AutoCAD ROTATE Command: How to Rotate Objects by an Angle

Rotates selected objects around a base point by a specified angle.

Command

ROTATE

Aliases

RO

English name

Rotate

The AutoCAD ROTATE command turns selected objects around a base point you specify. Start it with ROTATE or the alias RO. You can type the rotation angle or show it with the cursor.

With default settings, positive angles rotate counterclockwise and negative angles rotate clockwise. The Reference option lets you align an object to an absolute angle, so you can straighten a tilted object without knowing its current angle.

How to use it

1. Type ROTATE or RO and press Enter.
2. Select the objects and press Enter.
3. Pick the base point to rotate around.
4. Type a rotation angle and press Enter, or drag to show the angle.

Options

Rotation angle

The angle to rotate by. With default settings, positive values rotate counterclockwise.

Copy

Keeps the original object and creates a rotated copy.

Reference

Rotates from a reference angle to a new angle. You can type the reference angle or pick two points to define it.

Notes and tips

• To straighten a tilted object, use Reference, pick two points along its edge and enter 0 as the new angle.
• Angle direction and base depend on the ANGDIR and ANGBASE system variables; the current setting is shown when the command starts.
• With Ortho or polar tracking on, cursor-picked angles snap to those increments.