Two economical designs for high voltage amplifiers are described, and the performance of constructed units is characterized. The first amplifier is based on a design originating from the non‐neutral plasma group at UC San Diego, and is useful for driving capacitive loads such as the containment rings of Penning traps. The second is based on a design published by the Jones group of the University of Utah Chemistry Department, and is designed to power radio‐frequency (rf) guides and traps. Complete design specifications including schematics, PC board files and circuit simulation inputs are available for those interested in building either amplifier. © 2003 American Institute of Physics