Guide to basic PCB design using KiCAD
B. Groenen
April 22, 2025
1
Contents
1 Introduction 3
1.1 Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 Software 4
2.1 Schematic layout editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 PCB layout editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 Some tips 8
3.1 Component Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2 Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.3 PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Design Example 12
4.1 Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.2 LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
4.3 Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.4 Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.4.1 Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4.4.2 PCB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2
Simulate your
Idea Build the schematic Select components Design your PCB
schematic
Figure 1: Flowchart of the process of creating a PCB
1 Introduction
In a world driven by electronics on PCBs, how nice would it be to be able to
design your own. In this guide, the basics of PCB will be discussed with use
of the free open-source software KiCAD. KiCAD is a powerful solution with
support for custom libraries, SPICE simulation, a 3D viewer, and many other
things. A step-by-step approach will be taken in this guide followed by do’s and
don’ts. Fig. 1 displays the general steps to be taken when designing a PCB.
1.1 Terminology
Some terms will be used which can be unfamiliar, they will be explained below:
• Net: A net is nothing more than points that should be connected. One
or multiple wires can form a net.
• Footprint: The bottom of the physical component to be laid on top or
inserted in the PCB.
• BOM: Bill Of Materials, the exact components ordered from suppliers to
be used on your PCB.
• Ratsnest: Unrouted lines between components that should still be routed.
3
Figure 2: Schematic layout editor
2 Software
Once you open KiCAD, the project screen will appear where a new project can
be created. After creation, two files will be generated. These files will con-
tain the schematic (extension: .kicad sch) and the PCB layout file (extension:
.kicad pcb).
2.1 Schematic layout editor
Once the schematic file is opened, the screen shown in Fig. 2 The following
things and symbols depict important stuff:
• Area within red: This is the area in which the schematic is created.
• Op-amp: If clicked within the working space, a menu will pop up with
all the available components. It contains a wide variety of both passive
and active components. If needed components are not present, custom
libraries can be created and/or loaded in.
• Ground symbol: This button is for placing the power nets such as
ground, VDD, VSS, 3V3 and many more. Placing multiple of these with
the same voltage results in them being connected.
• Diagonal blue wire (thin): This will create a wire between two pins.
4
• Diagonal blue wire (thick): This will create a bus.
• Blue cross: In case a pin should be left unconnected and unused, the
blue cross can be placed on it. This will let the software know that it is
okay to be left unconnected.
• Wire with ’A’ above it: Placing a name above a wire gives it a name.
• Label with ’A’ in it: In case dragging a wire makes the schematic
cluttered, or the connection is towards another schematic page, a global
label can be placed. Just like with the power nets, if multiple global labels
share the same name, they will be connected.
• R?? to R42: This option will annotate components in case some com-
ponents have no number or should be renumbered.
• Op-amp and chip: After making the schematic and checking the annota-
tions, the real life footprint should be coupled to the component. Clicking
this option will open up that menu. Since most devices (resistors, capac-
itors, MOSFETS and ICs) can be acquired in multiple sizes, take a good
look at the datasheet and your BOM and use the built-in footprint viewer
to ensure the correct component will be placed on the PCB. In case the
wrong footprint is selected, it can be changed later.
• Checklist with red arrow: This feature checks whether the designed
schematic is logical and throws errors if things are not okay, or warnings
when things should be double-checked. In case an error can be ignored,
the errors can be excluded by right-clicking the error message.
To design our PCB, a netlist is needed. This draws blue lines (ratnests/rats)
between footprints that should be connected together when we design a
PCB. This can be generated by clicking File/Export/Export Netlist. A
menu pops up with different options so you can pick which PCB design
suite you want to export it for. Since we use KiCAD for this as well, keep
it on KiCAD en press Export Netlist.
5
Figure 3: PCB layout editor
2.2 PCB layout editor
After creating the schematic, the PCB design itself can begin. From the project
overview, the PCB editor can be opened. The overview of the tool is shown in
Fig. 3 In order to load in the designed schematic, press the button in the top
row resembling a conversion from schematic to PCB (fourth button from the
right). Now options can be selected and ’Update PCB’ can be pressed. Once
again, if errors pop up, these have to be fixed beforehand.
Now all components of the schematic will pop up on screen and can be dragged
towards the desired location. Make sure to set the grid size (next to the zoom
bar) to something that is not too fine or course for the desired application.
Components can be placed on top and bottom layers of the PCB, their location
can be freely chosen.
If more than two layers are desired, this needs to be specified under File →
Board Setup → Physical stackup. The amount of copper layers determine how
many layers the PCB has. After this the dielectric thickness has to be verified
for correctness.
The following symbols depict important functions on the right hand toolbar:
• Thin bent blue line: This option lets you route traces. The ’Track:
use netclass width’ defines the width of the trace, which determines its
characteristic impedance and current carrying capability. For more infor-
mation regarding current carrying capability, research IPC-2221. Pressing
’V’ whilst laying traces switches the layer and connects the layers with a
6
via.
• Blue zig zag line: This tool is used for length matching on existing
traces.
• Yellow ring: This is a via placing tool, connecting layers together. The
’Vias: use netclass sizes’ defines the sizes of the vias.
• Blue shape with via: This creates a copper pour over a specified area.
The net has to be selected as well as the layer and pad connection. Use
thermal reliefs when a large copper pour is used on a component that is
not carrying a lot of current, and solid connections when the pad carries
current. After creation of the pours, the zones still have to be filled, this
can be done by right clicking this symbol.
• Striped shape: This creates an exclusion zone in at copper pour area,
used for example under inductors to mitigate eddy currents.
• ’T’: This places text on your PCB on the specified layer.
Important functions on top:
• Capacitor through a board: This is the built-in 3D-viewer, for viewing
the PCB in 3D.
• Checklist with red arrow: This feature checks whether the designed
PCB does not have any errors.
After creating the PCB, the files should be exported to the Gerber format.
This is done by going to File → Fabrication Outputs → Gerbers (.gbr). Now
the relevant layers should be selected, drill files should be generated followed by
the generation of Gerber files. After this is done, the generated files should be
compressed into a .zip file to be sent to the PCB manufacturer. At least the
following layers have to be present for a 2-layer PCB:
• [Link] - Front copper layer
• [Link] - Back copper layer
• [Link] - Front silkscreen layer
• [Link] - Back silkscreen layer
• [Link] - Front soldermask layer
• [Link] - Back soldermask layer
• [Link] - Borders of the PCB
7
3 Some tips
3.1 Component Selection
Before getting started, important components such as ICs should be selected.
Make sure the chosen components are solderable by the party that is going to
solder the components to the PCB.
3.2 Schematic
When laying out the schematic, it is good practice to work with sheets as seen
in Fig. 4. This creates a neat overview from which subcircuits can be managed.
New sheets can be created on the root sheet by pressing Place → Add Sheet
and then clicking somewhere within the root sheet. The sub-circuit sheet should
also be structured, by seperating the sheet into parts and labelling them. An
example can be seen in Fig. 5.
3.3 PCB
The component placement is a very important step in creating a PCB, it should
take more time than routing the traces to the components to ensure a good
PCB. Components cannot be placed in each others courtyards. Courtyards are
the boundaries of the components.
Make sure that datasheets of the used ICs are read to see whether there are
any routing constraints. An example of this could be a power supply IC, which
will always say not to route the feedback line under switching nodes. Next to
this, respect the PCB manufacturers constraints. If these are not respected, the
PCB might not be produced correctly.
After placing the components, it is time to route the traces or lay copper pours.
It is a good practice to make at least one ground pour covering the whole board.
This provides easy and uniform access to signals going to ground. If there
are more layers to spare, cover these with ground pours or even power planes
(3.3 V ,5 V ). In case of high-speed PCB (PCBs with a lot of lines with signals
larger than a few M Hz), it is recommended to create a four layer PCB and
use the inner two layers for signalling and the outer layers for the power planes.
Make sure to only cross high-speed traces with other high-speed traces when
absolutely necessary. Also try to not route high-speed traces close together, as
this can incurr crosstalk. These signals are often differential or require a spe-
cific impedance, my personal recommendation is to calculate this with use of
the Saturn PCB design tool (link). Furthermore, when switching layers when
impedance matching, route two ground vias on the side of the switching point.
It should be noted that switching layers can bring a different impedance. It is
layer specific.
Make sure to couple ground pours together using enough vias. This ensures that
noise spikes induced by components on board are minimized. Edge stitching can
also be done. This tactic involves placing a lot of vias in a repeating pattern
8
Figure 4: Root sheet
9
Figure 5: Sub-circuit sheet
10
along the edge of the PCB.
Do not forget to make a PCB outline, which highlights the edges of your PCB.
Components should fall into this area (with an exception for overhanging con-
nectors). It does not have to be square and can even feature arcs or circles.
It is strongly recommended to add text to the PCB such as the title, revision
and connector names. This way, if more revisions are needed they can easily
be discerned. This text can be added in the copper layer, soldermask layer or
silkscreen layer.
11
4 Design Example
Assume a 5 V input signal has to be downconverted to 3.3 V and fed to a con-
nector, and to see whether it is active, it should drive an LED.
4.1 Power supply
First, the converter from 5 V to 3.3 V chosen is the LM1117. In the datasheet [1],
it states that it should be driven as seen as in Fig. 6
Figure 6: Power supply circuit with the LM1117
As seen in the picture, the IC should be driven by two capacitors of 10 µF . Now
it is time to choose the capacitors. Any arbitrary 10 µF capacitor will do, the
12065D106MAT2A (arbitrary) from Kyocera is chosen [2]. The supplier states
that the package is 1206 (Name for the SMD package).
4.2 LED
Now an arbitrary LED can be chosen. For this example, the Kingbright2 V
Green LED 5mm Through Hole is chosen [3]. For a voltage of 2 V typically
according to the datasheet it consumes a current of 5 mA. This means the
supply voltage of 3.3 V should drop 1.3 V under a current of 5 mA. With
Ohm’s law, this equates to a resistor of 260 Ω. This leads to the schematic in
Fig. 7.
12
260 Ω
3.3 V
Figure 7: Schematic LED
4.3 Connectors
Once again, any arbitrary connectors can be used, in this case 2x2.54 mm male
headers will be used.
4.4 Approach
4.4.1 Schematic
Since the preparations are done, KiCAD can be opened and a new project can be
created. Since this circuit is so small, no subsheets will be used and everything
will be created in the main sheet. Insert all the components, give them values
where necessary and organize them on the sheet. Afterwards, it should look
something like Fig. 8.
Figure 8: Schematic including footprints (not necessary in actual schematic)
13
Figure 9: Placement of components
4.4.2 PCB
Now the PCB can be created and the components can be placed where desired.
How to do this is stated in Section 2.2. An example of component placement
where compactness is kept into consideration is shown in Fig. 9. There will be
blue Ratsnest lines visible, this is the line between component pins that should
be connected.
Since the connectors have no text saying what should be connected. It should
be added in this stage. Next to that, the board outline can be drawn on the
edge cuts layer. The result is visible in Fig. 10 The LM1117 can handle a cur-
rent draw of 800 mA, which means according to the IPC-2221, a trace width of
0.434 mm is required to handle 800 mA while maximally heating 10 ◦ C. Also
make sure to place a ground pour. In the end, it could look something like
shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12.
14
Figure 10: Text and edge placement
Figure 11: Final PCB
15
Figure 12: 3D-view
References
[1] T. Instruments, “Lm1117 800-ma, low-dropout linear regulator.” [Online].
Available: [Link]
[2] Kyocera, “X5r dielectric, kgm series.” [Online]. Available: https:
//[Link]/datasheet/2/40/cx5r [Link]
[3] Kingbright, “T-1 3/4 (5mm) solid state lamp.” [Online]. Available:
[Link]
16