KiCad Footprint Generator

KiCad ships a footprint wizard for common packages, but it still needs you to measure the drawing and type every dimension. PartSpark reads the package drawing from the datasheet and writes a .kicad_mod file directly: pads on the right layers, courtyard and outline, a silkscreen pin 1 marker, and a 3D model reference for the KiCad 3D viewer on paid plans.

  • Native .kicad_mod output that drops into any .pretty library folder
  • Copper, mask, paste, silkscreen, and courtyard layers populated
  • IPC-7351B pad calculations from the datasheet land pattern
  • STEP and WRL model reference for the 3D viewer (paid plans)

Live generator

Generate a KiCad footprint now

Enter the part number or attach the package drawing. Download the .kicad_mod file, or the full KiCad bundle with symbol and 3D model.

Up to 6 files / 20 MB each / 22 MB total

How to use it

Three steps, start to library.

  1. [01]

    Generate

    Type the manufacturer part number, or attach the datasheet PDF (or a photo of the pinout and package pages) for unusual parts. A generation takes about a minute.

  2. [02]

    Check the land pattern

    Compare pitch, pad size, row spacing, exposed pad, and pin 1 with the package drawing. The generator’s notes list every dimension it used and anything it assumed.

  3. [03]

    Add to KiCad

    Save the .kicad_mod in a .pretty folder and add it under Preferences → Manage Footprint Libraries. Use the nickname ProtoFlow.pretty if you also import the generated symbol, so its Footprint field resolves.

Doing it by hand, or want to know what to check? Step-by-step guides: how to create a kicad symbol from a datasheet; how to turn a package drawing into a kicad footprint; how to check a generated symbol and footprint before fabrication.

Limits to know

What it won’t do for you.

  • When the datasheet has no recommended land pattern, the footprint falls back to IPC-7351B conventions or KiCad’s standard footprint for the package, and the generator’s notes say so.
  • Slotted (oval) drill holes and non-plated mounting holes aren’t supported yet. Connectors that need them, such as many USB-C receptacles, need those holes added by hand.
  • Optional thermal vias in a manufacturer drawing are left out. Add them in layout if you need them.
  • Free accounts get the symbol and footprint. 3D STEP/WRL models are on paid plans.

The guide to checking a generated symbol and footprint before fabrication shows real cases where these limits mattered.

Example output

Real parts, checked against the datasheet.

These were generated from the part number alone, then every pin and pad was checked against the manufacturer datasheet. Download the files and open them in KiCad yourself.

FAQ

Common questions

Where do I put the .kicad_mod file?
Save it into a folder ending in .pretty (for example MyParts.pretty) and register that folder under Preferences → Manage Footprint Libraries. The generated symbol references the footprint as ProtoFlow.pretty:<footprint name>, so either use ProtoFlow.pretty as the nickname or update the symbol’s Footprint field to your library’s nickname.
Does it handle through-hole parts as well as SMD?
Yes. SMD pads carry copper, mask, and paste; through-hole pads carry drill sizes and annular rings taken from the drawing. Connectors and headers with mixed pad types work the same way.
Can it generate the 3D model too?
Paid plans generate a STEP and WRL model alongside the footprint and pre-fill the 3D model path, so the part shows up in the KiCad 3D viewer once you place it.

Need a different tool? AI KiCad Part Generator · Altium Designer Part Generator · EAGLE Library Generator · Cadence Allegro PCB Footprint Generator · Datasheet to Schematic Symbol Converter · AI Schematic Symbol Generator · AI PCB Footprint Generator · KiCad Symbol Generator