Dimensions + Text

Annotate your drawing professionally.

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Learning objective

By the end of this lesson you can dimension a measured line and add a readable text label to a drawing.

What DIM + TEXT is

DIM creates dimension objects that automatically display the measured distance between two points. TEXT places a single line of plain text at a chosen height and location.

Why and when you use it

Geometry alone is not a drawing — manufacturers, builders and reviewers need numbers and labels. DIM and TEXT turn a sketch into a communicable document.

Where to find it in the AutoCAD interface

Ribbon: Annotate tab → Dimensions panel → Dimension button; Annotation panel → Text button.
Menu: Dimension menu → Dimension; Draw menu → Text → Single Line.
Command line: Type DIM or TEXT and press Enter.
Alias / shortcut: DIM for dimension, TEXT for single-line text.

Key vocabulary

Dimension style: A saved bundle of arrow size, text height and units used by DIM.
Extension line: The two short lines that connect the geometry to the dimension line.
Text height: How tall the text characters are in drawing units.
Annotation scale: A multiplier that keeps annotation readable at different plot scales.

Before you start

Open a drawing with at least one line or rectangle to dimension.
Confirm OSNAP is on so dimension picks land on real endpoints.
Create or set a layer named Dims for dimension objects.

Step-by-step instructions

1
Start the DIM command
2
Pick the first endpoint
3
Pick the second endpoint
4
Place the dimension line
5
Add a single-line text label

Common mistakes & fixes

Setting text height too small.
Fix: Tiny text vanishes when plotted. Start at height 5–10 and adjust to suit the plot scale.
Dimensioning eyeballed picks instead of snapped endpoints.
Fix: Always turn OSNAP on so the dimension reads the true geometry length.
Putting dimensions on the same layer as geometry.
Fix: Use a Dims layer so you can hide or freeze all dimensions in one click.

Troubleshooting

DIM shows the wrong number.Show

Cause: You snapped to a point that wasn't actually the endpoint.

Fix: Undo, turn on Endpoint snap, repick.

Text appears huge or invisible.Show

Cause: Wrong text height for the drawing scale.

Fix: Select the text, open Properties (Ctrl + 1) and adjust Height.

Practice exercise

Dimension a 100×200 rectangle

Draw a 100×200 rectangle with REC.
Run DIM and dimension all four sides.
Run TEXT, height 10, label it 'Plate A'.

Success looks like: Every side of the rectangle has a dimension, and a clear text label sits next to it.

Pro tips & related commands

Pro tips

Type D to open Dimension Style Manager and tune arrow size, text height and units once for the whole drawing.
Use MTEXT for multi-line paragraphs instead of TEXT.
Set annotation scale on the status bar so dimensions auto-scale across viewports.

Related commands

MTEXT(T)
Multi-line paragraph text with formatting.
DIMSTYLE(D)
Open Dimension Style Manager.
DIMRADIUS
Dimension a circle or arc by radius.

Lesson quiz

0/2 correct

Score at least 2/2 to unlock lesson completion.

1. What does DIM expect you to click?

2. Why bump up text height?

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