AutoCAD Shortcut Keys: Commands, F-Keys and Ctrl Keys

Q: How do I repeat the last command in AutoCAD?

Press Space or Enter at an empty command line.

AutoCAD shortcut keys come in two kinds. Command aliases are short letters you type and confirm with Enter or Space, such as L for Line, C for Circle and TR for Trim. Function keys switch drawing aids on and off, such as F8 for Ortho and F3 for object snap.

A few Ctrl combinations work too: Ctrl + 1 opens Properties and Ctrl + Z undoes. Pressing Space or Enter on an empty command line repeats the last command, which is the biggest time saver of all.

Quick facts

Run an alias
Type it, then Space
Repeat last command
Space or Enter
Cancel
Esc
Ortho
F8
Object snap
F3
Properties
Ctrl + 1

AutoCAD shortcut keys for drawing

Draw command aliases
Type	Command
L	Line
PL	Polyline
C	Circle
A	Arc
REC	Rectangle
POL	Polygon
EL	Ellipse
H	Hatch
T	Multiline text
DT	Single line text
DIM	Dimension
B	Create block
I	Insert block

Type the letters, press Space, and follow the prompts on the command line. Most commands ask for points: click them, or type coordinates such as 0,0 and press Enter. When a prompt shows options in square brackets, type the capital letter of the option you want.

Modify command shortcuts

Editing aliases
Type	Command
M	Move
CO	Copy
RO	Rotate
SC	Scale
MI	Mirror
O	Offset
TR	Trim
EX	Extend
F	Fillet
CHA	Chamfer
AR	Array
X	Explode
E	Erase
S	Stretch
MA	Match properties
LA	Layer properties

Function keys and Ctrl keys in AutoCAD

Drawing aids and Ctrl keys
Keys	Use
`F1`	Help
`F2`	Command history window
`F3`	Object snap on or off
`F7`	Grid
`F8`	Ortho, straight horizontal and vertical lines
`F9`	Snap
`F10`	Polar tracking
`F11`	Object snap tracking
`F12`	Dynamic input
`Ctrl` + `1`	Properties palette
`Ctrl` + `9`	Show or hide the command line
`Ctrl` + `0`	Clean screen
`Ctrl` + `Z`	Undo
`Ctrl` + `S`	Save
`Ctrl` + `P`	Plot (print)

On laptops, F-keys often need Fn as well. Turning on Fn lock makes drafting much smoother.

Zoom and pan without a mouse wheel

Type Z and press Space, then E for Extents to fit the whole drawing on screen, or A for All. Zooming does not change the size of anything you have drawn; it only changes your view. Type P for Pan. With a mouse, roll the wheel to zoom and hold it down to pan; double click the wheel for zoom extents. Laptop touchpads make this harder, which is one reason drafters prefer a three button mouse.

Make your own aliases: in the Manage tab, Edit Aliases opens the alias file, where you can add short letters for commands you use daily.

When AutoCAD shortcuts do not work

Problems and fixes
Problem	Fix
Typed letters do nothing	The command line is hidden; press Ctrl + 9
Lines will not stay straight	Ortho is off; press F8
Cursor will not snap to points	Object snap is off; press F3 and check snap settings
F-keys change volume	Use Fn, or turn on Fn lock

A civil engineering student draws a floor plan with REC for walls, O to offset the wall thickness and TR to clean the corners. Pressing Space to repeat Offset for each wall saves dozens of clicks.

Other design software shortcuts

For 3D and building tools, see the 3D modelling shortcut keys page. Image work is covered in the photo editing shortcuts guide, and general Windows keys in basic computer shortcut keys.

This site is not affiliated with Autodesk; this is an independent explanation.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most used AutoCAD shortcut keys?

L, PL, C, REC, M, CO, TR, O, plus F3 and F8.

How do I repeat the last command in AutoCAD?

Press Space or Enter at an empty command line.

What does F8 do in AutoCAD?

It turns Ortho mode on or off for straight lines.

How do I show the command line again?

Press Ctrl + 9.

Are CAD shortcut keys the same in all versions?

The common aliases have stayed the same for many versions.

Can I create my own AutoCAD shortcut?

Yes, by editing the alias file from the Manage tab.