How to Draw a Line in AutoCAD: Step-by-Step Guide

To draw a line in AutoCAD, type LINE or L in the command bar and press Enter. Then click to specify the start point and end point of the line on the drawing area, pressing Enter to finish.

Syntax

The basic command to draw a line in AutoCAD is LINE or its shortcut L. After starting the command, you specify the start point and end point by clicking or typing coordinates.

• LINE or L: Starts the line drawing command.
• Start point: The first point of the line, selected by clicking or entering coordinates.
• End point: The second point of the line, selected similarly.
• Enter: Ends the command after the last point.

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LINE
Specify first point: (click or type coordinates)
Specify next point or [Undo]: (click or type coordinates)
Press Enter to finish

Output

A straight line appears between the two specified points on the drawing area.

Example

This example shows how to draw a simple line from point (0,0) to point (5,5) using the command bar.

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Command: L
Specify first point: 0,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 5,5
Specify next point or [Undo]: (press Enter)

Output

A line is drawn from coordinates (0,0) to (5,5) on the AutoCAD workspace.

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when drawing lines in AutoCAD include:

• Not pressing Enter after finishing points, so the command stays active.
• Clicking outside the drawing area accidentally, causing lines to be drawn in wrong places.
• Confusing coordinate input format (use comma for X,Y, e.g., 3,4).
• Forgetting to switch to the correct layer or units before drawing.

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Wrong:
Command: L
Specify first point: 0,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 5,5
Specify next point or [Undo]: 7,7
(Forgets to press Enter, keeps drawing lines)

Right:
Command: L
Specify first point: 0,0
Specify next point or [Undo]: 5,5
Specify next point or [Undo]: (press Enter to finish)

Output

Wrong: Multiple unwanted lines drawn.
Right: Single line drawn and command ends.

Quick Reference

Action	Command/Input	Description
Start line command	LINE or L	Begins line drawing mode
Specify start point	Click or type X,Y	Sets the line's first point
Specify end point	Click or type X,Y	Sets the line's next point
Finish line	Press Enter	Ends the line command
Undo last point	U or Undo	Removes last point entered

Key Takeaways

Use the LINE or L command to start drawing a line in AutoCAD.

Click or type coordinates to set start and end points of the line.

Press Enter to finish the line drawing command.

Be careful with coordinate format and command completion to avoid errors.

Use Undo to remove the last point if needed before finishing.