Article details
Speed in AutoCAD comes from keeping your hands on the keyboard. Most drafters use a small set of commands for 90 percent of their work. Learn these first, and add the rest as you go. Type the shortcut, then press Enter or Space to run it.
1. Drawing Commands
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
L | LINE | Draw straight lines |
PL | POLYLINE | Connected segments as one object |
C | CIRCLE | Draw circles |
REC | RECTANGLE | Draw rectangles |
A | ARC | Draw arcs |
POL | POLYGON | Regular polygons |
EL | ELLIPSE | Ellipses |
SPL | SPLINE | Smooth curves |
XL | XLINE | Infinite construction lines |
PO | POINT | Place a point |
H | HATCH | Fill areas with patterns |
REG | REGION | Convert closed shapes to regions |
T / MT | MTEXT | Multiline text |
DT | TEXT | Single-line text |
2. Modify Commands
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
M | MOVE | Move objects |
CO / CP | COPY | Copy objects |
RO | ROTATE | Rotate objects |
SC | SCALE | Resize objects |
MI | MIRROR | Mirror objects |
O | OFFSET | Parallel copies (walls, borders) |
TR | TRIM | Cut objects at boundaries |
EX | EXTEND | Lengthen to a boundary |
F | FILLET | Round or join corners |
CHA | CHAMFER | Bevel corners |
S | STRETCH | Stretch with a crossing window |
AR | ARRAY | Rectangular, polar, or path copies |
E | ERASE | Delete objects |
X | EXPLODE | Break blocks and polylines apart |
BR | BREAK | Break an object between two points |
J | JOIN | Join lines, arcs, and polylines |
LEN | LENGTHEN | Change the length of an open object |
PE | PEDIT | Edit polylines |
AL | ALIGN | Align objects to others |
3. Annotation and Dimensioning
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
DLI | DIMLINEAR | Horizontal or vertical dimension |
DAL | DIMALIGNED | Dimension parallel to an object |
DAN | DIMANGULAR | Angle dimension |
DRA | DIMRADIUS | Radius dimension |
DDI | DIMDIAMETER | Diameter dimension |
DCO | DIMCONTINUE | Continue a chain of dimensions |
DBA | DIMBASELINE | Baseline dimensions |
D | DIMSTYLE | Dimension style manager |
LE / MLD | LEADER / MLEADER | Callouts with notes |
ST | STYLE | Text style manager |
4. Layers and Properties
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
LA | LAYER | Layer Properties Manager |
LAYISO | Layer isolate | Show only the selected object’s layer |
LAYUNISO | Layer unisolate | Restore all layers |
LAYOFF | Layer off | Turn off a selected object’s layer |
LAYFRZ | Layer freeze | Freeze a selected object’s layer |
LAYWALK | Layer walk | Step through layers |
MA | MATCHPROP | Copy properties between objects |
CH / PR / Ctrl+1 | PROPERTIES | Open the Properties palette |
LT | LINETYPE | Linetype manager |
LTS | LTSCALE | Linetype scale |
5. Blocks and References
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
B | BLOCK | Create a block |
I | INSERT | Insert a block |
W | WBLOCK | Save a block as a file |
BE | BEDIT | Edit a block |
XR | XREF | External references |
ATT | ATTDEF | Define block attributes |
6. Measuring and Inquiry
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
DI | DIST | Distance between two points |
AA | AREA | Area and perimeter |
LI | LIST | Details of a selected object |
ID | ID | Coordinates of a point |
MEA | MEASUREGEOM | Distance, radius, angle, area |
QSELECT | Quick select | Select by type or property |
CAL | CAL | Quick calculator |
7. View and Navigation
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
Z | ZOOM | Zoom options |
Z, E | Zoom extents | Fit the whole drawing |
Z, W | Zoom window | Zoom to a selected area |
Z, P | Zoom previous | Return to the previous view |
P | PAN | Move the view |
Mouse wheel | Zoom | Scroll to zoom, press and drag to pan |
Double-click wheel | Zoom extents | Fit all objects |
RE | REGEN | Refresh the display |
V | VIEW | Named views |
REGENALL | Regenerate all | Refresh all viewports |
8. Drawing Management
Shortcut | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
PU | PURGE | Remove unused items |
UN | UNITS | Set units |
OP | OPTIONS | Application settings |
DS | DSETTINGS | Drafting settings (snaps, polar) |
AUDIT | AUDIT | Check and fix errors |
RECOVER | RECOVER | Repair a damaged file |
SE | SECTION / SETTINGS | Varies by version |
PLOT | PLOT | Print or export |
PAGESETUP | Page setup | Layout plotting setup |
9. Function Keys
Key | Function |
|---|---|
F1 | Help |
F2 | Text window (command history) |
F3 | Object snap on/off |
F4 | 3D object snap |
F5 | Isoplane toggle |
F6 | Dynamic UCS |
F7 | Grid display |
F8 | Ortho mode |
F9 | Snap mode |
F10 | Polar tracking |
F11 | Object snap tracking |
F12 | Dynamic input |
Exact behavior of some keys varies by version and workspace settings.
10. Control Key Combinations
Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+N | New drawing |
Ctrl+O | Open drawing |
Ctrl+S | Save |
Ctrl+Shift+S | Save As |
Ctrl+P | Plot |
Ctrl+Z | Undo |
Ctrl+Y | Redo |
Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V | Copy / paste |
Ctrl+Shift+C | Copy with base point |
Ctrl+Shift+V | Paste as block |
Ctrl+A | Select all |
Ctrl+1 | Properties palette |
Ctrl+2 | DesignCenter |
Ctrl+3 | Tool palettes |
Ctrl+9 | Command line on/off |
Ctrl+0 | Clean screen |
Ctrl+Tab | Switch between open drawings |
Esc | Cancel the current command |
11. Object Snap Shortcuts
Hold Shift and right-click to open the snap menu, or type these during a command:
Snap | Type | Snaps to |
|---|---|---|
END | Endpoint | Line or arc ends |
MID | Midpoint | Center of a segment |
CEN | Center | Circle or arc center |
INT | Intersection | Where objects cross |
PER | Perpendicular | Right angle to an object |
TAN | Tangent | Tangent point on a circle |
NEA | Nearest | Closest point on an object |
QUA | Quadrant | 0, 90, 180, 270 degree points |
NOD | Node | Point object |
EXT | Extension | Along the extension of a line |
FRO | From | Offset from a reference point |
M2P | Mid between 2 points | Midpoint of two picked points |
12. Direct Distance Entry and Coordinates
Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
Type a number (with Ortho or Polar on) | Draw a line of that length in the cursor direction |
@x,y | Relative Cartesian coordinates |
@distance<angle | Relative polar coordinates |
x,y | Absolute coordinates |
#x,y | Absolute coordinates when Dynamic Input is on |
Example: L, click, 5000, Enter draws a 5000 mm line in the direction of the cursor.
13. Selection Tricks
Method | Result |
|---|---|
Window (drag left to right) | Selects objects fully inside |
Crossing (drag right to left) | Selects objects touched by the box |
Shift+click | Remove from selection |
Ctrl+A | Select everything |
SELECTSIMILAR | Select objects like the one selected |
Previous (type P) | Reselect the last selection |
Last (type L) | Select the last object created |
QSELECT | Filter by type, layer, or property |
14. Time-Saving Habits
Press Enter or Space to repeat the last command.
Right-click to open the recent commands menu.
Use OFFSET for walls instead of drawing each line.
Draw with polylines when you need areas and clean joins.
Use TRIM with Enter at the first prompt, so all objects become cutting edges.
Use Layer isolate to check one discipline at a time.
Use MATCHPROP instead of retyping properties.
Use blocks for repeated items such as doors and furniture.
Turn on Polar and Object Snap Tracking to avoid guide lines.
Use Dynamic Input to type lengths and angles near the cursor.
Save often and keep auto-save active.
Create custom aliases for commands you use most.
15. Creating Your Own Shortcuts
Type CUI, or go to Manage > Edit Aliases > Edit Aliases (in newer versions).
Open the acad.pgp file.
Add a line in this format:
ALIAS, *COMMAND(for example,DD, *DIMLINEAR).Save, then type REINIT and tick PGP file, or restart AutoCAD.
Choose aliases that do not clash with existing ones.
16. The Top 20 Hot List
If you remember only twenty, use these:
L, PL, C, REC, M, CO, RO, SC, MI, O, TR, EX, F, H, DLI, LA, MA, B, I, Z
Add F3, F8, F10, Ctrl+Z, and Ctrl+S, and you can handle most daily drafting.