Good quality drafting instruments make technical drawing easier, cleaner, and more accurate. Shop drafting triangles, compasses, dividers, beam compasses, proportional dividers, irregular curves, pantographs, and other precision drafting tools used in architecture, engineering, design, STEM education, and manual drafting.
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5.5" School Pencil Compass
Alvin & Co.$1.95Compass is constructed of durable, lightweight plastic with fiberglass reinforcement to resist bending. Quick release pencil holder holds all standard pencil sizes. Hand adjustable 6" measuring arc has easy-to-read ½" graduations. Blunt safety point... -
6" Basic-Bow Compass and Beam Bar
Alvin Drafting$27.20Designed with a fiberglass ringhead and pivot design for smooth, firm adjustment. Features: Accurate center wheel adjusts quickly Makes circles up to 10" in diameterBeam bar extension creates circles up to 20" in diameterBuilt-in spindle... -
6" Basic-Bow Pencil Compass/Divider
Alvin Drafting$15.10Designed with a fiberglass ring head and pivot design for smooth, firm adjustment. Features: Accurate center wheel adjusts quickly and easily Creates circles up to 10" diameter. Built-in spindle stop prevents over-extension. Supplied with... -
6" Quick Action Compass with Extension Bar
Pacific Arc$16.60Professional quality Speed Bow Compass adjusts two ways: press the buttons on the legs for extremely fast adjustment or use the center wheel for fine adjustment.QSB-810CEX features our signature 6" QSB-series compass with beam, universal adaptor and... -
6" Transparent French Curve
Alvin & Co.$2.20Professional quality hand-finished curves of 0.06" thick acrylic. Sizes given are nominal. -
Academic Transparent Triangles
Alvin Drafting$2.00 - $5.40These Academic Drafting Triangles have a double-taper cutout center for easy lifting, enhancing efficiency. Made from durable, extra-heavy acrylic, they resist discoloration and warping. Ideal for students, hobbyists, and professionals, these tools... -
Basic Bow Combination Compass Set
Alvin & Co.$38.40Features: 6" compass with interchangeable pen, pencil and divider parts4-1/2" compass with interchangeable pen, pencil and divider parts6" beam bar extension and slide coupling6" friction divider with self centering gear head design and replaceable... -
Bulk-Pak 2mm (2H) Compass Leads - 144/pk
Alvin & Co.$10.40A convenient way to refill standard drawing instruments with pre-sharpened chisel points. 2mm in diameter and ¾" long. -
Pro-Draft Parallel Bar
Martin Universal$184.70 - $219.80The Martin® Pro-Draft Professional Parallel Straightedge comprises cutting-edge technology making the premier straightedge in its class. It features an aluminum body for strength and stability, anti-warp cast acrylic bottom making it suitable for both... -
- 41%- 41%Professional 6" Pen/Pencil Compass with Beam Bar
PickettNOW: $19.95WAS: $34.10The Pickett Professional 6 Inch Pen and Pencil Compass is made of durable steel construction for long-lasting use. This 6 inch compass makes a maximum 10" circle and is delicately balanced, providing feather-light control. Made of chrome-plated brass and... -
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10" Smoke-Grey French Curve - Inking Edge
Alvin Drafting$4.40The Alvin French Curve is perfect for drawing irregular curves and connecting line segments. Its dual inking edges ensure smudge-free, precise results with pencils or technical pens on either side. Made from 0.10" thick transparent... -
10-Piece Geometry Study Set
Maped$7.95A compact, comprehensive geometry set that is packed in a reusable plastic storage box.Set Includes: Metal compass with pencil holder Metal compass with lead Pencil sharpener Eraser Pencil Ruler Protractor Set of squares One pack of... -
10-Piece Math Set
Staedtler$3.40The Staedtler Math Set is an ideal tool bundle for math class and drafting! Math Set Contains: 6"/15cm ruler (Imperial and metric)4" 45 degree set square4" 30/60 degree set square4" 180 degree protractorlettering guide4" compass4" dividerWooden... -
10-Piece Mathematical Instrument Set
Alvin & Co.$6.00This Mathematical Instrument Set includes:Metal pencil compassAlphabet stencil45° triangle30°/60° triangleVinyl eraser Metal divider Pencil6"/15cm ruler180° protractorSharpenerPackaged in attractive metal case with printed conversion charts inside lid. -
12" Graduated Flexible Curve
Pacific Arc$9.20 - $22.90BulletsFeatures: Graduated sizes: 12", 16", 18", 24".Inches and metric available for any measuring needs.Completely straighten or bend into whatever shape needed.DescriptionFlexible Curves allow for the creation of an infinite number of curves to meet... -
12" Ruler & Geometry Set
Art Alternatives$9.40Perfect for students and professionals alike, this geometry set contains a 180° protractor, 45° and 60° triangles and a 12" ruler. The rulers and triangles all have inch and centimeter calibrations for all your measuring needs, and have a clear... -
12" Vary form Curve
Fairgate$10.7012" Aluminum English Vary Form Curve.Draws a wide range of curves by simply turning.Practically replaces a set of French curves. Indispensible to the pattern maker and grapic artist.Calibrated one edge two sides.8ths -
12.5" Smoke-Grey French Curve - Inking Edge
Alvin Drafting$4.40The Alvin French Curve is perfect for drawing irregular curves and connecting line segments. Its dual inking edges ensure smudge-free, precise results with pencils or technical pens on either side. Made from 0.10" thick transparent... -
2-Piece Aluminum Triangle Set
Alumicolor$12.00 - $14.70Alumicolor Calibrated Triangles are made of tempered aluminum. Photo anodized calibrations are a part of the finish and resist cleaning or rubbing off. Ultra smooth finish won't mark your work surface. Available in 45/90 or 30/60-angles with calibrations...
Professional Drafting Instruments for Technical Drawing and Precision Layout
Good drafting instruments make technical drawing easier, cleaner, and more accurate. Whether you're learning geometry, working through architecture school, creating fabrication layouts, or sketching design concepts by hand, the right tools make a noticeable difference.
This collection includes drafting triangles, compasses, dividers, beam compasses, proportional dividers, irregular curves, pantographs, and other precision drafting instruments used in architecture, engineering, design, STEM education, and manual drafting workflows.
Many drafting and design students still use these tools every day alongside CAD software. Manual drafting remains an important part of learning layout fundamentals, geometry, spacing, proportion, and technical drawing techniques.
Choosing Better Drafting Instruments
One of the most common mistakes beginners make is buying an extremely cheap compass. Low-quality compasses often slip, wobble, or lose adjustment while drawing, which quickly becomes frustrating during classroom exercises and technical layouts. Many drafting instructors recommend spending a little more on a better compass because students tend to use them constantly throughout drafting and geometry courses.
Architecture and engineering students most commonly use drafting triangles, compasses, and parallel bars during manual drafting exercises. Many drafting kits include these core tools along with scales, pencils, and drafting media needed for classroom work.
A quality parallel bar is also one of the few drafting tools many professionals keep for decades. Even as software has changed over the years, a good parallel bar still provides a fast, reliable drawing surface for sketching, layouts, and technical drawing by hand.
Still Used Alongside CAD
Even in CAD-heavy classrooms and design offices, drafting instruments are still widely used for concept sketching, geometry instruction, manual layout work, presentation drawings, fabrication planning, and learning core drafting principles. Many designers and architects still find it faster to sketch ideas by hand before moving into software.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are drafting instruments?
Drafting instruments are hand tools used for technical drawing and precision layout work. They help create accurate circles, angles, curves, spacing, and measured lines for drafting, engineering, architecture, geometry, and design applications.
What drafting instruments do architecture students use most?
Architecture students commonly use drafting triangles, compasses, and parallel bars during manual drafting exercises and technical drawing classes. Many drafting kits also include scales, pencils, and drafting paper needed for coursework.
Are drafting instruments still used today?
Yes. Drafting instruments are still widely used for STEM education, concept sketching, geometry instruction, fabrication layouts, overlays, and manual drafting workflows.
Complete Your Drafting Workspace
Pair drafting instruments with related drafting tools and drawing supplies to create a complete technical drawing and design workspace.
Shop Drafting Templates | Shop Drafting Pencils & Leads | Shop Ruling & Measuring Tools | Shop Technical Pens | Shop Drafting Paper | Shop Drafting Boards |
