250 AutoCAD Command Shortcuts: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

ByAaron Callagher

AutoCAD Command Shortcuts, or command aliases are the foundation of efficient AutoCAD workflows, serving as essential keyboard shortcuts that streamline your drafting process. While basic commands like ‘L’ for LINE and ‘C’ for CIRCLE may seem straightforward, understanding how to effectively integrate them into your design process can dramatically improve your productivity.

In this reference guide, you’ll find a comprehensive collection of AutoCAD command shortcuts that form the backbone of efficient drafting. For each command, we provide the alias, the full command name, and a brief description of its function.

While this command reference serves as a handy quick guide, truly mastering AutoCAD requires understanding these commands in real-world contexts. At CAD Masters, we’ve found that students best retain command knowledge when they learn through practical application and guided instruction.

Jump to AutoCAD Command Shortcuts List

Our AutoCAD Introduction and Advanced classes are structured to build your proficiency systematically, with our award-winning instructors demonstrating how these commands work together in actual design scenarios. You’ll learn not just what each command does, but the optimal situations for using them and how they fit into efficient workflows.

AutoCAD Introduction sign-up image
AutoCAD Advanced class sign-up to learn AutoCAD Command Shortcuts
Every student receives:
  • Lifetime access to comprehensive training materials, including detailed PDF guides
  • Step-by-step video tutorials you can review at your own pace
  • Hands-on project exercises that reinforce your learning
  • 3 months of post-class technical support from our expert team

For more detailed information about specific commands, Autodesk maintains an extensive command reference in their online documentation that provides more detailed explanations (including subcommands and parameters). While this resource is valuable, we’ve found that combining it with hands-on training leads to better retention and practical application of these essential skills.

AutoCAD Command Shortcuts Full List

Command Shortcut

Command Name

Command Details

3A

3DARRAY

Creates nonassociative, 3D rectangular or polar arrays.

3AL

3DALIGN

Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

3DO

3DORBIT

Provides interactive viewing in 3D with the mouse. Right-click to display viewing options.

3DW

3DWALK

Changes the 3D view in a drawing interactively to create the appearance of walking through the model.

3F

3DFACE

Creates a three-sided or four-sided surface in 3D space.

3M

3DMOVE

In a 3D view, displays the 3D Move gizmo to aid in moving 3D objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

3DMIRROR

MIRROR3D

Creates a mirrored copy of selected 3D objects across a mirroring plane.

3DNAVIGATE

3DWALK

Changes the 3D view in a drawing interactively to create the appearance of walking through the model.

3P

3DPOLY

Creates a 3D polyline.

3R

3DROTATE

In a 3D view, displays the 3D Rotate gizmo to aid in revolving 3D objects around a base point.

A

ARC

Creates an arc.

AA

AREA

Calculates the area and perimeter of objects or defined areas.

AC

BACTION

Adds an action to a dynamic block definition. (This command is available only in the Block Editor)

ADC

ADCENTER

Manages and inserts content such as blocks, xrefs, and hatch patterns.

AECTOACAD

EXPORTTOAUTOCAD

Creates a version of a drawing file that can be opened in products such as AutoCAD and previous releases of a toolset.

AL

ALIGN

Aligns objects with other objects in 2D and 3D.

AP

APPLOAD

Loads and unloads applications and defines which applications to load at startup.

AR

ARRAY

Creates multiple copies of objects in a pattern.

-AR

-ARRAY

From the command line, creates copies of objects arranged in a pattern.

ATI

ATTIPEDIT

Changes the textual content of an attribute within a block.

ATT

ATTDEF

The Attribute Definition dialog box is displayed.

-ATT

-ATTDEF

At the Command prompt, creates an attribute definition for storing data in a block.

ATE

ATTEDIT

Changes attribute information in a block.

-ATE

-ATTEDIT

Modify both attribute values & properties, independent of a block.

ATTE

-ATTEDIT

Modify both attribute values & properties, independent of a block.

B

BLOCK

Creates a block definition from selected objects.

-B

-BLOCK

At the Command prompt, creates a block definition from selected objects.

BC

BCLOSE

Closes the Block Editor. 

BE

BEDIT

Opens the block definition in the Block Editor. 

BH

HATCH

Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

BO

BOUNDARY

Creates a region or a polyline from an enclosed area.

-BO

-BOUNDARY

At the Command prompt, creates regions or polylines from enclosed areas.

BR

BREAK

Breaks the selected object between two points.

BS

BSAVE

Saves the current block definition.

BVS

BVSTATE

Creates, sets, or deletes a visibility state in a dynamic block.

C

CIRCLE

Creates a circle.

CAM

CAMERA

Sets a camera and target location to create and save a 3D perspective view of objects.

CH

PROPERTIES

Controls properties of existing objects.

-CH

CHANGE

From the command line, controls properties of existing objects.

CHA

CHAMFER

 Bevels the edges of objects.

CHK

CHECKSTANDARDS

Checks the current drawing for standards violations.

CLI

COMMANDLINE

Displays the Command Line window.

COL

COLOR

Sets the color for new objects.

CO

COPY

Copies objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

CT

CTABLESTYLE

Sets the name of the current table style.

CYL

CYLINDER

Creates a 3D solid cylinder.

Command Shortcut

Command Name

Command Details

D

DIMSTYLE

Creates and modifies dimension styles.

DAL

DIMALIGNED

Creates an aligned linear dimension.

DAN

DIMANGULAR

Creates an angular dimension.

DAR

DIMARC

Creates an arc length dimension.

DBA

DIMBASELINE

Creates a linear, angular, or ordinate dimension from the baseline of the previous or selected dimension.

DBC

DBCONNECT

Provides an interface to external database tables.

DCE

DIMCENTER

Creates the center mark or the centerlines of circles and arcs.

DCO

DIMCONTINUE

Creates a dimension that starts from an extension line of a previously created dimension.

DCON

DIMCONSTRAINT

Applies dimensional constraints to selected objects or points on objects.

DDA

DIMDISASSOCIATE

Removes associativity from selected dimensions.

DDI

DIMDIAMETER

Creates a diameter dimension for a circle or an arc.

DED

DIMEDIT

Edits dimension text and extension lines.

DI

DIST

Measures the distance and angle between two points.

DIV

DIVIDE

Creates evenly spaced point objects or blocks along the length or perimeter of an object.

DJL

DIMJOGLINE

Adds or removes a jog line on a linear or aligned dimension.

DJO

DIMJOGGED

Creates jogged dimensions for circles and arcs.

DL

DATALINK

The Data Link dialog box is displayed.

DLI

DIMLINEAR

Creates a linear dimension.

DLU

DATALINKUPDATE

Updates data to or from an established external data link.

DO

DONUT

Creates a filled circle or a wide ring.

DOR

DIMORDINATE

Creates ordinate dimensions.

DOV

DIMOVERRIDE

Controls overrides of system variables used in selected dimensions.

DR

DRAWORDER

Changes the draw order of images and other objects.

DRA

DIMRADIUS

Creates a radius dimension for a circle or an arc.

DRE

DIMREASSOCIATE

Associates or re-associates selected dimensions to objects or points on objects.

DRM

DRAWINGRECOVERY

Displays a list of drawing files that can be recovered after a program or system failure.

DS

DSETTINGS

Sets grid and snap, polar and object snap tracking, object snap modes, Dynamic Input, and Quick Properties.

DST

DIMSTYLE

Creates and modifies dimension styles.

DT

TEXT

Creates a single-line text object.

DV

DVIEW

Defines parallel projection or perspective views by using a camera and target.

DX

DATAEXTRACTION

Extracts drawing data and merges data from an external source to a data extraction table or external file.

E

ERASE

Removes objects from a drawing.

ED

DDEDIT

Edits single-line text, dimension text, attribute definitions, and feature control frames.

EL

ELLIPSE

Creates an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

ER

EXTERNALREFERENCES

Opens the External References palette.

EX

EXTEND

Extends objects to meet the edges of other objects.

EXIT

QUIT

Exits the program.

EXP

EXPORT

Saves the objects in a drawing to a different file format.

EXT

EXTRUDE

Extends the dimensions of a 2D object or 3D face into 3D space.

F

FILLET

Rounds and fillets the edges of objects.

FI

FILTER

Creates a list of requirements that an object must meet to be included in a selection set.

FREEPOINT

POINTLIGHT

Creates a point light that radiates light in all directions from its location.

FS

FSMODE

Creates a selection set of all objects that touch the selected object.

FSHOT

FLATSHOT

Creates a 2D representation of all 3D objects based on the current view.

G

GROUP

Creates and manages saved sets of objects called groups.

-G

-GROUP

Creates and manages saved sets of objects called groups.

GD

GRADIENT

Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a gradient fill.

GEO

GEOGRAPHICLOCATION

Specifies the geographic location information for a drawing file.

H

HATCH

Fills an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

-H

-HATCH

Uses command prompts to fill an enclosed area or selected objects with a hatch pattern, solid fill, or gradient fill.

HE

HATCHEDIT

Modifies an existing hatch or fill.

HI

HIDE

Regenerates a 3D wireframe model with hidden lines suppressed.

I

INSERT

Displays the Blocks palette, which you can use to insert blocks and drawings into the current drawing.

-I

-INSERT

Inserts a block or drawing into the current drawing.

IAD

IMAGEADJUST

Controls the image display of the brightness, contrast, and fade values of images.

IAT

IMAGEATTACH

Inserts a reference to an image file.

ICL

IMAGECLIP

Crops the display of a selected image to a specified boundary.

IM

IMAGE

Displays the External References palette.

-IM

-IMAGE

Attaches a raster image to the drawing.

IMP

IMPORT

Imports files of different formats into the current drawing.

IN

INTERSECT

Creates a 3D solid, surface, or 2D region from overlapping solids, surfaces, or regions.

INF

INTERFERE

Creates a temporary 3D solid from the interferences between two sets of selected 3D solids.

IO

INSERTOBJ

Inserts a linked or embedded object.

Command Shortcut

Command Name

Command Details

J

JOIN

Joins similar objects to form a single, unbroken object.

JOG

DIMJOGGED

Creates jogged dimensions for circles and arcs.

L

LINE

Creates straight line segments.

LA

LAYER

Manages layers and layer properties.

-LA

-LAYER

From the Command Line, manages layers and layer properties.

LAS

LAYERSTATE

Saves, restores, and manages named layer states.

LE

QLEADER

Creates a leader and leader annotation.

LEN

LENGTHEN

Changes the length of objects and the included angle of arcs.

LI

LIST

Displays property data for selected objects.

LMAN

LAYERSTATE

Saves, restores, and manages sets of layer settings that are called layer states.

LO

-LAYOUT

Creates and modifies drawing layouts.

LT

LINETYPE

Loads, sets, and modifies linetypes. 

-LT

-LINETYPE

At the Command prompt, loads, sets, and modifies linetypes.

LTS

LTSCALE

Changes the scale factor of linetypes for all objects in a drawing. 

LW

LINEWEIGHT

Sets the current lineweight, lineweight display options, and lineweight units.

M

MOVE

Moves objects a specified distance in a specified direction.

MA

MATCHPROP

Applies the properties of a selected object to other objects.

MAT

MATERIALS

Shows or hides the Materials window.

ME

MEASURE

Creates point objects or blocks at measured intervals along the length or perimeter of an object.

MEA

MEASUREGEOM

Measures the distance, radius, angle, area, and volume of selected objects or sequence of points.

MI

MIRROR

Creates a mirrored copy of selected objects.

ML

MLINE

Creates multiple parallel lines.

MLA

MLEADERALIGN

Aligns and spaces selected multileader objects.

MLC

MLEADERCOLLECT

Organizes selected multileaders that contain blocks into rows or columns, and displays the result with a single leader.

MLD

MLEADER

Creates a multileader object. 

MLE

MLEADEREDIT

Adds leader lines to, or removes leader lines from, a multileader object.

MLS

MLEADERSTYLE

Creates and modifies multileader styles.

MO

PROPERTIES

Controls properties of existing objects.

MS

MSPACE

Switches from paper space to a model space viewport.

MSM

MARKUP

Opens the Markup Set Manager.

MT

MTEXT

Creates a multiline text object.

MV

MVIEW

Creates and controls layout viewports.

NORTH

GEOGRAPHICLOCATION

Specifies the geographic location information for a drawing file.

O

OFFSET

Creates concentric circles, parallel lines, and parallel curves.

OP

OPTIONS

Customizes the program settings.

ORBIT

3DORBIT

Rotates the view in 3D space but constrained to horizontal and vertical orbit only.

OS

OSNAP

Sets running object snap modes.

-OS

-OSNAP

From the Command prompt, sets running object snap modes.

Command Shortcut

Command Name

Command Details

P

PAN

Shifts the view without changing the viewing direction or magnification.

-P

-PAN

Shifts the view by specifying up to two points to determine a distance and direction.

PA

PASTESPEC

Pastes objects from the Clipboard into the current drawing and controls the format of the data.

PAR

PARAMETERS

Controls the associative parameters used in the drawing.

PARAM

BPARAMETER

Adds a parameter with grips to a dynamic block definition.

PARTIALOPEN

-PARTIALOPEN

Loads geometry and named objects from a selected view or layer into a drawing.

PE

PEDIT

Edits polylines and 3D polygon meshes.

PL

PLINE

Creates a 2D polyline.

PO

POINT

Creates a point object.

POL

POLYGON

Creates an equilateral closed polyline.

PR

PROPERTIES

Displays Properties palette.

PRCLOSE

PROPERTIESCLOSE

Closes the Properties palette.

PRE

PREVIEW

Displays the drawing as it will be plotted.

PRINT

PLOT

Plots a drawing to a plotter, printer, or file.

PS

PSPACE

Switches from a model space viewport to paper space.

PSOLID

POLYSOLID

Creates a 3D wall-like polysolid.

PU

PURGE

Removes unused items, such as block definitions and layers, from the drawing.

-PU

-PURGE

Removes unused named objects, such as block definitions and layers, from the current drawing using the command line.

PYR

PYRAMID

Creates a 3D solid pyramid.

QC

QUICKCALC

Opens the QuickCalc calculator.

QCUI

QUICKCUI

Displays the Customize User Interface Editor in a collapsed state.

R

REDRAW

Refreshes the display in the current viewport.

RA

REDRAWALL

Refreshes the display in all viewports.

RC

RENDERCROP

Renders a specified rectangular area, called a crop window, within a viewport.

RE

REGEN

Regenerates the entire drawing from the current viewport.

REA

REGENALL

Regenerates the drawing and refreshes all viewports.

REC

RECTANG

Creates a rectangular polyline.

REG

REGION

Converts an object that encloses an area into a region object.

REN

RENAME

Changes the names assigned to items such as layers and dimension styles.

-REN

-RENAME

Changes the names assigned to named objects from the Command prompt.

REV

REVOLVE

Creates a 3D solid or surface by sweeping a 2D object around an axis.

RO

ROTATE

Rotates objects around a base point.

RP

RENDERPRESETS

Specifies render presets, reusable rendering parameters, for rendering an image.

RPR

RPREF

Displays or hides the Advanced Render Settings palette for access to advanced rendering settings.

RR

RENDER

Creates a photorealistic or realistically shaded image of a 3D solid or surface model.

RW

RENDERWIN

Displays the Render window without starting a rendering operation.

S

STRETCH

Stretches objects crossed by a selection window or polygon.

SC

SCALE

Enlarges or reduces selected objects, keeping the proportions of the object the same after scaling.

SCR

SCRIPT

Executes a sequence of commands from a script file.

SE

DSETTINGS

Sets grid and snap, polar and object snap tracking, object snap modes, Dynamic Input, and Quick Properties.

SEC

SECTION

Uses the intersection of a plane and solids, surfaces, or mesh to create a region.

SET

SETVAR

Lists or changes the values of system variables.

SHA

SHADEMODE

 Starts the VSCURRENT command.

SL

SLICE

Creates new 3D solids and surfaces by slicing, or dividing, existing objects.

SN

SNAP

Restricts cursor movement to specified intervals.

SO

SOLID

Creates solid-filled triangles and quadrilaterals.

SP

SPELL

Checks spelling in a drawing.

SPE

SPLINEDIT

Edits a spline or splinefit polyline.

SPL

SPLINE

Creates a smooth curve that passes through or near specified points.

SPLANE

SECTIONPLANE

Creates a section object that acts as a cutting plane through 3D objects.

SSM

SHEETSET

Opens the Sheet Set Manager

ST

STYLE

Creates, modifies, or specifies text styles.

STA

STANDARDS

Manages the association of standards files with drawings.

SU

SUBTRACT

Combines selected 3D solids, surfaces, or 2D regions by subtraction.

Command Shortcut

Command Name

Command Details

T

MTEXT

Creates a multiline text object.

-T

-MTEXT

Creates a multiline text object.

TA

TEXTALIGN

Aligns multiple text objects vertically, horizontally, or obliquely.

TB

TABLE

Creates an empty table object.

TH

THICKNESS

Sets the default 3D thickness property when creating 2D geometric objects.

TI

TILEMODE

Controls whether paper space can be accessed.

TO

TOOLBAR

Displays, hides, and customizes toolbars.

TOL

TOLERANCE

Creates geometric tolerances contained in a feature control frame.

TOR

TORUS

Creates a donut-shaped 3D solid.

TP

TOOLPALETTES

Opens the Tool Palettes window.

TR

TRIM

Trims objects to meet the edges of other objects.

TS

TABLESTYLE

Creates, modifies, or specifies table styles.

UC

UCSMAN

Manages defined user coordinate systems.

UN

UNITS

Controls coordinate and angle display formats and precision.

-UN

-UNITS

Controls the precision and display formats for coordinates, distances, and angles.

UNI

UNION

Unions two solid or two region objects.

V

VIEW

Saves and restores named views, camera views, layout views, and preset views.

-V

-VIEW

Saves and restores named model space views, layout views, and preset views from the Command prompt.

VP

DDVPOINT

Sets the 3D viewing direction.

VS

VSCURRENT

Sets the visual style in the current viewport.

VSM

VISUALSTYLES

Creates and modifies visual styles and applies a visual style to a viewport.

-VSM

-VISUALSTYLES

Creates and modifies visual styles from the command line.

W

WBLOCK

Writes objects or a block to a new drawing file.

-W

-WBLOCK

Saves selected objects or converts a block to a specified drawing file.

WE

WEDGE

Creates a 3D solid wedge.

X

EXPLODE

Breaks a compound object into its component objects.

XA

XATTACH

Inserts a DWG file as an external reference (xref).

XB

XBIND

Binds one or more definitions of named objects in an xref to the current drawing.

-XB

-XBIND

Binds one or more definitions of named objects in an xref to the current drawing.

XC

XCLIP

Crops the display of a selected external reference or block reference to a specified boundary.

XL

XLINE

Creates a line of infinite length.

XR

XREF

Starts the EXTERNALREFERENCES command.

-XR

-XREF

From the Command prompt, manages drawings inserted as external references (xrefs).

Z

ZOOM

Increases or decreases the magnification of the view in the current viewport.

Mastering AutoCAD command aliases is an ongoing journey that becomes easier with regular practice and reference. While this guide covers the essential shortcuts you’ll need for efficient drafting, the best way to internalize these commands is to incorporate them gradually into your daily workflow. Start with a few commonly used aliases and build from there.

Remember that efficiency in AutoCAD isn’t just about memorizing shortcuts—it’s about developing intuitive workflows that enhance your productivity. Keep this reference handy as you continue to grow your CAD skills. As you become more comfortable with these AutoCAD command shortcuts, you’ll find yourself spending less time navigating menus and more time focused on what matters most: bringing your designs to life. Happy drafting!

Similar Posts