diff --git a/include/wxPcbStruct.h b/include/wxPcbStruct.h
index 292920a710..010f6ec159 100644
--- a/include/wxPcbStruct.h
+++ b/include/wxPcbStruct.h
@@ -1582,14 +1582,17 @@ public:
      * @param aFootprints: a list of footprints to be spread out.
      * @param aMoveFootprintsOutsideBoardOnly: true to move only
      *        footprints outside the board outlines
-     *        (they are outside if the position of a footprint is outside
-     *        the board outlines bounding box).
+     *        (they are outside if the position of a footprint anchor is outside
+     *        the board outlines bounding box). It imply the board outlines exist
      * @param aCheckForBoardEdges: true to try to place footprints outside of
-     *        board edges.
+     *        board edges, if aSpreadAreaPosition is incorrectly chosen.
+     * @param aSpreadAreaPosition the position of the upper left corner of the
+     *        area used to spread footprints
      */
     void SpreadFootprints( std::vector<MODULE*>* aFootprints,
                            bool                  aMoveFootprintsOutsideBoardOnly,
-                           bool                  aCheckForBoardEdges );
+                           bool                  aCheckForBoardEdges,
+                           wxPoint               aSpreadAreaPosition );
 
     /**
      * Function AutoPlaceModule
diff --git a/pcbnew/autorouter/move_and_route_event_functions.cpp b/pcbnew/autorouter/move_and_route_event_functions.cpp
index c09aa5fca6..90aad416f9 100644
--- a/pcbnew/autorouter/move_and_route_event_functions.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/autorouter/move_and_route_event_functions.cpp
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::OnPlaceOrRouteFootprints( wxCommandEvent& event )
             for( ; footprint != NULL; footprint = footprint->Next() )
                 footprintList.push_back( footprint );
 
-            SpreadFootprints( &footprintList, id == ID_POPUP_PCB_SPREAD_NEW_MODULES, true );
+            SpreadFootprints( &footprintList, id == ID_POPUP_PCB_SPREAD_NEW_MODULES,
+                              true, GetCrossHairPosition() );
         }
         break;
 
diff --git a/pcbnew/autorouter/spread_footprints.cpp b/pcbnew/autorouter/spread_footprints.cpp
index e67e5c0aad..94a2a01a1e 100644
--- a/pcbnew/autorouter/spread_footprints.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/autorouter/spread_footprints.cpp
@@ -172,12 +172,13 @@ static bool sortFootprintsbySheetPath( MODULE* ref, MODULE* compare );
  */
 void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SpreadFootprints( std::vector<MODULE*>* aFootprints,
                                        bool aMoveFootprintsOutsideBoardOnly,
-                                       bool aCheckForBoardEdges )
+                                       bool aCheckForBoardEdges,
+                                       wxPoint aSpreadAreaPosition )
 {
     EDA_RECT bbox = GetBoard()->ComputeBoundingBox( true );
-    bool     edgesExist = ( bbox.GetWidth() || bbox.GetHeight() );
+    bool     edgesExist = bbox.GetWidth() || bbox.GetHeight();
     // if aFootprintsOutsideBoardOnly is true, and if board outline exists,
-    // wue have to filter footprints to move:
+    // we have to filter footprints to move:
     bool outsideBrdFilter = aMoveFootprintsOutsideBoardOnly && edgesExist;
 
     // no edges exist
@@ -234,16 +235,20 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::SpreadFootprints( std::vector<MODULE*>* aFootprints,
     double subsurface;
     double placementsurface = 0.0;
 
-    wxPoint placementAreaPosition = GetCrossHairPosition();
+    // put the placement area position on mouse cursor.
+    // this position will be adjusted later
+    wxPoint placementAreaPosition = aSpreadAreaPosition;
 
     // We sometimes do not want to move footprints inside an existing board.
-    // move the placement area position outside the board bounding box
+    // Therefore, move the placement area position outside the board bounding box
     // to the left of the board
-    if( edgesExist && aCheckForBoardEdges )
+    if( aCheckForBoardEdges && edgesExist )
     {
         if( placementAreaPosition.x < bbox.GetEnd().x &&
             placementAreaPosition.y < bbox.GetEnd().y )
         {
+            // the placement area could overlap the board
+            // move its position to a safe location
             placementAreaPosition.x = bbox.GetEnd().x;
             placementAreaPosition.y = bbox.GetOrigin().y;
         }
diff --git a/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_update_pcb.cpp b/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_update_pcb.cpp
index 64796eafee..7efcda67b0 100644
--- a/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_update_pcb.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/dialogs/dialog_update_pcb.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void DIALOG_UPDATE_PCB::PerformUpdate( bool aDryRun )
 
     if( m_frame->IsGalCanvasActive() )
     {
-        m_frame->SpreadFootprints( &newFootprints, false, false );
+        m_frame->SpreadFootprints( &newFootprints, false, false, m_frame->GetCrossHairPosition() );
 
         if( !newFootprints.empty() )
         {
diff --git a/pcbnew/netlist.cpp b/pcbnew/netlist.cpp
index aff9cf95f9..c83c1994ab 100644
--- a/pcbnew/netlist.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/netlist.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::ReadPcbNetlist( const wxString& aNetlistFileName,
     KIGFX::VIEW*    view = GetGalCanvas()->GetView();
     BOARD*          board = GetBoard();
     std::vector<MODULE*> newFootprints;
+    // keep trace of the initial baord area, if we want to place new footprints
+    // outside the existinag board
+    EDA_RECT bbox = GetBoard()->ComputeBoundingBox( false );
 
     netlist.SetIsDryRun( aIsDryRun );
     netlist.SetFindByTimeStamp( aSelectByTimeStamp );
@@ -124,7 +127,8 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::ReadPcbNetlist( const wxString& aNetlistFileName,
 
     if( IsGalCanvasActive() )
     {
-        SpreadFootprints( &newFootprints, false, false );
+        SpreadFootprints( &newFootprints, false, false, GetCrossHairPosition() );
+
         if( !newFootprints.empty() )
         {
             for( MODULE* footprint : newFootprints )
@@ -134,6 +138,17 @@ void PCB_EDIT_FRAME::ReadPcbNetlist( const wxString& aNetlistFileName,
             m_toolManager->InvokeTool( "pcbnew.InteractiveEdit" );
         }
     }
+    else
+    {
+        wxPoint placementAreaPosition;
+
+        // Place area to the left side of the board.
+        // if the board is empty, the bbox position is (0,0)
+        placementAreaPosition.x = bbox.GetEnd().x + Millimeter2iu( 10 );
+        placementAreaPosition.y = bbox.GetOrigin().y;
+
+        SpreadFootprints( &newFootprints, false, false, placementAreaPosition );
+    }
 
     OnModify();