AutoCAD for beginners

Learn AutoCAD basics for beginners, including selection, creation, modification, formatting, and hatching, plus layers and annotation, with a hands-on small project to build productive, fast workflows.

Compare AutoCAD full version with LT and note key limits, then master the interface—app button, quick access bar, tabs, panels, and command bar—to start drawing on Windows or Mac.

Enable faster drawing in AutoCAD by configuring options to repeat the last command with right-click, accessed by typing op or the app button, then apply and close.

Set a proper drawing unit in AutoCAD by opening drawing units, selecting a scale, choosing meters or centimeters, and using decimal length type for exact measurements.

Explore toggle bar commands, grid visibility, polar tracking with degree options, orthomode, object snap settings, quick properties, and dynamic input to streamline drawing in AutoCAD.

Explore three AutoCAD selection tools for beginners: blue window selection, green crossing selection window, and click-and-drag to include objects. Deselect with Esc and select all with Ctrl+A.

Learn to draw a line and a polyline in AutoCAD, using L or the command bar, specify first and last points, and finish with Esc or right-click.

Learn to draw circles in AutoCAD by specifying the center with the C command, then set radius or diameter, and draw arcs using the A command with three points.

Learn to draw a rectangle in AutoCAD using the rec command, either by two corner points or by entering length and width, such as 10 by 5.

Learn how to move and copy objects in AutoCAD for beginners, using base point selection and block copy to treat multiple elements as one object.

Rotate objects with RO by selecting the object, base point, and entering the angle. Scale with SC by selecting, choosing a base point, and typing a factor such as 2.

Explore offset and mirror commands in AutoCAD for beginners, including offset distance like 0.15 and using mirror to copy and rotate across a defined line with erase options.

Trim and extend commands in AutoCAD let you remove or extend segments by interacting with another line; use tr to trim and ex to extend, then select the parts.

Learn how to create fillets and chamfers in AutoCAD for beginners by using the fillet command with radius settings and the chamfer command with distance values to trim lines.

master array creation in AutoCAD by applying rectangle, path, and polar arrays with the ar and po commands, adjusting columns, rows, and spacing.

Learn to explode connected objects in AutoCAD by pressing x and selecting items to separate, then join lines with the same degree by pressing j and selecting them.

Learn to create and insert blocks, group and ungroup objects, and customize properties like color, lineweight, and line type in AutoCAD for beginners, with practical steps for organizing plans.

Learn how to manage layers in AutoCAD, using the default layer 0, create layers with name, color, and lineweight, and assign objects to the appropriate layer.

Master hatching in AutoCAD for beginners by learning to create closed boundaries, patterns, adjust scale, color, layer, transparency, and angle, and fix open boundaries with gap tolerance and separate hatches.

Master text and dimensioning in AutoCAD for beginners by adding text with the annotation panel, editing fonts, alignment, and color, and measuring radius, diameter, and angle with various dimension tools.