A novel method for optimizing the implementation of clock gating logic in digital circuits utilizing clock gating. The method over-approximates the clock gating function by removing the variable with the least influence on the resulting approximation function. Approximations of clock gating functions expressed in normal form are performed by removing an appropriate component from the function. Approximations of clock gating functions expressed in conjunctive normal form are performed by removing a clause from the function. Approximations of clock gating functions expressed in disjunctive normal form are performed by removing a literal from a clause in the function.