Design Your Own PCB with KiCad
Turn a messy breadboard into a professional circuit board you can order online.
KiCad is free, professional PCB software. Draw the schematic, lay out the board, export Gerber files and a fab house ships you real boards — often for a few dollars each.
Video tutorial
Video by Tech Explorations, embedded from YouTube. The written steps below are our own and match the parts list.
Mission steps
Draw the schematic
Place symbols (resistors, headers, sensors) and wire them. Run the Electrical Rules Check.
Assign footprints
Match each symbol to its physical footprint — through-hole is easiest to solder by hand.
Lay out the board
Place parts, route traces (wider for power), add a ground pour and mounting holes. A Pi HAT outline template saves time.
Check and export
Run the Design Rules Check, view it in 3D, then export Gerbers and a drill file.
Order and assemble
Upload the files to a PCB manufacturer, wait for delivery and solder your parts.
Questions
Is KiCad really free?
Yes — free and open source, with no board-size limits, on Windows, macOS and Linux.