AutoCAD ELLIPSE Command: How to Draw Ellipses and Arcs

Draws an ellipse or elliptical arc by defining its two axes.

Command: ELLIPSE
Aliases: EL
English name: Ellipse

The AutoCAD ELLIPSE command draws an ellipse by defining its two axes. By default you pick both endpoints of the first axis and then set the half-length of the other axis.

The Center option starts from the center point instead. The Arc option draws only part of an ellipse, an elliptical arc.

Ellipses are created as true ellipse objects and can be resized easily with grips.

How to use it

Type ELLIPSE or EL and press Enter.
Pick one endpoint of the first axis, or type C to start from the center.
Pick the other endpoint of the first axis.
Type or pick the half-length of the second axis.

Options

Center (C): Draws the ellipse starting from its center point.
Arc (A): Draws an elliptical arc; start and end angles are requested afterwards.
Rotation (R): Defines the second axis by rotating a circle around the first axis.

Notes and tips

In isometric drafting, turn on isometric snap and use the Isocircle option of ELLIPSE to draw isometric circles.
Offsetting an ellipse produces a spline, not another ellipse.