Drawing scales
1" = 50' scale
1" = 50' is a 1:600 scale. An engineering scale used for large sites and grading plans. Conversion tables both ways.
Updated · FloorFigures
Short answer
1" = 50' means 1" on the drawing is 50' in real life: a ratio of 1:600. One inch on paper is 50 ft. An engineering scale used for large sites and grading plans.
1" = 50' conversion: inches on paper to feet
| On paper | Real size | In feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1/16" | 3'-1-1/2" | 3.13 ft |
| 1/8" | 6'-3" | 6.25 ft |
| 1/4" | 12'-6" | 12.5 ft |
| 1/2" | 25'-0" | 25 ft |
| 3/4" | 37'-6" | 37.5 ft |
| 1" | 50'-0" | 50 ft |
| 2" | 100'-0" | 100 ft |
| 3" | 150'-0" | 150 ft |
| 6" | 300'-0" | 300 ft |
| 12" | 600'-0" | 600 ft |
Feet to inches on paper at 1" = 50'
| Real size | On paper | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0" | One foot |
| 3 ft | 1/16" | A standard door width |
| 10 ft | 3/16" | A small bedroom wall |
| 12 ft | 1/4" | A bedroom wall |
| 20 ft | 3/8" | A one-car garage depth |
| 36 ft | 3/4" | A small house's depth |
| 50 ft | 1" | A large house's width |
| 100 ft | 2" | A long lot line |
How much fits on a sheet
The largest area a full sheet can show at 1" = 50', before margins and title block:
| Sheet | Paper size | Real area shown |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH D | 36" × 24" | 1,800 × 1,200 ft |
| Tabloid (ANSI B) | 17" × 11" | 850 × 550 ft |
| Letter | 11" × 8.5" | 550 × 425 ft |
Is your plan really at 1" = 50'?
A scale note is only true at the paper size the drawing was made for. Print a 24" × 36" plan on letter paper with "fit to page", or export a PDF at a different page size, and every measurement shrinks by the same factor while the note still says 1" = 50'. Always check one printed dimension before you trust the scale.
FloorFigures does this for you on PDFs: it reads the printed dimensions, works out the real scale, and warns you when the note disagrees. It's free and runs in your browser.
Other engineering scales
| Scale | Ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1" = 10' | 1:120 | An engineering scale used for small site plans and detailed civil drawings. |
| 1" = 20' | 1:240 | An engineering scale used for residential site plans and plot plans. |
| 1" = 30' | 1:360 | An engineering scale used for larger lots and site plans. |
| 1" = 40' | 1:480 | An engineering scale used for subdivision and large site plans. |
| 1" = 100' | 1:1200 | An engineering scale used for area maps and large developments. |
Questions
- What does 1" = 50' scale mean?
- It means 1" on the drawing represents 50' in real life, a ratio of 1:600. One inch on the drawing is 50 ft in reality.
- How many feet is 1 inch at 1" = 50' scale?
- 1 inch on the drawing is 50 ft at 1" = 50', because the ratio is 1:600 and 600 inches is 50 feet.
- How do I convert 1" = 50' measurements to feet?
- Multiply the inches you measure on paper by 50 to get feet. For example, 3 inches on a 1" = 50' drawing is 150 ft.
- Is 1" = 50' the same as 1:600?
- Yes. 1" = 50' and 1:600 describe the same scale: real objects are 600 times larger than they're drawn.
- How do I check a plan is really at 1" = 50'?
- Measure a printed dimension. At 1" = 50', a 10-foot wall should measure 3/16" on paper. If it doesn't, the plan was resized (often by printing "fit to page") and you should set the scale from a dimension instead.