How to Reset the AutoCAD Scale List
Resetting the AutoCAD scale list removes custom and unused scales and restores the drawing's default list. Use it only after checking whether your project depends on office-specific or annotative scales.
Start here — what you are going to do
Your goal: Clean a damaged or overloaded scale list without losing a required project scale by surprise.
Where to start: Save a backup copy of the DWG before resetting the list.
Beginner rule: Change one scale-related setting at a time. After setting a viewport or plot scale, use Preview and verify one known measurement before trusting the final sheet.
Step by step — follow this in AutoCAD
Step 1 — Record required custom scales
Where: SCALELISTEDIT > current Scale List.
Do this: Write down office/project scales you must keep.
Check: You can recreate them if Reset removes them.
Step 2 — Check annotative dependencies
Where: Drawing content and annotative styles/objects.
Do this: Confirm the project is not relying on a special scale representation you do not understand.
Check: You know the reset risk.
Step 3 — Open SCALELISTEDIT
Where: Command line > SCALELISTEDIT.
Do this: Review the current list one last time.
Check: The correct drawing is active.
Step 4 — Use Reset
Where: Edit Scale List > Reset.
Do this: Restore the default scale list.
Check: Custom and unused scales are removed as expected.
Step 5 — Re-add required office scales
Where: Edit Scale List > Add.
Do this: Recreate only the legitimate custom scales you recorded.
Check: The list is clean and useful.
Step 6 — Test existing viewports
Where: Open important Layouts.
Do this: Check viewport scales and annotative display, then Preview.
Check: No production sheet was damaged.
Beginner example
A consultant DWG contains dozens of duplicate scale names after years of xrefs. Back up the file, record the office’s 1:250 scale, reset the list, recreate 1:250, then check important Layouts before continuing.
Understand what AutoCAD is doing
Reset is destructive to custom definitions
Autodesk notes that Reset restores the default list and removes custom/unused scales. Treat it as cleanup, not a casual first fix.
Referenced scales may remain protected in other operations
Annotative objects can reference scale definitions. Understand those relationships before aggressive cleanup.
A clean template prevents recurrence
If every new drawing starts with a controlled scale list, project teams spend less time fixing duplicates.
Useful next guides: Add Custom Scales · AutoCAD Viewport Scale Missing or Not Showing · Annotation Scale vs Viewport Scale in AutoCAD · AutoCAD Pre-Plot Checklist: 12 Things to Check Before You Print
Common problems and what to check first
| What you see | What may be causing it | Check this first |
|---|---|---|
| Required custom scale disappeared | Reset removed it | Re-add the documented office scale. |
| Annotative objects look different | Scale representations changed | Check annotation scales assigned to those objects. |
| Duplicate scales return | Xrefs/templates reintroduce them | Clean the source standard, not only the active DWG. |
| Viewport scale changed unexpectedly | Viewport was using a custom definition | Restore the intended verified scale and lock it. |
When you need a more repeatable workflow
For repeatable Layouts, use named standard scales, lock every approved production viewport, and keep one measured PDF as a reference. If several users work on the same templates, standardize the scale list and Page Setup so nobody has to rebuild the sheet by trial and error.
Official Autodesk references
Interface labels can vary slightly by AutoCAD release and workspace. These Autodesk pages are the primary references for the workflow above.
Frequently asked questions
Does Reset delete all scales?
It restores the default list rather than leaving the drawing with no scales.
Should I reset every consultant file?
No. Do it only when there is a real scale-list problem and after checking dependencies.
Can I add custom scales again after Reset?
Yes. Use SCALELISTEDIT > Add and verify the result.
Explore more in Viewport Scale in AutoCAD & CAD.