BlueprintExercises

Scale reading

Plans are drawn smaller than the real thing. These lessons teach you to get real lengths off a drawing, in feet and inches (US) or in millimetres and metres (Europe). Pick your units in any exercise.

6 lessonsPractice testImperial ยท MetricCertificate with Pro

Your progress

0 of 7 doneStart lesson 1
  1. 1

    How drawing scales work

    Turn a length measured on the sheet into the real length, in feet and inches or in millimetres.

  2. 2

    How to read an architect's scale

    Whole feet on one side of zero, inches in the subdivided foot on the other.

  3. 3

    How to read a metric scale rule

    1:50, 1:100 and 1:200 edges, read in metres from zero.

  4. 4

    Find the scale of a drawing

    Work out the scale from one dimensioned line when the scale note is missing.

  5. 5

    Written dimensions, NTS and reduced prints

    When to trust the number over your scale, what NTS means, and half-size prints.

  6. 6

    Work out real lengthsHarder

    No answers to pick from: read the rule or do the scale sum and type the real length.

  7. Practice test20 questions

    Mixed questions from every lesson. Use it to check what you know.

Reference

  • Common drawing scales

    Architect, engineer and metric scales in one table, with ratios and what each is used for.