This is where a routine becomes indispensable. By automating the selection and calculation process, a custom LISP script can turn minutes of tedious clicking into a single, flawless keystroke.
: Select the closed boundaries (polylines, circles, or regions) you need to sum up.
Next thing you know, you’re clicking AREA → Add → clicking 20 polylines → scribbling numbers on a sticky note → adding them on a calculator → double-checking… and hoping you didn’t miss one.
Instead of typing APPLOAD every session, do this: total area autocad lisp
For users who need nothing more than the total sum of selected objects, these utilities are the fastest solution.
Before diving into LISP solutions, it helps to understand the limitations of standard AutoCAD tools:
Another popular option is the routine from the Autodesk App Store. This set of AutoLISP routines goes a step further by being compatible with many AutoCAD verticals, including AutoCAD Architecture, MEP, and Civil 3D, allowing it to calculate the total area of specialized objects like ducts, pipes, and walls. Like the UrbanLISP tool, it also copies the sum to the clipboard for easy export. This is where a routine becomes indispensable
For the routine, if you need the total in Acres instead of Square Feet, you can modify the calculation line. For instance: (setq tot_area (/ (getvar "area") 43560.0)) would convert the area from square feet to acres. Similarly, to control the number of decimal places, you use the rtos (Real TO String) function.
Calculating the combined area of multiple closed objects is one of the most frequent tasks in AutoCAD. While the native AREA command works well for a single boundary, it becomes tedious and time-consuming when dealing with dozens of scattered polylines, hatches, or regions. Clicking each object one by one or manually adding numbers invites human error.
: The c: prefix registers TotalArea as a standard command directly within the AutoCAD command line. The variables listed after the forward slash / are localized, meaning they clear from AutoCAD's memory once the script finishes executing to prevent conflicts with other routines. Next thing you know, you’re clicking AREA →
For users needing precision and support for modern AutoCAD features, Total Length & Area program is a standard in the industry. Lee Mac Programming
When dealing with busy, complex blueprints, use the LAYISO command to isolate the boundary layer containing your target objects before running your total area LISP. This minimizes the risk of grabbing unrelated geometry.
(setq ss (ssget '((0 . "LWPOLYLINE,POLYLINE,CIRCLE,ELLIPSE"))))
The following LISP routines represent the gold standard in the community, ranging from simple cumulative calculators to advanced field-based applications.
Look for the briefcase icon and click Contents . Click the Add button. Choose your TotalArea.lsp file and click Open .