Select the Dimension tool from the tool panel.
Last updated on
Sep 11, 2025
Learn how to accurately plot interior or exterior angles within shapes or between intersecting lines.
Plot the angles of basic shapes
Plot interior or exterior angles along the vertex using the Angular Dimension tool.
Select Angular Dimension from the taskbar that appears.
Hover over the vertex of the angle you want to plot until a pink angular guide appears.
To plot the interior and exterior angles, do the following:
- Interior angle: Drag inward from the vertex and then release.
- Exterior angle: Drag outward from the vertex and then release.
To reposition dimension objects, drag the object using the Dimension tool.
To change the settings of a dimension object you’ve plotted, select the dimension object using the Selection tool and make changes in the Properties panel.
Note
When you distort an object, the associated dimensions don’t update automatically.
Plot the angles of intersecting lines
Select the Dimension tool from the tool panel.
Select Angular Dimension from the taskbar that appears.
Select a point on the first line, and then select a point on the second line.
Move the mouse inward or outward, and then click the canvas to plot interior or exterior angles.
Tip
If a path segment has a stroke applied to it, you can measure its linear dimension accurately by snapping onto its preview bounds. To turn on preview bounds, select Illustrator > Settings > General (macOS) or Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) and then select Use Preview Bounds.
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