Printable graphic scale bar and north indicator

Scale bar

1:

North arrow

Printed bar length:

The bar is drawn true to scale at exact millimetre size. Print at 100% scale so it measures correctly.

Live preview


About Scale Bar & North Arrow

The Scale Bar & North Arrow generator produces a printable graphic scale bar and north indicator for plans, site drawings and maps. Set the units (meters, centimeters or feet), the drawing scale as 1:N, the bar length and the number of divisions, and the tool draws a bar that is true to scale on paper.

Two bar styles are available — alternating filled bars, the classic cartographic look, and a lined style with tick marks — plus three north arrow styles: filled arrow, simple arrow and compass rose. The page also reports the printed bar length so you can check it fits your sheet.

A graphic scale bar keeps a drawing measurable even when it is photocopied or resized, which a written ratio alone cannot do. The preview updates live in the browser; the Print and Download buttons generate an exact-millimeter PDF on the server. Print at 100% so the bar measures correctly.

How to use Scale Bar & North Arrow

  1. Choose the units and enter your drawing scale as 1:N.
  2. Set the bar length and the number of divisions, and pick a bar style.
  3. Select a north arrow style: filled arrow, simple arrow or compass rose.
  4. Choose the sheet size and orientation, and check the printed bar length in the preview.
  5. Print or download the PDF and print at 100% scale so the bar stays true.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, the Scale Bar & North Arrow generator is free. Configure the bar, then print it or download the PDF.

A written ratio becomes wrong the moment a drawing is photocopied, scanned or printed at a different size. A graphic bar shrinks or grows with the drawing, so readers can always take true measurements from it.

The page shows the printed bar length calculated from your scale, units and bar length, and the live preview draws it on the selected sheet, so you can see the fit before printing.

Check that you printed at 100% with no fit-to-page or shrink option. The PDF is drawn at exact millimeter size; any print scaling changes the bar and defeats its purpose.

No drawings or files are uploaded. The preview runs in your browser, and only your settings are sent to the server to generate the final PDF.


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