How to Change Linetype in AutoCAD Quickly and Easily

To change the linetype in AutoCAD, select the object, then open the Properties panel and choose a new Linetype from the dropdown. If the desired linetype is not listed, use the LINETYPE command to load it first.

Syntax

Changing linetype in AutoCAD involves these steps:

• Select Object: Click the object whose linetype you want to change.
• Open Properties: Use the Properties panel or type PROPERTIES to open it.
• Change Linetype: In the properties, find the Linetype field and select the desired style.
• Load Linetype (if needed): Use the LINETYPE command to load new linetypes if they are not available.

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LINETYPE
Load
Select linetype
OK
Select object
Properties
Change Linetype dropdown

Output

Linetype loaded and applied to selected object

Example

This example shows how to change a line's linetype to Dashed:

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1. Draw a line using the <code>LINE</code> command.
2. Select the line.
3. Type <code>PROPERTIES</code> and press Enter.
4. In the Properties panel, click the <code>Linetype</code> dropdown.
5. If <code>Dashed</code> is not listed, type <code>LINETYPE</code> and press Enter.
6. Click <code>Load</code>, select <code>Dashed</code>, and click <code>OK</code>.
7. Back in Properties, select <code>Dashed</code> as the linetype.
8. The line now displays as dashed.

Output

Line changes from solid to dashed appearance in the drawing area

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when changing linetypes include:

• Not loading the linetype before applying it, so it doesn't appear in the list.
• Forgetting to set the Linetype Scale, which can make dashed or dotted lines look solid.
• Changing linetype on objects that are on layers with overriding properties.

Always check the LTSCALE setting to adjust how linetypes display.

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Wrong:
Select object
Properties
Try to select linetype not loaded

Right:
LINETYPE
Load
Select linetype
OK
Select object
Properties
Choose loaded linetype

Quick Reference

Step	Action	Command/Panel
1	Select object	Mouse click
2	Open Properties panel	Type PROPERTIES or press Ctrl+1
3	Change linetype	Select from Linetype dropdown
4	Load new linetype if missing	Type LINETYPE, click Load
5	Adjust linetype scale if needed	Set LTSCALE value

Key Takeaways

Always load the desired linetype using the LINETYPE command before applying it.

Use the Properties panel to change the linetype of selected objects easily.

Adjust LTSCALE to ensure linetypes display correctly in your drawing.

Check layer properties as they can override object linetypes.

Use the Quick Reference table to follow the steps smoothly.