KiCad "Silkscreen clearance": overlapping silkscreen
KiCad design rule check (PCB) message: Silkscreen clearance (silk_overlap in kicad-cli reports).
What it means
Two silkscreen items overlap or sit closer than the silkscreen clearance, so the printed text or outlines run into each other. Move the text so every designator stays readable.
Common causes
- Dense placement with default reference positions.
- Text placed over another footprint's outline.
How to fix it
- Move or rotate the reference text.
- Hide designators you do not need on the board and use an assembly drawing instead.
Where the setting lives
Board Setup → Design Rules → Constraints → Silkscreen → Minimum item clearance.
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Checked against KiCad 10's source and documentation. Last reviewed 2026-11-07.
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