Antenna Keep-Out Zone for ESP32

flux

Yes. For a carrier PCB that accepts the ESP32-PICO-KIT-1 on female headers, define the antenna region so the antenna end of the module has a 5 mm unsupported overhang past the carrier board edge. The placement guidance explicitly says PCB-antenna Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth modules should use edgePlacementHints with the antenna extending beyond the board edge, and shows 5 mm as the common ESP32-family value
Recommended keep-out definition
Use this on the main PCB:

Table

ParameterRecommendation
Antenna overhang past board edge5 mm
Copper under antenna regionNone
Traces under antenna regionNone
Vias under antenna regionNone
Ground pour under antenna regionNone
Keep-out widthAt least the full width of the antenna portion of the module, preferably with a little side margin
How to think about the geometry
If the module is plugged in horizontally over your motherboard:
  • Put the antenna end at the edge of the main PCB
  • Let the antenna section of the module extend 5 mm beyond that edge
  • On the motherboard, keep the area directly under and immediately behind that antenna section clear of copper and routing
Practical footprint rule
When you place the two female headers on the main PCB, position them so that:
  • the module body is supported by the headers
  • the antenna section is not over solid carrier PCB
  • the carrier board edge falls about 5 mm before the tip of the antenna area
That aligns with the documented antenna-overhang guidance for PCB-antenna modules
Simple implementation rule
On the carrier PCB, create an antenna keep-out rectangle:
  • Depth: 5 mm from the carrier board edge inward reference to the antenna zone
  • Width: at least the antenna section width
  • Layers: top copper, bottom copper, and all internal copper
  • Also exclude: traces, vias, fills, and metal features in that area
If you want, I can help you translate that into an exact carrier-board footprint rule once you tell me:
  • which edge the antenna faces, and
  • the distance from the module header pins to the start of the antenna section.
Set top-edge keepout
Size keepout from pins
Add exact dimensions
Sign up to send

Files

Pins

Symbol

Layout

3D View

Name
Pin #
Type
Current
Max Current
Part Type
Pin Orientation
Section
IO20
J2_3
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
IO21
J2_4
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO22
J2_5
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO19
J2_6
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
IO23
J2_7
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO18
J2_8
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
IO5
J2_9
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
IO10
J2_10
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
IO9
J2_11
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
GPIO
RXD0
J2_12
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
CONTROL
TXD0
J2_13
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
CONTROL
IO35
J2_14
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO34
J2_15
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO38
J2_16
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO37
J2_17
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
EN
J2_18
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Left
CONTROL
GND_1
J2_19
Power In
0.25A
0.5A
Terminal
Right
POWER
VDD33_1
J2_20
Power In
0.25A
0.25A
Terminal
Left
POWER
GND
J3_3
Power In
0.25A
0.5A
Terminal
Right
POWER
SENSOR_VP
J3_4
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
CONTROL
SENSOR_VN
J3_5
Input
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
CONTROL
IO25
J3_6
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO
IO26
J3_7
Bi-Directional
0.04A
0.04A
Terminal
Right
GPIO

ESP32-PICO-KIT-1