The Best (and Fastest) Way to Learn AutoCAD
How I’d Learn AutoCAD from Scratch (If I Had to Do It Again)
Hey All,
Hope you’re having a great week so far and ready for a relaxing weekend to recharge!
I’’m excited to have a little more time coming up now that my Sons Hockey season is done, for now at least (spring ball hockey’s only a month away)…
So with all my “extra” time, this week I wanted to focus on answering a common question that comes up so often in emails and in the comments on the channel that it deserves it’s own email and an upcoming video: What is the Best/Fastest way to Learn AutoCAD? (And become fluent & efficient in it)
Let’s jump right into today’s email:
What is the Best/Fastest way to Master AutoCAD:
If you’ve ever tried learning AutoCAD or any design software from scratch, you know it can feel a little like learning a new language… while blindfolded… with someone shouting random commands at you…
I’ve certainly been there and know the frustration all too much.
It doesn’t have to be that way though. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to sharpen and expand your AutoCAD skillset, I’ve got some battle-tested ways to make learning AutoCAD faster, easier, and way less frustrating.
Step 1: Start with the Basics (But Don’t Get Stuck There!)
A lot of beginners either:
A) Try to jump into advanced 3D modeling, or create complete building plans on Day 1 and get completely lost and ultimately discouraged , OR
B) Spend way too long reading and memorizing every single toolbar and command before ever drawing a line. Over consuming content and not taking action.
Neither works.
Instead, start with the essentials:
Lines, circles, polylines – Get comfy drawing basic shapes.
Modify commands – Learn Move, Copy, Rotate, Trim, and Extend (you’ll use these daily).
Layers & Blocks – They’ll keep your drawings organized and save you tons of time.
To learn these quickly, you can check out my AutoCAD Basics playlist on youtube, it’s an old series that I’ll be updating soon but it’ll still get the job done!
AutoCAD Basics Playlist
Or click through and read the Basics in Autodesks Foundations Tutorial Series here
Step 2: Learn by Doing (Real Projects > Random Exercises)
You can watch 100 tutorials, but until you start actually using AutoCAD for real projects, it won’t stick.
So here’s what I suggest:
First find a small project to recreate (like a floor plan of your bedroom or house, a simple mechanical part drawing of a bike part or tool, or basic site layout) and just get started. Look up questions and commands that you run into and need along the way.
Once you get a feel for the basics then you can start looking at more structured tutorials to learn proper workflows, setting up layouts/drawings, templates, folder setups, and more industry-specific skills.
(P.S. – My AutoCAD Fundamentals & Workflows Course covers these in a way that’s easy to follow and actually useful. Learn More Here)
Join a community where you can ask questions (because trust me, you will have questions!).
📢 Shameless Plug: That’s why I created the CAD Support Discord – a private community where you can get feedback, ask for help, and learn directly from other designers. It’s basically a cheat code for getting better at AutoCAD way faster and having your own CAD Helpdesk for a fraction of the cost! Learn more or Join Here
Step 3: Use Shortcuts & Customizations Early
One of the biggest time-wasters in AutoCAD? Clicking around menus for every single command. The Ribbon and tool bars are notoriously cluttered and time consuming to find our most used commands.
Save yourself hours by:
✅ Learning keyboard shortcuts (I promise, they’re life-changing).
✅ Setting up custom commands & macros (small tweaks = big efficiency boosts).
✅ Using a proper CAD mouse (trust me, it makes a difference).
Bonus: I cover a ton of these time-saving workflows inside my AutoCAD Fundamentals & Workflows Course – designed to take you from beginner to confident user without the headaches. If you’re ready to learn AutoCAD the right way, you can check it out here: cadintentions.com/hurry
You can also check out my channel and Tips/Tricks Playlist here to learn a ton of time saving tricks here.
Start with this one:
Want to Level Up Even Faster?
1️⃣ Join the CAD Support Discord – Get help, ask questions, and connect with other CAD users. cadintentions.com/cadsupport
2️⃣ Check Out My AutoCAD Course – Step-by-step training to help you master AutoCAD efficiently. cadintentions.com/hurry
3️⃣ Subscribe to this Newsletter – Bonus tips, tricks, and articles every week!
AutoCAD doesn’t have to be hard. Follow these simple steps, stay consistent, and you’ll be working like a pro in no time.
Got questions? Reply to this email or on twitter: @cadintentions !
That’s all for today, I hope you enjoyed this week’s video and newsletter!
As always, thank you so much for reading and watching, I am super excited for the rest of the year, growing the content, tutorials, and blog with you all.
Cheers and happy Drafting!