How to Get Metric Units in AutoCAD?

Understanding Metric Units in AutoCAD

AutoCAD is widely used for drafting and design, and knowing how to manipulate units is crucial for accurate modeling. If you are working with metric measurements, it’s important to set your drawing units accordingly. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to get metric units in AutoCAD 2025.

Accessing the Units Setup

1. Open the Application Menu: Look for the Application Menu, located at the top left corner of the AutoCAD window.

2. Select Drawing Utilities: From the dropdown menu, navigate to "Drawing Utilities."

3. Choose Units: Click on the "Units" option to open the Drawing Units settings.

Alternatively, you can simply type UN in the command line and press Enter to access the same settings directly.

Changing Units to Metric

1. Open Drawing Setup: In the drawing you wish to adjust, go to the Application Menu, select "Drawing Utilities," and then click on "Drawing Setup."

2. Access the Units Tab: In the Drawing Setup window, navigate to the "Units" tab.

3. Select Metric Units: Under the Drawing Units section, choose a metric unit such as Millimeters or Meters from the dropdown menu.

4. Adjust Precision: Look for the Length settings and select the desired precision level – this ensures your measurements are accurate.

5. Apply Changes: Click "OK" to apply these settings to your drawing.

Converting Existing Drawings to Metric

For existing drawings that might have been created using imperial units:

1. Open the Existing Drawing: Load the drawing file you want to convert.

2. Use the Scale Command: Type SCALE into the command line and hit Enter.

3. Select Objects: At the prompt, select all objects in the drawing by typing ALL and pressing Enter.

4. Insert Base Point: Specify a base point for scaling, generally using the World Coordinate System (WCS) origin (0,0).

5. Enter the Scale Factor: If you’re converting from inches to millimeters, the scale factor will be 25.4. For converting from feet to meters, it would be approximately 0.3048.

6. Confirm the Changes: Once you enter the scale factor, hit Enter to finalize the scaling operation.

Adding Metric Units to Dimensions

To display dimensions in metric units:

1. Open Dimension Style Manager: Type DIMSTY into the command line.

2. Select Your Style: Identify the dimension style you want to modify and select it.

3. Modify the Style: Click on "Modify" and navigate to the "Primary Units" tab.

4. Set Unit Format: Choose a suitable format for the metric units, such as Decimal, and specify the desired precision.

5. Finalize Changes: Click "OK" to save your modifications.

Setting Limits for Your Drawing

1. Enter Limits Command: Type LIMITS into the command line and hit Enter.

2. Define Lower-Left Coordinates: Enter the coordinates for the lower-left corner of the limits.

3. Define Upper-Right Coordinates: Input the coordinates for the upper-right corner.

4. Adjust Grid Display: If needed, enter GRIDDISPLAY in the command line and set the value to 0 to disable the grid.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I switch back to imperial units in AutoCAD?
To revert back to imperial units, follow the same steps to access the Units tab and select Inches or Feet. Adjust precision settings as needed before saving the changes.

What is the default unit setting in AutoCAD?
The default unit setting in AutoCAD is typically Inches. If you start a new drawing using a default template, it will default to this setting unless specified otherwise.

Can I save my custom unit settings for future drawings?
Yes, when you’re in the Units tab, you can check the box labeled "Save as Default." This allows your unit preferences to apply to all future drawings created from that template.