC02 family?
The SN74HC02 family is specified for operation from 2 V to 6 V. Maximum absolute supply voltage is 7 V. At 3.3 V, output drive current is approximately 4 mA; at 5 V it rises to 5.2 mA. This wide supply range makes the device compatible with virtually all modern microcontrollers, including 3.3 V ARM Cortex MCUs and 5 V AVR-based systems.
How does TSSOP (SN74HC02PW/PWR) compare to SOIC (SN74HC02D/DR) for thermal performance?
Both packages have similar thermal resistance for low-power logic devices — the SN74HC02 dissipates at most a few milliwatts in typical glue logic use, far below the package's thermal limits. TSSOP saves 43% board area but requires tighter solder paste registration (0.65 mm vs 1.27 mm pitch). Thermal performance is not a differentiator for this device; footprint and assembly capability are the deciding factors.
Conclusion
The SN74HC02 family covers every common deployment scenario for a quad 2-input NOR gate:
- SN74HC02DR — the production default; SOIC T&R, industrial temp, deepest stock.
- SN74HC02D — SOIC tube for pilots and low-volume orders.
- SN74HC02N — PDIP for prototyping only; plan to migrate to SMD for production.
- SN74HC02PW / PWR — TSSOP for space-constrained boards; PW for pilots, PWR for production.
- SN74HC02NS — SOP wide-body for legacy footprints.
Start your component search at FindMyChip to compare live pricing and real-time stock from 200+ verified distributors. Need a large-volume quotation? Submit a BOM or single-line quote request and receive a response within 24 hours backed by FindMyChip's 5-point anti-counterfeit authentication process.