DFTG-1305

HOW TO USE SCALE RULERS

by Prof. Francis Ha, instructor
13-0610

drawing equals 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60

feet respectively.

Drawings for large projects must be greatly reduced

when compared to the objects they depict. The scale of
the drawing defines the size relationship between the
drawing and the objects. The SCALE information is
located at the bottom of the sheet within the title box of
the drawing, something like this: SCALE 1=1
Examples:
SCALE
1=1 or Full Scale
1=4
1=6

Description
What you measure is what you
see it on the drawing
Every 1 unit on the drawing
equals 4 times larger
Every 1 inch equals 6 inches

1=4

Every 1 inch equals 4 feet

1=50

Every 1 unit (inch, milimeter,

foot,etc) equals 50 times

8=1

Every 8 units equals 1 unit actual

1mm=20cm

Every 1 milimeter equals 20

centimeters

To measure something on a drawing, you use a special

tool that is also called a scale. Scale tools are
triangular rulers with two independent graduated
surfaces on each face. There are architect scales,
engineer scales, and metric scales.
A. ENGINEER'S SCALE
The rulers of an engineers scale are labeled 10, 20, 30,
40, 50 and 60. They are sized such that one inch on the

How to use Engineer Scale

1.
Determine the scale of the drawing. Look in the
drawings title block legend for the specification of
its scale. Title blocks are at the bottom right hand
corner of at least the first page of the drawing,
and sometimes on every sheet. The drawing
scale may be given graphically; that is, a line may
be shown and dimensioned with a specified
length. In this case find the correct scale tool to
use by trial and error measurements. Align each
scale tool ruler with the line until you find one that
matches.
2.

Position the scale tool so that the ruler that

matches the drawing scale is against the paper.
Align the zero (0) at the left side with one end of
the object you want to measure.

3.

Find the tick mark on the scale tool that lines up

with the other end of the object you are
measuring. Read the major mark value and add
the minor marks as tenths. Multiply the composite
reading by ten to get the length.
The minor divisions on the ruler represent individual
feet and the major tick marks are each ten feet.
The markings at the major divisions represent
one tenth of their actual value.
Example: Find the length of a water line on plans
for a factory that have a scale of 1 inch equals 20
feet.
Use the 20 scale to measure on this drawing. Line
up the zero mark on the scale that is labeled 20
to the left end of the water line. If the right end of
the water line aligns with the tick mark that
represents 8 major divisions and 2 small
divisions, the reading is 8.2. Multiply 8.2 by 10 to
get the length of 82 feet.

B.

ARCHITECTURAL SCALE
An architectural scale ruler is not used in the
same way as other types of rulers. Employ an
architectural scale ruler as a measuring tool,
much like a tape measure, rather than as a
straightedge. It can basically be described as a
"multi-ruler" with several measurement scales
ranging from 1/16" = 1' to 3" = 1', either from left
to right or vice versa.

C. METRIC SCALE
The metric system is a system of measurement
used through much of the world and in scientific
and technical applications. The "meter" is the
base unit for length measurement in the metric
system. One tenth of a meter is a decimeter,
one hundredth of a meter is a centimeter and
one thousandth of a meter is a millimeter.

1m = 10 dm = 100cm = 1000mm
How to use Metric Scale
How to use Architect Scale
1.

Look for the scale. Whether you have a flat or a

multi-sided architectural scale ruler, the scale will
be clearly marked at each end of the ruler.

2.

Make sure that you have the appropriate scale

for the job you are doing. For example, if you are
drawing a floor plan at a scale, then you need
to have the scale on the architectural scale
ruler.

3.

Draw a straight line on a blank piece of paper

using a straight edge, such as a T-square and a
light pencil. If you are measuring the lines on a
pre-made floor plan, then skip this step.

4.

Align the architectural scale ruler to the straight

line.

5.

Measure out the appropriate length based on

the scale you are using. If you are drawing a new
set of floor plans, for example, use a light pencil
to mark the desired length. If you have a premade
floor plan that you are measuring, write the
measurement down on a piece of paper.

6.

Darken the line within the space marked off

with a dark pencil. If you have a pre-made floor
plan, skip this step.

1.

Locate the side of the ruler that has centimeters

and millimeters. This is the metric side. Find the
"0" marking on the ruler. Many rulers do not begin
the measurement markings at the end of the ruler.
"0" is often slightly inward from the edge of the
ruler. Using the edge of a ruler as the first
measuring point can cause miscalculations.

2.

Place the ruler along side the length to be

measured. Ensure one end of the length aligns
with a reference marking on the ruler.

3.

Identify the markings on the ruler at both ends

of the length being measured. If the zero marking
is used, then the length is simply the higher value
of the two ends. For example, an object aligned
with the "0" centimeter mark at an end and the
"11" centimeter mark at the other end would
measure 11 centimeters (11 cm -- 0 cm = 11 cm).

4.

Subtract the ending measurement from the

starting measurement if using a starting point
other than the zero marking. For example, an
object aligned with the "1" centimeter mark at one
end and the 11 centimeter mark at the other end
would measure 10 centimeters (11 cm -- 1 cm =
10 cm).

5.

If a measurement is greater than a whole

number, include millimeters in the final
measurement. For example, 10.3 cm means 10
centimeters and three millimeters.