Techniques facilitating local optimization of quantum circuits are provided. In one example, a computer-implemented method comprises applying, by a device operatively coupled to a processor, respective weights to matrix elements of a first matrix corresponding to a quantum circuit according to respective numbers of quantum gates between respective pairs of qubits in the quantum circuit; transforming, by the device, the first matrix into a second matrix based on the respective weights of the matrix elements; and permuting, by the device, respective qubits in the quantum circuit according to the second matrix, resulting in a permuted quantum circuit.