AutoCAD – Setting the correct layout scale, once

and for all

Cartoon by Roger Penwill

When working with AutoCAD, there are some common issues people run into. One that keeps coming up is how to

set the proper layout scale when plotting. Depending on which template was used to create the drawing, the attached

scales might look different from file to file.

In AutoCAD, we draw in 1:1 in model space with our (pre)defined units. The paper space where we create layouts is

set to millimeters, and the scale used in the paper space is calculated based on a factoring number between the

model and paper space. Basically, we don’t need to worry about custom scales, we can just zoom to scale in the

drawing.
o First, make sure which units (UN) are used in the drawing. Take note of how many millimeters there is in one
of these units – as in, if we are drawing in meters, we would have 1000. We usually draw in meters over
here, so I will continue using it in this example.
o Then, make sure the paper space plot scale is set to 1:1 (with 1 mm = 1 drawing unit). Set this in the Page
Setup Manager (PAGESETUP). This means that our 1 m in the model space is now 1 mm in the paper
space.
o Now make sure the Viewport is active by double-clicking in it.
o Enter Z for zoom, then our unit in mm (1 m = 1000 mm) divided by the desired scale (for example, 200 for
1:200) XP. The command would look like this: Z 1000/200XP. The factor number between the scaled paper
and model space would in this instance be 5. We can also use this number directly by trying Z 5XP, which
will yield the same result.

In other words, we need only to divide our units in millimeters by the desired scale in the XP zoom command (either

directly by typing for example Z 1000/200XP for 1:200, or by using the factor number of 1000/200 = 5XP). Z

1000/100XP for 1:100, Z 1000/10XP for 1:10 etc. Another way of stating this mathematically is by multiplying the unit
in mm by the desired scale – as in, in the example above, the formula would look like this: Z (1000)*(1/200)XP. Same

thing, but some like to remember it this way. Also, you can memorize what number you multiply with in order to get

1000 when setting your scale; i.e. for setting 1:200 you would simply multiply 200 with 5, ergo you zoom with 5XP.

In summary, when drawing in meters and the above parameters are set:

Z (1000/scale)XP

As a final note, make sure to lock your viewport after zooming to scale to keep the scale intact.