Free AutoCAD electrical plan symbols (DWG) for sockets, switches, lighting and fire alarm layouts

About the drawing conventions

There is no single standard for the symbols of building electrical plans: sockets, switches and luminaires are drawn in broadly similar ways, but the details (the switch arm, the socket line, the letters beside a symbol) differ between countries, wiring regulations and offices. IEC 60617 has installation symbols as well, but plans follow local practice.

These symbols are our own drawings after common building electrical drafting conventions, and the library is not certified against any standard or wiring regulation. Check them against the legend of your client or the regulations that apply to your project, and change the blocks if yours differ.

Frequently asked questions

Are these symbols to a standard?

No. There is no binding standard for electrical plan symbols; they follow common conventions and can be changed to match your office legend or your local regulations.

How is this library different from the architectural symbols?

The architectural library has the 28 most common electrical and lighting symbols next to doors, windows and furniture. This library is the full set for electrical plans, with about 175 symbols, the same shapes for the common ones, and schedule attributes for circuits, ratings and cables.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.

How do I make a socket or luminaire schedule from the drawings?

Export the blocks of all floor plans to Excel with BlockSync: one row per block with its tag and attributes. Fill in the circuits, ratings and mounting heights in Excel and write them back in one run, with preview and backup.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.