AutoCAD

and Its Applications REFERENCE

A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

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

Standard Dimensioning Symbols

The size of dimensioning symbols varies with text size, but it should be consis-
tent with the height of the text. In the following illustration, h = text height.
Standard Dimensioning Symbols

h
Diameter Radius Spherical Spherical Controlled Places
Radius Diameter Radius or By

2h h
1.5 h 90°

h h h
0.6 h
h
2 60°
Symmetrical Counterbore Countersink Depth Dimension
or Spotface (or Deep) Origin

0.5 h 0.3 h
h
0.5 h
15°
h h 1.5 h
2h
30°
Conical Taper Slope Square Reference
Shape

2.5 h
1.5 h 30°

h
1.5 h 0.8 h
0.3 h

Arc All Statistical

Length Around Tolerance
h = letter height

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010
Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Symbols
You can either create your own library of GD&T symbols, or use one of
AutoCAD’s GD&T fonts to insert the symbols as text. The following table shows
how to construct the symbols.
GD&T Symbol Creation
2h Identification letter
Optional shoulder

2h h

Any
needed Filled or unfilled
height 60°
h
Datum Feature Symbol
Target area size Straightness
(when used)
Flatness
Form
Circularity

Cylindricity
2h
Profile of a line
Profile
Profile of a surface
Datum Target number
Position
Datum target symbol Datum target symbol
without area size with area size Location Concentricity
Datum Target Symbol Symmetry
90°
Parallelism
Orientation Perpendicularity
2h
Angularity
Circular
or runout
Runout
or Total
Target point Target area runout
Datum line
Target Point and Target Area Geometric Characteristic Symbols
MMC, maximum RFS, regardless of feature size (no symbol, LMC, least
material condition RFS is assumed unless otherwise specified) material condition

1.5 h 0.8 h

Material Condition Symbols

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

GD&T Symbol Creation

0.8 h 1.5 h

Free Tangent Projected

State Plane Tolerance Zone

2.5 h 30°
3h

0.8 h

0.6 h 0.8 h 1.5 h

Between Statistical Tolerance

With a dimension Combined with

conventional tolerance

In the feature control frame

Statistical Tolerancing Methods

2h

2h h

Feature Control Frame with

Straightness Geometric Symbol h = lettering height

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

GD&T Symbol Creation

1.5 h

h h 2h

60°

Feature Control Frame with the Flatness

Geometric Characteristic Symbol

1.5 h h 2h

Feature Control Frame with Circularity

Geometric Characteristic Symbol

60°

1.5 h h h 2h

Feature Control Frame with Cylindricity

Geometric Characteristic Symbol

2h

h h

Feature Control Frame with Profile

of a Line Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference h = lettering height

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

GD&T Symbol Creation

2h

h h

Feature Control Frame with Profile

of a Surface Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference

0.6 h

1.5 h h 2h

60°

Feature Control Frame with

Parallelism Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference

1.5 h h 2h

2h

Feature Control Frame with

Perpendicularity Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference

30°

h 2h

1.5 h

Feature Control Frame with

Angularity Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference h = lettering height

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

GD&T Symbol Creation

0.8 h 45°

1.5 h h 2h

0.6 h
Circular Runout

45°

1.5 h h 2h

1.1 h
Total Runout

Runout symbols may be drawn open or filled

1.5 h

h h 2h

Positional Geometric Characteristic

Symbol and Tolerance in a Feature Control
Frame with Three Datum References

1.2 h

h
0.5 h
2h

Feature Control Frame with Symmetry

Geometric Characteristic
Symbol and a Datum Reference h = lettering height

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010
To create 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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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

Common Architectural Symbols

Exterior Door Toilet Water Heater

Wall Hung
Toilet
Interior Door
Shower

Pocket Door Urinal

Bifold Door
Oval Shower w/ Seat
Bipass Door Vanity
Sink

Window
Lighting
Rectangular
Outlet
Vanity Sink Tub
Recessed
Lighting
Outlet
Single Kitchen
Wall Lighting
Outlet Washer/Dryer

Fluorescent
Light Fixture
Single Receptacle Double Kitchen
Outlet
220V Range
Duplex Convenience Outlet
Outlet
Weatherproof
Triplex Receptacle Outlet
Outlet
Thermostat Refrigerator
Special Outlet
Doorbell
Floor Single
Receptacle Outlet
Fan Hanger
Floor Duplex Receptacle
Fan
Receptacle Outlet
Clock Hanger
Receptacle
Single Pole Switch
3-Way Switch TV Outlet Conduit

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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

Single Line Piping Symbols

Screwed Buttwelded

Name Left Side Front 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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AutoCAD
and Its Applications REFERENCE
A D V A N C E D M AT E R I A L S
2010

Common Symbols for Electrical Diagrams

Capacitor,
Polarized Microphone

Amplifier
Twin Triode
Circuit Using Elongated
Breaker Envelope Receiver,
Earphone
Antenna,
General

Resistor,
Ground Voltage Regulator, General
also, Glow Lamp
Antenna,
Dipole
Chassis
Ground Resistor,
Adjustable
Phototube

Antenna, Resistor,
Dipole Connectors,
Inductor, Variable
Jack and Plug
Winding,
Reactor,
General
Antenna, Engaged
Counterpoise Connectors
Magnetic Core Transformer,
Inductor General

Battery, Long
Line Positive Adjustable
Inductor
Transformer,
Triode with Directly Magnetic Core
Heated Cathode and
Multicell Envelope Connection
Battery to Base Terminal Ballast Lamp

Shielded
Transformer,
Capacitor, Fluorescent, Magnetic Core
General 2-Terminal Lamp

Capacitor, Pentode Using Incandescent Auto-Transformer,

Variable Elongated Envelope Lamp Adjustable

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