AutoCAD

and Its Applications

REFERENCE
M AT E R I A L S

B A S I C S
S t u d e n t We b S i t e

Drafting Symbols
Symbols provide a common language for drafters all over the world.
However, symbols are meaningful only if they are drawn according to relevant
standards or conventions. This document describes and illustrates common
dimensioning, GD&T, architectural, piping, and electrical symbols.

Recommended ASME Dimensioning Symbols

The size of dimensioning symbols is consistent with text height. In the
following illustration, H = text height.
60
1.5H

H
Diameter

Spherical
Radius

Radius

Spherical
Diameter

Controlled
Radius

1.5H

Places
or By

90
2H

H
2

Symmetrical Shape

0.8H

Counterbore

Spotface

H
Countersink

Square Shape

H
1.5H

0.3H
H
H

0.6H

0.3H
Arc Length

1.5H

60
Depth or Deep

Dimension Origin

Reference

0.5H
30
15

2H

1.5H

0.5H
Taper

Slope

All Around

All Over

H = Letter height

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AutoCAD
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Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Symbols
You can create a library of GD&T symbols, use AutoCAD GD&T tools, or
use an AutoCAD GD&T font to insert symbols as text. The following tables
show examples of GD&T symbols. For complete coverage of GD&T, refer to
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing by David A. Madsen, published by
Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc.
2H

2H

Any
needed
length
60
H

H = Letter height
Datum Feature Symbols

Target area size, when used

0.8H

3.5H
0.3H
Target number

Datum

60

H = Letter height
Datum Target Symbol

Movable Datum Target Symbol

Datum Target Symbols

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AutoCAD
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B A S I C S
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Straightness
Form

Flatness
Circularity
Cylindricity

Profile

Profile of a Line
Profile of a Surface
Position

Location

Concentricity
Symmetry

Parallelism
Orientation

Perpendicularity
Angularity

Runout

or

Circular Runout

or

Total Runout

Geometric Characteristic Symbols

1.5H
0.8H
H = Letter height
Material Condition and
Material Boundary Style

2H minimum

2H minimum

2H
H = Letter height
Feature Control Frame Symbol

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AutoCAD
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B A S I C S
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2H

H
H = Letter height
Basic Dimension Symbol

2X 0.4H

0.8H

1.5H
Free
State

Tangent
Plane

Projected
Tolerance
Zone

Independency

Unequally
Disposed
Profile

3H
0.8H

0.6H

3X 1.5H
Translation

Between

2.5H

2.5H

1.5H

0.8H

0.8H

1.5H
30

30
Statistical
Tolerance

Continuous
Feature
H = Letter height

Additional GD&T Symbols

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AutoCAD
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REFERENCE
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To draw GD&T symbols as text, create a style using the gdt.shx, GDT_IV25,
or GDT_IV50 font. Then use the lowercase alphabet to type the symbols. The
following table shows the symbol produced by each lowercase letter.
Lowercase Letter Symbol Produced
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
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Architectural Symbols
The following table show basic examples of architectural drafting symbols.
Common Architectural Symbols

Exterior Door

Toilet

Water Heater

Wall Hung Toilet

Interior Door
Shower
Pocket Door

Urinal

Bifold Door
Oval Vanity Sink
Bipass Door
Window

Rectangular
Vanity Sink

Lighting Outlet
Recessed Lighting
Outlet

Shower w/ Seat

Tub
Single Kitchen

Wall Lighting Outlet

Washer/Dryer

Fluorescent
Light Fixture
Single Receptacle
Outlet
Duplex Convenience
Outlet
Triplex Receptacle
Outlet
Special Outlet
Floor Single
Receptacle Outlet
Floor Duplex
Receptacle Outlet

Double Kitchen
220V
Outlet
Weatherproof
Outlet
Thermostat

Refrigerator

Doorbell
Fan Hanger
Receptacle

Single Pole Switch

Clock Hanger
Receptacle

3-Way Switch

TV Outlet

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Range

Fan

Conduit

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Piping Symbols
The following table show basic examples of piping drawing symbols.
Single-Line Piping Symbols
Screwed
Name

Left Side

Front

Buttwelded
Right Side

Left Side

Front

Right Side

90 Elbow

45 Elbow

Tee

45 Lateral

Cross

Cap
Concentric
Reducer
Eccentric
Reducer
Union
Coupling

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Electronic Symbols
The following table show basic examples of electronic drawing symbols.
Common Symbols for Electrical Diagrams
Microphone

Capacitor, Polarized
Amplifier
Circuit Breaker

Twin Triode Using

Elongated Envelope

Antenna,
General

Receiver, Earphone

Resistor, General
Ground
Voltage Regulator,
also, Glow Lamp

Antenna,
Dipole

Resistor, Adjustable
Chassis Ground

Antenna,
Dipole

Connectors,
Jack and Plug

Phototube

Resistor, Variable

Inductor, Winding,
Reactor, General
Antenna,
Counterpoise

Transformer, General

Engaged Connectors
Magnetic Core
Inductor

Battery, Long
Line Positive
Adjustable Inductor

Multicell Battery

Triode with Directly

Heated Cathode and
Envelope Connection
to Base Terminal

Ballast Lamp
Shielded
Transformer,
Magnetic Core

Capacitor,
General

Capacitor,
Variable

Transformer,
Magnetic Core

Fluorescent,
2-Terminal Lamp
Pentode Using
Elongated Envelope

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Incandescent Lamp

Auto-Transformer,
Adjustable

Drafting Symbols, page 8