AutoCAD for beginners

Start here if you are new to AutoCAD. You will learn the interface, how to move around a drawing, units and coordinates, and the core drawing and editing commands used every day.

13 lessons · about 2.9 hours · free

Drawing and editing basics

1. 1. What is AutoCAD?

   AutoCAD is a computer-aided design (CAD) program for precise 2D drawings and 3D models. Learn what it does, who uses it and how drawings are stored before you draw your first line.

   • • Explain what CAD is and why drawings are made in it
   • • Know the difference between AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT
   • • Recognise DWG, DWT and DXF files

   12 min

2. 2. The AutoCAD interface and workspace

   Find your way around AutoCAD: where the tools are, how the command line talks to you, and how to set up a clean workspace for 2D drafting.

   • • Name the main parts of the AutoCAD window
   • • Start commands from the ribbon, the command line and shortcuts
   • • Read command prompts and choose options

   15 min

3. 3. Navigating drawings: zoom, pan and views

   Most of your time in AutoCAD is spent moving around the drawing. Learn the mouse moves and zoom commands that make navigation effortless.

   • • Zoom and pan with the mouse
   • • Use Zoom Extents, Window and Previous
   • • Fix a drawing that is ‘lost’ off screen

   10 min

4. 4. Drawing units and working full size

   AutoCAD doesn’t know what “1” means until you decide. Choose your units once, draw everything full size, and scale problems never happen.

   • • Understand that one AutoCAD unit can mean any real unit
   • • Set units with the UNITS dialog and templates
   • • Choose between millimetres, metres and feet-inches

   12 min

5. 5. Coordinates: absolute, relative and polar

   Coordinates are how you tell AutoCAD exactly where points go. Master the three ways to type a point and you can draw anything precisely without a single guess.

   • • Understand the X,Y coordinate system and the origin
   • • Enter absolute, relative and polar coordinates
   • • Know how Dynamic Input changes the default

   18 min

6. 6. Basic drawing: aids, selection and undo

   Before learning individual shapes, learn the drawing aids that keep lines straight and exact, and the few commands you will use hundreds of times a day.

   • • Use Ortho and Polar tracking to draw straight and angled lines
   • • Use direct distance entry
   • • Draw rectangles precisely

   14 min

7. 7. Drawing lines accurately

   LINE is the command you will use more than any other. Learn its options and a reliable routine for drawing lines that are exactly the right length and angle.

   • • Draw connected line segments with LINE
   • • Use the Close and Undo options
   • • Draw lines at exact angles

   12 min

8. 8. Polylines: one object, many segments

   A polyline is a chain of line and arc segments stored as one object. It is the right tool for outlines, walls, boundaries and anything you will offset or measure.

   • • Draw polylines with line and arc segments
   • • Know when to use a polyline instead of lines
   • • Join and explode objects

   14 min

9. 9. Circles and arcs

   Circles and arcs appear everywhere — columns, pipes, door swings, curved walls. Learn the drawing methods and when each one is the right choice.

   • • Draw circles by centre, diameter, points and tangents
   • • Draw arcs with the common methods
   • • Draw a door swing

   14 min

10. 10. Trim and extend

    Drafting is often “draw long, then trim back”. TRIM and EXTEND tidy intersections in seconds and are among the most used editing commands.

    • • Trim objects back to other objects
    • • Extend objects to meet boundaries
    • • Use Quick and Standard modes

    12 min

11. 11. Offset: parallel copies at a distance

    OFFSET creates a parallel copy of a line, arc, circle or polyline at a set distance. It’s how drafters turn a single line into a wall, a kerb or a boundary setback.

    • • Offset objects by a set distance
    • • Use the Through, Erase and Layer options
    • • Offset polylines to create walls

    12 min

12. 12. Move, copy and rotate

    Moving, copying and rotating are how you reuse work. The key is the base point: pick it on something meaningful and every placement is exact.

    • • Move and copy objects with base points and displacements
    • • Make multiple and arrayed copies
    • • Rotate by an angle or by reference

    15 min

13. 13. Scale and mirror

    SCALE resizes objects about a base point; MIRROR flips them across a line. Together they save hours on symmetrical buildings and on drawings that arrive at the wrong size.

    • • Scale objects by a factor
    • • Scale to a known length with Reference
    • • Mirror objects and keep text readable

    12 min