A method for routing-based pin placement is provided and includes receiving a logical description of a macro of a partitioned circuit with connectivity information and a physical outline, generating an abstracted shape as an abstraction of a generic shape of a pin for providing a connection to the macro in accordance with the connectivity information as a shape conforming to dimensions of the macro, providing a routing tool with freedom to route a net for connection to the pin toward any part of the abstracted shape of the pin to create a routed net and identifying a location where the routed net crosses the physical outline as a chosen location for the pin.