50 Essential AutoCAD Commands and Keyboard Shortcuts (Cheat Sheet)

These 50 AutoCAD commands cover most everyday drafting, and each has a short alias you can type instead of the full name, such as L for LINE, TR for TRIM and Z for ZOOM. Below you will find them grouped by task in a printable cheat sheet, followed by the function keys, Ctrl shortcuts and steps to create your own aliases.

How do AutoCAD commands and aliases work?

An AutoCAD command alias is a short abbreviation for a full command name. You type the alias at the command line, such as C instead of CIRCLE, then press Enter or Spacebar to start the command. Aliases are defined in a text file called acad.pgp (acadlt.pgp in AutoCAD LT), so you can change them or add your own.

Aliases are different from keyboard shortcuts. A keyboard shortcut is a key combination, such as Ctrl+1 for the Properties palette, while an alias is something you type. Experienced drafters use both: the left hand types aliases while the right hand stays on the mouse.

Command line habits that save time

• Spacebar works like Enter for starting commands and accepting prompts (except inside text).
• Enter or Spacebar on an empty prompt repeats the previous command.
• Esc cancels the current command.
• Up and down arrows scroll through recently used commands.
• Underlined or bracketed letters at a prompt are command options; type the letter to choose one.

The full alias list is on Autodesk’s AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts page. The tables below pick the 50 commands that matter most in daily drafting.

AutoCAD draw commands

Draw commands create new geometry. The nine below cover nearly every 2D drawing, from floor plans to schematics. Learn these aliases first: they are mostly one or two letters and become muscle memory within a week of daily use.

AutoCAD modify commands

Modify commands change existing objects, and they are where most drafting time is spent. TRIM, OFFSET, FILLET and MOVE alone account for a large share of keystrokes in a typical session. Most modify commands work on a selection set, so you can select first and then type the alias, or the other way round.

One tip from years of support questions: if TRIM or EXTEND behaves unexpectedly, check its mode. Recent releases default to a Quick mode that trims to all nearby geometry; type O for Mode during the command to switch to Standard if you prefer selecting cutting edges first.

Two more modify aliases worth adding once the basics stick are BR (BREAK), which splits an object between two points, and PE (PEDIT), which joins lines into polylines and changes their width.

Text, dimension and annotation commands

Annotation commands add the text, dimensions, leaders and tables that turn geometry into a usable drawing. Set up text and dimension styles first with STYLE and DIMSTYLE, then the creation commands below will produce consistent results across every sheet.

Other dimension aliases worth knowing are DCO (DIMCONTINUE), DBA (DIMBASELINE), DRA (DIMRADIUS), DDI (DIMDIAMETER) and DAN (DIMANGULAR). The newer all-in-one DIM command has no default alias, which is a good candidate for a custom one.

Layer, property and block commands

Layers and blocks keep a drawing organised and editable. Layer commands control how objects look and print, while block commands turn repeated content such as doors, symbols and title blocks into reusable definitions. Good layer and block discipline is the difference between a drawing that is easy to revise and one that is not.

View, inquiry and file commands

These commands control what you see, measure what you have drawn and keep files healthy. ZOOM and PAN are used constantly, though most people drive them with the mouse wheel. DIST, AREA and MEASUREGEOM answer the “how big is it?” questions, and PURGE keeps file sizes under control.

Mouse-wheel tip: roll to zoom, hold the wheel to pan and double-click the wheel to zoom to extents.

AutoCAD keyboard shortcuts: function keys and Ctrl combinations

AutoCAD’s function keys toggle drafting aids on and off, and its Ctrl shortcuts open palettes and manage files. The most used are F3 for object snaps, F8 for ortho mode, F10 for polar tracking, F12 for dynamic input and Ctrl+1 for the Properties palette. These are Autodesk defaults on Windows; Mac versions use Command-key equivalents.

Function keys

Ctrl shortcuts

A common panic moment is a missing command line. Press Ctrl+9 to bring it back, or type COMMANDLINE.

How do you create your own AutoCAD shortcuts?

You create your own AutoCAD shortcuts by editing the program parameters file: open it from Manage > Customization > Edit Aliases, add a line such as RV, *REVCLOUD at the end of the user-defined section, save the file, then run REINIT to reload it. The new alias works immediately in the current session.

1. On the ribbon, click Manage > Customization panel > Edit Aliases > Edit Aliases. The acad.pgp file opens in Notepad (acadlt.pgp in AutoCAD LT).
2. Scroll to the User Defined Command Aliases section at the end of the file.
3. Add one alias per line in the format ALIAS, *COMMAND, for example RV, *REVCLOUD or DD, *DIM.
4. Save and close the file. Because AutoCAD uses the last definition it finds, entries at the end override earlier ones.
5. Type REINIT, tick PGP file and click OK to reload aliases without restarting.

In full AutoCAD you can also use the Express Tools Alias Editor (ALIASEDIT), which provides a dialog instead of a text file; Autodesk notes it is not available in AutoCAD LT. If you often mistype commands, the AutoCorrect option in INPUTSEARCHOPTIONS can learn your typos. Autodesk’s guide to command aliases, shortcut keys and AutoCorrect covers the details.

Back up your edited PGP file. A reinstall or a move to a new PC resets it, and copying your PGP across is the fastest way to restore your custom shortcuts. The same applies when moving between products; our AutoCAD vs AutoCAD LT guide explains what else differs between them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an AutoCAD command and an alias?

A command is the full name of an AutoCAD function, such as CIRCLE or DIMLINEAR. An alias is a shorter abbreviation defined in the PGP file, such as C or DLI, that starts the same command. Aliases do exactly the same job as the full command; they simply save keystrokes. You can rename, add or remove aliases.

Do AutoCAD shortcuts work in AutoCAD LT?

Yes, for the 2D commands both products share. AutoCAD LT reads its aliases from acadlt.pgp, which uses the same defaults for drawing, modify, annotation and layer commands. Aliases for 3D, rendering and other full-AutoCAD-only features are absent in LT because those commands do not exist there. Function keys and Ctrl shortcuts are the same.

Why is my AutoCAD alias not working?

The usual causes are a typing error in the PGP file, a later duplicate entry overriding yours, or the file not being reloaded. Check the line uses the format ALIAS, *COMMAND, move your entry to the end of the file, then run REINIT and tick PGP file. Also confirm you edited the PGP file AutoCAD actually loads.

How do I zoom to extents in AutoCAD?

Type Z, press Enter, then type E and press Enter to zoom to extents and show every object in the drawing. A faster method is to double-click the mouse wheel. If extents look far too large, stray objects may sit far from your drawing; erase them and run ZOOM Extents again.

What is the AutoCAD shortcut for copy?

The default alias for COPY is CO, and CP also works. Type it, select objects, press Enter, pick a base point and then pick destination points; COPY repeats until you press Enter or Esc. For copying between drawings, Ctrl+C copies to the clipboard, and Ctrl+Shift+C lets you choose a base point.

How do I get the command line back in AutoCAD?

Press Ctrl+9 to show or hide the command line, or type COMMANDLINE if you can still see a prompt anywhere. If the command line is floating off-screen, drag it back or dock it at the bottom of the drawing area. Ctrl+0 (clean screen) can also hide interface elements, so press it again to restore them.

The bottom line

Learn the one- and two-letter aliases for drawing and modifying first, add the F3, F8 and F12 toggles, and then customise your PGP file for the commands you use most. If you are setting up a new machine, our AutoCAD 2026 installation guide gets you drafting quickly.

Useful links