D&D Grid

The grid is what turns a pretty picture into a battle map. Here is how the 5-foot square works, how to count diagonals without arguments, how much room each creature size takes, and a free printable 1-inch grid to draw on.

Counting diagonal movement

Drag the target around the grid and compare the three ways of measuring. The gap grows fast on long diagonals, which is why the choice matters for spells like fireball (150-ft range) and a longbow’s 150/600 ft.

Drag or tap to move the red target (arrow keys work too). Gold squares are diagonal steps.

35 ft5e default: every square 5 ft

45 ftVariant 5-10-5: every 2nd diagonal 10 ft

40 ftTrue straight-line distance

The Player’s Handbook counts every square as 5 feet, diagonals included, which makes a 30-ft move reach a lot further diagonally than a ruler would. The Dungeon Master’s Guide variant charges every second diagonal 10 feet; it tracks real distance within about 5 feet, which matters most for spell ranges and area templates.

Creature size on the grid

Size	Space	Squares
Tiny	2½ × 2½ ft	¼ (4 per square)
Small	5 × 5 ft	1
Medium	5 × 5 ft	1
Large	10 × 10 ft	2 × 2
Huge	15 × 15 ft	3 × 3
Gargantuan	20 × 20 ft+	4 × 4+

From the Player’s Handbook, chapter 9 (Size Categories).

Printable D&D grid

A 1-inch grid at 300 dpi. Print at 100% scale on letter or A4: 8 × 10 squares fits a letter sheet with margins, 7 × 10 fits A4. Tape sheets together for a bigger mat.

ColumnsRowsLine colour

10 × 8 inches · 50 × 40 ft in game

Using the grid well

Draw walls on the lines, not through squares; a creature is either in a square or not. Doors sit in the wall line and a creature in the doorway occupies that square. For reach, a creature with 5-ft reach threatens the 8 squares around it; 10-ft reach adds the next ring. Area spells are easiest with the Dungeon Master’s Guide method: a square is affected if the area covers at least half of it.

On a virtual tabletop the grid is set in pixels per square instead of inches. See the Roll20 and Foundry sizing guide, or generate a gridded map on the battle map generator.

Questions game masters ask

How big is a square on a D&D grid?

Each square is 5 feet on a side in the game world. On a physical battle mat it is usually 1 inch, which matches standard 25–28 mm miniatures.

How do diagonals work on a D&D grid?

Under the Player’s Handbook rule every square costs 5 ft, diagonal or not. The optional Dungeon Master’s Guide variant makes every second diagonal cost 10 ft, which is closer to true distance.

How much space does a creature take up?

Tiny: 2.5 ft (four can share a square). Small and Medium: 1 square. Large: 2 × 2 squares. Huge: 3 × 3. Gargantuan: 4 × 4 or larger.

How do I print a 1-inch grid?

Set the size below, press Download printable grid, and print the PNG at 100% scale (turn off "fit to page"). The file is 300 dots per inch, so each square prints at exactly 1 inch.

Square or hex grid?

D&D 5e assumes squares but the Dungeon Master’s Guide allows hexes. Hexes make every direction cost the same, which removes the diagonal question; squares match walls and buildings better.