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1/8 Inch Scale (1/8" = 1'-0") Explained
At 1/8 inch scale, every 1/8" on the drawing stands for 1 foot in real life, a ratio of 1:96. One inch on the paper equals 8'.
What is 1/8" = 1'-0" scale used for?
1/8" = 1'-0" is used for floor plans of larger homes and commercial buildings, and overall building plans. Drawings at this scale are read with an architect's scale, or with a normal ruler and the conversion charts below.
What is 1/8 inch scale as a ratio?
1/8" = 1'-0" is a ratio of 1:96. One unit on the drawing equals 96 of the same unit in real life, whether you measure in inches, feet, or anything else.
How many feet is 1 inch at 1/8" = 1'-0"?
One inch on the drawing is 8' in real life. The chart below converts common paper measurements.
| On the drawing | In real life |
|---|---|
| 1/8" | 1' |
| 1/4" | 2' |
| 1/2" | 4' |
| 1" | 8' |
| 2" | 16' |
| 3" | 24' |
| 6" | 48' |
| 12" | 96' |
How do I convert real feet to 1/8" = 1'-0"?
Multiply the real length in feet by 1/8 to get inches on paper. One real foot is drawn 1/8" long, and a 12-foot wall is 1 1/2".
| In real life | On the drawing |
|---|---|
| 1' | 1/8" |
| 5' | 5/8" |
| 10' | 1 1/4" |
| 12' | 1 1/2" |
| 16' | 2" |
| 20' | 2 1/2" |
| 30' | 3 3/4" |
| 50' | 6 1/4" |
How much fits on one sheet at 1/8" = 1'-0"?
A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D sheet covers 288 by 192 feet of real space at 1/8" = 1'-0", before margins and the title block. A tabloid 11 x 17 sheet covers 136 by 88 feet.
A 12x16 room at 1/8" = 1'-0"
A 12x16 room is drawn 1 1/2" by 2" at 1/8" = 1'-0". That is large enough to label the room and show doors, windows, and furniture.
Is 1/8" = 1'-0" the same as 1:100?
Close but not the same. 1/8" = 1'-0" is 1:96, while 1:100 is a metric scale. Measuring a 1:100 drawing with a 1/8 inch scale rule is off by about 4%, which adds up fast on long walls.
How to measure a drawing at 1/8" = 1'-0"
- Check the title block or scale bar to confirm the drawing really is 1/8" = 1'-0". Plans are often printed at a different size than they were drawn.
- Measure a dimension that is already labeled, such as an exterior wall, and compare it with the chart above. If they disagree, the print was scaled.
- For PDFs and images, skip the ruler. The floor plan scale calculator converts any measurement, and MeasureFloorPlan sets the scale from one known wall and measures every room from there.
More on reading scales: floor plan scale explained. Nearby scales: 3/32" = 1'-0" and 3/16" = 1'-0". Every scale is compared on the drawing scale chart.
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