Use the GEOGRAPHICLOCATION command. You can search for an address or enter coordinates.
This method is reliable for vanilla AutoCAD and requires no extra software.
Best for: Surveying, engineering, and design work where scale and location matter.
Go to File > Save > Save Image . Select the highest resolution available (e.g., 4K or 1080 HD ) and ensure the scale bar is visible for later reference. export google earth image to autocad
Use the "Add Placemark" tool to create at least two points on opposite corners of your site. Note their latitude and longitude or UTM coordinates.
The most straightforward approach is taking a screenshot from Google Earth Pro and importing it into AutoCAD as a raster image.
Use the SCALE command with the Reference option. Pick the start and end of the scale bar on the image as your reference length, then type the actual distance shown on that scale bar. 2. AutoCAD's Built-In Geolocation Tools Use the GEOGRAPHICLOCATION command
Recent versions of AutoCAD (including 2025) have built-in mapping tools that can bypass manual exports. Adding a Google Earth Image to AutoCAD (and Georeferencing)
The image comes in with no scale or geographic reference. You’ll have to manually scale it using the ALIGN or SCALE (Reference) command—fine for conceptual work, but risky for engineering-grade accuracy.
Before saving, ensure the Scale Bar is visible in the bottom-left corner of the image. This is your only accurate way to scale the image in CAD. Best for: Surveying, engineering, and design work where
The image will snap into place, rotating and scaling itself to match your known geometry.
AutoCAD has native tools to bring in aerial maps that are automatically scaled and georeferenced, though these often pull from Bing Maps rather than Google Earth.