Sheets, scales and title blocks
Sheets have to work printed full size, half size and as PDFs on a phone on site. Learn standard sheet sizes, sensible scales and what every title block must show.
In this lesson you will
- Choose sheet sizes and scales
- List the essential title block fields
- Add north points, scale bars and legends
- Keep drawings legible at reduced size
Sheet sizes
Most countries use ISO 216 sizes: A0 (841 × 1189 mm), A1 (594 × 841), A2, A3 (297 × 420), A4. Each is half the one before, so an A1 sheet prints at exactly half scale on A3. The US uses ANSI and ARCH sizes (e.g. ARCH D, 24 × 36 in). Keep one size throughout a set where you can.
Scales
State the scale and the sheet size ("1:100 @ A1") so people know the scale is wrong when printed smaller, and add a scale bar so measurements can still be read.
| Drawing | Typical metric scales | Typical imperial scales |
|---|---|---|
| Site plan | 1:200, 1:500 | 1" = 20', 1" = 40' |
| Floor plans, elevations, sections | 1:100, 1:50 | 1/8" = 1'-0", 1/4" = 1'-0" |
| Enlarged plans | 1:50, 1:20 | 1/2" = 1'-0" |
| Details | 1:10, 1:5, 1:2 | 1" = 1'-0", 3" = 1'-0" |
Title block
Include: project name and address, client, drawing title, sheet number, revision, scale and sheet size, date, drawn/checked/approved initials, issue status/purpose, company details, and a revision table. Many offices also include a disclaimer such as Do not scale; use figured dimensions.
Legibility
Drawings are routinely printed at half size and viewed on screens. Minimum text height of about 2.5 mm at full size, clear line weight hierarchy, and uncluttered annotation keep them usable. Test by printing a sheet at half size.
Exercise
Design a title block
- Draw an A1 or A3 title block with all the fields above.
- Add a revision table and an issue status field.
- Print or export at half size and check every field is legible.
You should end up with: A complete, legible title block.
Checklist
0 of 4 checked · saved on this device
Lesson quiz
An A1 drawing at 1:100 printed on A3 is at what scale?
Finished this lesson?
Taking the quiz marks it complete too. Your course page picks up where you stopped.
Free KitWren tools that help
- Merge PDFCombine multiple PDFs into one file, in any order, choosing which pages to include from each.
- PDF CompressorReduce PDF file size by recompressing images while keeping text sharp — free, private and in your browser.
- Add Page Numbers to PDFNumber PDF pages with your choice of position, style and starting number.
- Watermark PDFStamp text like “CONFIDENTIAL” or “DRAFT” diagonally across PDF pages.
- Sign PDFSign a PDF online for free: draw, type or upload your signature, add initials and the date, and download the signed PDF.
- Length ConverterConvert between metres, centimetres, millimetres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards and miles.
Free, independent learning material written for KitWren. We never provide software downloads, licence keys or cracks — use the official sources.