Paper size

AutoCAD scale factor: Setup

Tutorial45 AutoCAD tips ANSI sizes

This is a very important topic when it comes to working on a project destined for either implementation Sheet size Dimensions in " Dimension in mm
or team-work.
When working on a project, it is necessary to select the scale at which you will eventually plot the drawing. ANSI A 8.5 × 11 216 × 279
You need to be able to draw while having in mind the relationship the object in real world and the object plotted
on paper will have. ANSI B 11 × 17 279 × 432
For real project, you should not just come up with some arbitrary scale based on what looks normal on
whatever paper size you want to plot on. There exist a set of standard of Drawing Scale and Drawing Scale factor
acceptable for the discipline you happen to work in. ANSI C 17 × 22 432 × 559

CAD users use two different terms while talking about a drawing intended to be plotted: ANSI D 22 × 34 559 × 864
Drawing Scale and Drawing Scale Factor
ANSI E 34 × 44 864 × 1118
What does scale factor mean?
A scale factor is simply a factor by which a drawing is scaled.

Drawing Scale VS. Drawing Scale factor ISO sizes

The Drawing Scale has been around since the beginning of technical drawing and on-paper graphic
representation of objects. It existed long before CAD. Drawing Scale are expressed with / or : such as 1/2 or Sheet size Dimensions in mm Descriptions
1:100.
Let’s take this as an example: Drawing scale 1:10 simply means that 1 unit on the plotted drawing ISO A0 841x 1189 Gives A1 when folded lengthwise into 2
corresponds to 10 units in the real world.
The Drawing Scale factor is a single number that represents a multiplier. The Drawing Scale factor of a ISO A1 594 x 841 Gives A2 when folded lengthwise into 2
drawing is the conversion factor between a measurement on the plot and the measurement in the real world.
You can find in the following table some common Drawing scale and Drawing scale factor that you might
ISO A2 420 x 594 Gives A3 when folded lengthwise into 2
make use of while working with AutoCAD

Drawing Scale and Scale factor ISO A3 297 x 420 Gives A4 when folded lengthwise into 2

Drawing Scale Drawing Scale Factor Uses

ISO A4 210 x 297

1/16" 192 Large building plans

1/8" 96 Medium size building plans Architectural sizes

Sheet Size Dimensions in "
1/4" 48 House plans
Architectural large E 36 x 48
1/2" 24 Small building plans
Architectural E 30 x 48
1" 12 Details
Architectural D 24 x 36
1:200 200 Large building plans
Architectural C 18 x 24
1:100 100 Medium size building plans
Architectural B 12 x 18
1:50 50 House plans

Architectural A 9 x 12
1:20 20 Small building plans
The selection of a particular sheet size is based on the common practices in your industry. You have to
1:10 10 Details narrow your choice based on the standard of your industry. If you know the desired sheet size and the
drawing scale factor, you can calculate the available drawing area with zero hassle.
Having an opinion about the paper size is crucial to the Drawing scale you are using while designing.
 Reversely, if you know the sheet size and the world size of what you are going to draw, you can find
the largest plot scale you can use. Simply divide the needed world drawing area’s length and width by
the dimensions of the sheet.