• Plan drawings to scale allows a visualization of relative room areas and location, house to property location and basic functional design of the plan.
• Using scaled drawings allows the architect or designer to indicate specific information.
• Scaled elevations provide a visual image of the entire building and or various section components.
• Different scales are used for different drawing types.

Notice 1', 3', 5' etc. numbers not present
1/4" to 1' = most common plan scale
Opposite end 1/8" scale foot numbers
Architect Scale

¼" Scale: Inch and odd # feet increments have no numbers.
What is the length between arrows ?
7' – 9"

3" = 1' SCALE
Represents 4' from opposite end 1 ½" scale
1'
3" 6" 9"

1 ½” = 1 foot scale
What is the length represented ?
1’ – 8”
?
3/8” scale
What is the length represented ?
7’ – 6”

¾ " to 1' scale common to cabinetry detail drawings
¾ scale 2' – 6" would = ____? On the inch ruler
1
7/8
"

Standard U.S. 12" ruler
Full scale
3/32" = 1' scale
The architect scale ruler has how many different scales ?
11

Civil engineer scale, where 1" = the # of feet listed on the scale

Used most common for large area plan view such as property dimensions or large commercial construction site plans.
One inch = 20', the # 2 represents 20'

The # 4 is one inch from "0" represents 40'
This increment line represents
? Feet and is ? Inches long
70'
1 ¾"
The engineers scale has how many different scales 6

• Most dimensions will be written on the plan.
• Occasionally a needed dimension will not be available. The appropriate scale will allow the plan reader to measure this dimension.
• If a written dimension and the scale dimension measured are different, Use the written dimension.
• Sometimes in the field a carpenter may need to scale a dimension without a scale available.
• The standard inch rule can be used.

What is this length in 1/4" scale?
14'

Indicates a detail drawing

Drawing Sections