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
H
H
Symmetrical Shape
H
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
H
H
1.5H
0.5H
Taper
Slope
All Around
All Over
H = Letter height
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Drafting Symbols, page 1
AutoCAD
and Its Applications
REFERENCE
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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
H
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
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Drafting Symbols, page 2
AutoCAD
and Its Applications
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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
H
2H
H = Letter height
Feature Control Frame Symbol
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Drafting Symbols, page 3
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
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
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Drafting Symbols, page 4
AutoCAD
and Its Applications
B A S I C S
S t u d e n t We b S i t e
REFERENCE
M AT E R I A L S
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
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Drafting Symbols, page 5
AutoCAD
and Its Applications
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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
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Range
Fan
Conduit
Drafting Symbols, page 6
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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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Drafting Symbols, page 7
AutoCAD
and Its Applications
REFERENCE
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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
Copyright by Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Incandescent Lamp
Auto-Transformer,
Adjustable
Drafting Symbols, page 8