How to Use a Protractor

A protractor is a handy tool used to measure and draw angles. Generally, semi-circular in shape, protractors are also available in full-circle, 360-degree versions. If one look at the object has you completely confused, never fear; learning to use the tool is simple. By understanding how the parts of a protractor are used together and following a few easy steps, you will be an angle expert in no time.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Measuring an Angle with a Protractor

1
Approximate the measure of your angle. Angles can be classified in three ways: acute, obtuse, and right. Acute angles are narrow (less than 90 degrees), obtuse angles are wide (greater than 90 degrees), and right angles are exactly 90 degrees (two lines perpendicular to each other). You can easily identify by eye, the category of angle you are trying to measure. Doing this step first helps you identify which scale to use on the protractor.
- At a glance, we can tell this angle is acute because it is less than 90 degrees.
2
Place the origin over the center point, or vertex, of the angle you want to measure.^{[1]
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Research source} The small hole in the middle of the base of the protractor is the origin. Align the vertex of the angle with the center of the cross in the origin.

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3
Rotate the protractor to align one leg of the angle with the baseline. Maintain the vertex of the angle in the origin and gently rotate the protractor so that one of the legs of the angle falls on the baseline of the protractor.^{[2]
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Research source}
- The baseline is parallel to the edge, but is not the flat edge of the protractor. It is aligned with the center of the origin and the line projects to the start of the scale on either side.
4
Follow the opposite leg of the angle up to the measurements on the protractor's arc. If the line does not pass through the protractor’s arc, extend the angle's line until it does. Alternatively, you can align the edge of a piece of paper with the angle’s leg to pass beyond the edge of the protractor, continuing the line of the angle. The number the line passes through is the angle's measurement in degrees.
- In the above example, the angle measure is 30 degrees. We know to use the smaller scale because we determined that our angle was less than 90 degrees in the first step. If the angle was obtuse, we would use the scale that indicated an angle larger than 90 degrees.
- Initially, the measurement scale may seem confusing. Most protractors have two opposing ruler grids, one on the inner side of the arc and one on the outer. This makes the tool handy for measuring angles originating from either direction.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Drawing an Angle with a Protractor

1
Draw a straight line. The line is your reference line and the first leg of your angle. It will be used to determine the position at which you draw the second leg of the angle. It's generally easiest to draw the straight line in a horizontal position on the paper.
- You can use the flat edge of your protractor to draw this line.
- The length of the line doesn’t matter.
2
Place the origin of the protractor at one end of the line. This point will be your angle's vertex. Mark the paper where the vertex is placed.^{[3]
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- You don’t have to place the point at the edge of the line. It can be placed anywhere on the line, but is easier just to use the end of the line.
3
Find the degree of the angle you wish to draw on the protractor's appropriate scale. Align your reference line with the protractor's baseline and mark the paper at the degree of measurement. If you are drawing an acute angle (less than 90 degrees), use the scale with the smaller numbers. For obtuse angles (greater than 90 degrees), use the scale with larger numbers.
- Remember, the baseline is parallel to the edge, but is not the flat edge of the protractor. It is aligned with the center of the origin and the line projects to the start of the scale on either side.
- In the above example, the angle is 40 degrees.
4
Draw the second leg to complete the angle. Using a ruler, the flat edge of your protractor or another straight edge, connect the vertex with the marked degree, drawing the second leg. This second leg completes your angle. To verify you’ve drawn the angle accurately, use the protractor to measure it.

Community Q&A

Question

When do I use the outer scale of the protractor?

Community Answer

The inner scale is for angles that open to the right and the outer scale of the protractor is used to measure angles that open to the left .
Question

How can I tell whether I need to use a larger or smaller protractor?

Community Answer

The angle on a protractor will always be the same.You may find it easier to have a small protractor when only drawing a small line from the angle you are measuring.
Question

Why does the protractor have readings on both sides?

Community Answer

So you can read angles form different directions. It's kind of like opposite/mirror images.