How to Add an Angle When Drawing a Line in Autocad

To add an angle when drawing a line in AutoCAD, you use the angle bracket symbol (<) followed by the desired angle value after specifying the line's start point.

Drawing lines at specific angles is fundamental in AutoCAD. The primary method involves using direct input combined with the angle modifier character. Here's a breakdown based on the typical workflow for creating a new line segment with a defined angle.

The Process

The steps involve initiating the line command, defining the starting point, and then using special syntax to tell AutoCAD the precise angle for the next segment before specifying its length.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Start the Line Command:

   • Click the Home tab in the ribbon.
   • Navigate to the Draw panel.
   • Click on the Line tool.
   • Alternatively, you can type LINE in the command bar and press Enter.

2. Specify the Start Point:

   • Click a point in the drawing area to define where your line will begin.
   • You can also type in coordinates (e.g., 0,0) and press Enter.

3. Enter the Angle:

   • Crucially, before specifying the length, type the left angle bracket (<) followed immediately by the numerical value of the desired angle (in degrees). For example, to draw a line at a 45-degree angle, you would type <45.
   • Move your cursor to indicate the general direction. Although the angle you typed precisely defines the line's orientation, moving the cursor helps visualize it before entering the length.

4. Specify the Length:

   • After entering the angle (<angle>), the line is constrained to that angle. Now, type the numerical value of the desired line length. For instance, to make the line 10 units long at the previously defined angle, you would type 10.

5. Complete the Line Segment:

   • Press the Spacebar or Enter on your keyboard. This completes the current line segment based on the angle and length you specified.
   • The Line command remains active, allowing you to draw subsequent segments starting from the endpoint of the one you just created.
   • To exit the command entirely, press Enter or the Spacebar again, or press the Esc key.

Example:

To draw a line segment starting at point (0,0), with a length of 20 units at a 60-degree angle:

1. Start the LINE command.
2. Specify start point: 0,0 (Enter).
3. Enter angle: <60.
4. Enter length: 20.
5. Press Enter or Spacebar to complete the segment.

Understanding the Angle:

By default, AutoCAD measures angles counterclockwise from the positive X-axis (the horizontal axis pointing right).

• 0 degrees is horizontal to the right.
• 90 degrees is vertical upwards.
• 180 degrees is horizontal to the left.
• 270 degrees (or -90) is vertical downwards.

Using the <angle> syntax is the most common and precise way to define a line's angle during creation.

Summary Table

Step	Action	Input Example
1. Start Command	Activate the Line tool.	LINE
2. Start Point	Click or type coordinates for the first point.	0,0
3. Define Angle	Type < followed by the angle value.	<45
4. Define Length	Type the desired length.	10
5. Complete Segment	Press Spacebar or Enter.	[Enter]

This method ensures your lines are drawn at the exact required orientation, crucial for accurate technical drawings.