Draw rectangular and polar grids

Last updated on Oct 24, 2026

Learn how to create rectangular and polar grids in Adobe Illustrator by dragging on the canvas or setting precise dimensions and dividers.

Use the Rectangular Grid and Polar Grid tools to create grids with specified dimensions and dividers.

Draw grids

To draw a rectangular grid, select the Rectangular Grid tool and drag on the canvas.
To draw a polar grid, select the Polar Grid tool and drag on the canvas.

Tip

Hold Shift while dragging to constrain a rectangular grid to a square or a polar grid to a circle.

Draw rectangular grids using advanced options

Rectangular Grid Tool Options dialog with Width, Height, Horizontal Dividers, Vertical Dividers, Use Outside Rectangle As Frame, and Fill Grid settings, beside an example rectangular grid. — 1The Rectangular Grid Tool Options dialog shows size, divider, frame, and fill settings.

Select the Rectangular Grid tool, then select the canvas to set the grid’s reference point.

In the Rectangular Grid Tool Options dialog box, select a square on the reference point locator to set the direction in which the grid extends. Under Default Size, specify the Width and Height.

Under Horizontal Dividers, specify the Number of dividers and adjust Skew to weight them toward the top or bottom.

Under Vertical Dividers, specify the Number of dividers and adjust Skew to weight them toward the left or right.

Select Use Outside Rectangle As Frame to make the outer edges a separate rectangular object.

Select Fill Grid to apply the current fill color, then select OK.

Draw polar grids using advanced options

Polar Grid Tool Options dialog with Width, Height, Concentric Dividers, Radial Dividers, Create Compound Path From Ellipses, and Fill Grid settings, beside an example polar grid. — 2The Polar Grid Tool Options dialog shows size, concentric divider, radial divider, and fill settings.

Select the Polar Grid tool, then select the canvas where you want to place the grid’s reference point.

In the Polar Grid Tool Options dialog box, select a square on the reference point locator to set the direction in which the grid extends. Under Default Size, specify the Width and Height.

Under Concentric Dividers, specify the Number of circular dividers and adjust Skew to weight them toward the inside or outside.

Under Radial Dividers, specify the Number of dividers between the center and circumference, and adjust Skew to weight them counterclockwise or clockwise.

Select Create Compound Path From Ellipses to convert concentric circles into separate compound paths that fill alternating circles.

Select Fill Grid to apply the current fill color, then select OK.

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