How to copy a sketch in SolidWorks?

There are several ways to duplicate sketch geometry in SOLIDWORKS, and each one is useful in different situations. In this tutorial, you’ll learn two reliable, everyday methods:

• Copy/Paste for fast duplicates you can place interactively.
• Copy Entities for precise offsets, relation control, and quick repeats.

Follow the steps below using the same sample sketch referenced in your earlier tutorial, “How to fully define a sketch in SolidWorks.”

Before you copy: a quick note on “Fully Defined” sketches

After copying, it’s common for the new geometry to be under defined—especially if the original sketch was anchored to the origin or referenced other entities. In SOLIDWORKS, a sketch is considered Fully Defined when its size and position are completely controlled by dimensions, relations, or both. Under-defined sketches still have degrees of freedom and can shift unexpectedly during edits.

Plan to finish any copy operation by adding the missing dimensions/relations (or by using the Fully Define Sketch tool) so the copied geometry behaves predictably.

Copy/Paste

Copy/Paste is the quickest way to duplicate sketch entities. It’s especially handy when you want to “eyeball” placement first and lock it down with dimensions afterward.

Step-by-step (inside an active sketch)

1. Edit (activate) the sketch where you want the copy to live.
2. Select the entities you want to copy (window select, or use Ctrl+A if you truly want everything).
3. Copy to the clipboard with Ctrl+C.
4. Click in the graphics area to indicate where you want the copy placed.
5. Paste with Ctrl+V.

In an active sketch, select all entities to be copied. Then copy the sketch to the clipboard, using Ctrl+C. In the graphics area, click the approximate location that the sketch is to be positioned, and press Ctrl+V to paste a copy.

Complete the process by adding dimensions and relations to fully define the sketch. To paste multiple copies of the same sketch, click another location in the graphics area and press Ctrl+V. Repeat as required.

Practical tips for Copy/Paste

• Know what drives the insertion point: when you paste sketch entities, SOLIDWORKS places the center of the selected entities at the point where you click. If you need exact placement, use Copy Entities with X/Y offsets (covered below).
• Copying between parts/sketches: you can copy sketch entities in one file and paste them into another open file or onto another planar face/plane, as long as you paste into a valid sketch context.
• Dimensions copy only if selected: if you want sketch dimensions to come along, include them in your selection before copying.

Copy Entities

Copy Entities is the better choice when you need controlled placement. It lets you copy sketch entities by a defined offset using either a base-point method (From/To) or numeric translation (X/Y). It also gives you control over whether sketch relations are preserved.

Where to find Copy Entities

While editing a sketch, you can start Copy Entities from the Sketch tools (CommandManager/Sketch toolbar) or from the right-click shortcut menu under Sketch Tools.

Step-by-step (using X/Y offsets)

1. Start Copy Entities while in an active sketch.
2. Under Entities to Copy, select the sketch entities you want to duplicate.
3. (Recommended) Enable Keep/Maintain relations if you want the copied entities to preserve internal sketch relations where possible.
4. Under Parameters, choose X/Y and enter your offset values.
5. For this tutorial, set X = 150mm and Y = 200mm.
6. Click the green check mark to complete the command.

Copy entities is another method to copy a sketch. Select copy entities from the SOLIDWORKS CommandManager when in an active sketch. The first step is to select the entities to copy. In the parameters list there are two options: From/To and X/Y. Use From/To and drag the base point to the desired location. Alternatively use X/Y to input values to move the sketch entities. For this tutorial use X/Y and set the values to 150mm and 200mm respectively. Complete the command by pressing the green check mark.

Making multiple copies (Repeat)

To create additional copies at the same spacing, use the Repeat option in the Copy Entities PropertyManager. Repeat places another copy using the same distance as the previous copy operation.

Press the repeat button, add new X/Y values as needed, and click the green check mark to place multiple instances.

Dimension the newly copied entities to fully define the sketch.

After copying: fully define the new geometry (recommended)

Once the copy is placed, fully define it so it won’t “float” during future edits. You can do this by adding dimensions and relations manually, or by using SOLIDWORKS’ Fully Define Sketch tool, which can calculate and apply the missing relations/dimensions to fully define under-defined sketches or selected entities.

Quick workflow

1. Edit the sketch that contains the copied entities.
2. Add any obvious design-intent relations first (for example: horizontal/vertical, coincident to an origin or reference line).
3. Run Fully Define Sketch to finish the remaining definition, or add the remaining dimensions manually.

Troubleshooting (common issues)

The pasted copy lands in a “random” location

This is usually just the paste behavior: SOLIDWORKS places the center of the copied entities where you click. If you need exact placement, use Copy Entities with X/Y values or a From/To base point.

The copied sketch becomes under defined

This typically means the copy no longer has a defining relation/dimension tying it to the origin or other reference geometry. Add a locating dimension (for example, from the origin) or add a suitable relation, then fully define the remaining entities.

Relations don’t carry over the way you expected

When using Copy Entities, relations are only copied if you enable the option to keep/maintain relations. If relations involve entities you did not select, those connections may be broken by design. In those cases, reapply the key relations that express your design intent.