KiCad "Board has malformed outline": fixing Edge.Cuts
KiCad design rule check (PCB) message: Board has malformed outline (invalid_outline in kicad-cli reports).
What it means
KiCad could not build a closed board shape from the Edge.Cuts layer. Usually two segments do not quite meet, segments overlap, or the outline crosses itself. Until it is fixed, zone fills, the 3D view and the Gerber outline are all unreliable. The DRC marker points at the problem spot.
Common causes
- Line endpoints that miss each other by a tiny amount, often after editing with grid snapping off.
- Duplicate or overlapping segments.
- Text or other graphics on Edge.Cuts.
- An imported DXF with open curves.
How to fix it
- Zoom into the marker and drag the endpoints together with snapping on.
- Delete duplicate segments and redraw the outline as one closed polygon or rectangle.
- Remove text and stray graphics from Edge.Cuts.
Find every “Board has malformed outline” on your board
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Check my KiCad projectRelated KiCad DRC checks
- Board edge clearance violation
- Text or graphic on Edge.Cuts layer (
text_on_edge_cuts)
Checked against KiCad 10's source and documentation. Last reviewed 2026-11-07.
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