How to Change Sheet Scale in a SOLIDWORKS Drawing

Sheet scale controls the default scale used by drawing views on a SOLIDWORKS drawing sheet. It is useful when most views on the sheet should use the same scale, such as 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.

Change the sheet scale

1. Open the drawing.
2. Right-click the sheet name at the bottom of the drawing window or right-click an empty area of the sheet.
3. Choose Properties.
4. Find the sheet scale setting.
5. Enter the scale you want, such as 1:2, 1:1, or 2:1.
6. Click OK and review the drawing views.

Understand sheet scale vs view scale

The sheet scale is the default scale for views that use the sheet scale. Individual drawing views can still use their own custom scale. If one view does not change when you update the sheet scale, select that view and check whether it is set to use a custom scale.

This difference matters on drawings with detail views, section views, and enlarged views. A detail view often needs a different scale from the main sheet, so changing the sheet scale should not automatically be treated as a problem.

Check dimensions and notes

After changing the scale, inspect the drawing for crowded dimensions, overlapping annotations, and notes that no longer sit near the correct view. The model dimensions do not change, but the drawing layout can become harder to read.

Move annotations after the scale is set. If the sheet contains many views, it may be cleaner to use another sheet size or split the drawing across multiple sheets instead of forcing every view onto one page.

Use scale labels clearly

Make sure the title block or view labels communicate the correct scale. If some views use custom scales, show those view scales where your drawing standard requires them. A reader should not have to guess whether the scale in the title block applies to every view.

Troubleshooting

If a view looks unchanged, select it and check whether it uses sheet scale or a custom scale. If the drawing becomes too crowded, change the sheet size, reduce the number of views, or move enlarged details to another sheet.