AutoCAD ERASE Command: How to Delete Objects Quickly

Removes selected objects from the drawing.

Command: ERASE
Aliases: E
English name: Erase

The AutoCAD ERASE command removes selected objects from the drawing. Start it with ERASE or the alias E. Selecting objects first and pressing the Delete key gives the same result.

ERASE has no options of its own; its flexibility comes from the selection methods available at the Select objects prompt. With a few letters you can select the last object drawn, the previous selection set or every object in the drawing.

How to use it

Type ERASE or E and press Enter.
Select the objects by clicking them or with a window.
Press Enter to finish the selection and erase the objects.

Options

Last (L): Selects the most recently created visible object.
Previous (P): Reselects the selection set used by the previous command.
ALL: Selects every object in the drawing except those on frozen layers.
Window (W) / Crossing (C): Window selects only objects fully inside; Crossing selects everything the window touches.
Fence (F): Selects every object crossed by a multi-segment line you draw.

Notes and tips

OOPS restores the objects removed by the last ERASE, even after other commands.
Objects on locked layers cannot be erased; check layer locks first.
To remove unused blocks, layers and styles, use PURGE rather than ERASE.