Printable 1-Point Perspective Grid
One vanishing point, metre squares, a 35 mm lens. Print it, put tracing paper over it, draw a room.
What this grid is for
The classic beginner's grid: a room seen from the doorway, a road, a corridor, shelves. The vanishing point is in the centre, the horizon slightly above the middle for a standing viewer. Use it for interiors and for learning how depth spacing compresses toward the horizon.
Three things to draw on it
Draw a bedroom from the doorway: the far wall is a rectangle sitting on the grid, the bed is a box whose long sides run to the vanishing point, the window is a rectangle on the side wall whose top and bottom edges also run to the point. Then a corridor with three doors, and a bookshelf seen straight on.
Tips for this sheet
Keep verticals truly vertical; in one-point nothing tilts. Objects that are turned even slightly need the two-point sheet instead. The horizon sits at 1.6 m, so a seated figure's eyes fall below it and a standing figure's eyes on it. If the terms are new, read how to draw perspective first; it uses the same camera settings as this template.
How to use it
Print the PDF at actual size and lay tracing paper or a thin sheet over it on a light pad, or use it directly and draw lightly so the printed lines do not fight your drawing. Each square is one metre on the ground; the eye level (the dashed horizon) is 1.6 m up, a standing adult. A door is about two squares tall, a person a little less, a car about four and a half squares long.
Lines going away from you run to the single vanishing point in the centre. Cross-lines stay horizontal, and the spacing between them shows how depth compresses toward the horizon.
Want a different angle?
This sheet is fixed so that a class or a study group all works from the same grid. For any other rotation, lens or horizon, open the interactive one-point grid at these settings, adjust it, and export a PNG or SVG.
Questions
Why is the horizon above the middle of the page?
Because the sheet is drawn from a standing eye height of 1.6 m looking level, and the frame is slightly cropped toward the floor so more ground shows. Move the paper up or down under your tracing sheet if you want more ceiling.
How do I print it at the right size?
Download the PDF for your paper size and print at 100% ("Actual size"), not "Fit to page". The one-metre squares then keep their proportions. For the PNG, set the print dialog to the same paper size.
Can I use it in Procreate, Clip Studio or Photoshop?
Yes. Download the PNG at 150 or 300 DPI and import it as a layer, lower its opacity and lock it. For a transparent version with exactly your own angle and lens, use the interactive tool instead.
Is it free to use in a classroom?
Yes. Print as many as you need for students. A link back is appreciated but not required.
Can I change the angle of the 1-Point Perspective Grid?
This template is fixed so that everyone gets the same sheet. For other angles, lenses or horizon heights, open the matching interactive grid; it exports PNG and SVG at any setting.