How to Make a Grid in Illustrator

In the following tutorial, you will learn how to create a grid in Illustrator using the Rectangular Grid Tool or the Polar Grid Tool.

Speaking of Illustrator grids, make sure to check out Envato Elements, where you can find plenty of resources that might inspire you to make a grid in Illustrator. This grid template kit is the perfect example to start from.

Are you a fan of video tutorials? Then you can't miss this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Learn how to insert a grid in Illustrator and everything about the Illustrator grid tool here:

What You'll Learn in This Grid Illustrator Tutorial

How to create a grid in Illustrator using the Rectangular Grid Tool
How to make a grid in Illustrator using the Polar Grid Tool
How to change the grid size in Illustrator
How to edit a grid in Illustrator

1. How to Use the Grid Tools in Adobe Illustrator

To make a grid in Illustrator, we'll use the Rectangular Grid Tool to create rectangular grids or the Polar Grid Tool to create polar grids in Illustrator.

To select one of these two tools, click and hold the Line Segment Tool from your toolbar. If you can't see those tools, you need to go to Window > Toolbars > Advanced. Once you've selected them, let's see how you can use these tools to make a grid in Illustrator.

2. How to Create a Rectangular Grid in Adobe Illustrator

Step 1

Let's see how to use the Rectangular Grid Tool in Illustrator. You can either double-click the Rectangular Grid Tool or just select it and click on your artboard to open the Rectangular Grid Tool Options window, where you can set the settings for the grid that you're about to create.

Use the Width and Height settings to set the size of your grid. Using one of those four reference points, you can set the point from which your grid will be drawn.

Step 2

Use the Number input box from the Horizontal Dividers section to set the number of horizontal lines that will appear between the top and bottom grid lines.

Use the Number input box from the Vertical Dividers section to set the number of vertical lines that will appear between the leftmost and rightmost grid lines.

Step 3

Use the Skew slider from the Horizontal Dividers section to set how your horizontal lines are weighted toward the top or bottom of the rectangle grid.

Use the Skew slider from the Vertical Dividers section to set how your vertical lines are weighted to the left or right edge.

Step 4

Check the Use Outside Rectangle As Frame box to unite the top, bottom, left, and right grid lines into a single rectangle.

Step 5

Check the Fill Grid box to fill your new rectangle grid with the active fill color.

Step 6

Alternatively, you can select the Rectangular Grid Tool and simply click and drag to create a grid in Illustrator. It can be a much easier method to edit the grid size in Illustrator.

Before you release the mouse button to create the grid, you can press the up/down arrow buttons to increase/decrease the number of horizontal lines in your rectangle grid, or the left/right arrow buttons to increase/decrease the number of vertical lines in your rectangle grid.

3. How to Create a Polar Grid in Adobe Illustrator

Step 1

As with the Rectangular Grid Tool in Illustrator, you can either double-click the Polar Grid Tool or just select it and click on your artboard to open the Polar Grid Tool Options window, where you can set the settings for the grid that you're about to create.

Use the Width and Height settings to set the size of your grid. Using one of those four reference points, you can set the point from which your grid will be drawn.

Step 2

Use the Number input box from the Concentric Dividers section to set the number of concentric circles that you want to add besides the main one.

Use the Number input box from the Radial Dividers section to set the number of straight lines that you want to add between the center and the edge of the grid.

Step 3

Use the Skew slider from the Concentric Dividers section to set how your concentric circles are weighted toward the inside or the outside of the grid.

Use the Skew slider from the Radial Dividers section to set how your straight lines are weighted counterclockwise or clockwise in the grid.

Step 4

Check Create Compound Path From Ellipses to convert the concentric circles into a single compound path.

Step 5

Check the Fill Grid box to fill your radial grid with the active fill color.

illustrator polar grid fill compound path

Uncheck the Create Compound Path From Ellipses box to fill all the circles with the active fill color.

Step 6

Alternatively, you can select the Polar Grid Tool and simply click and drag to draw a grid in Illustrator.

Before you release the mouse button to create the grid, you can press the up/down arrow buttons to increase/decrease the number of concentric circles in your polar grid, or the left/right arrow buttons to decrease/increase the number of radial dividers in your polar grid.

Congratulations! You're Done!

Now you know how to make a grid in Illustrator and how to use the Illustrator grid tool. I hope you've enjoyed this grid Illustrator tutorial and that you can use these techniques as you continue to create grids in Illustrator.

Remember that you can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to help you draw grids in Illustrator and make them part of amazing designs.

Popular Assets From Envato Elements

Envato Elements is an excellent resource for grid-related designs. Here's a short list of some of the most popular assets that you can find.

Isometric Grid Effects (PSD)

Grids can also be used in Photoshop. Check out these awesome isometric grid effects and see how you can make your design stand out using one of those templates.