what does this symbol mean?
NCS A dashed circle with a leader line to a divided circle

Detail callout

Points to a detail drawn on another sheet. The circle gives the detail's number and the sheet it's on.

This explains what a symbol represents on a drawing. Conventions vary between firms and standards, and a drawing's own legend takes precedence.

How to read it

In the A/E/C Graphics Standard the detail indicator is a circle that points to an area shown as a detail on the details sheet. The top half holds the detail's identification and the bottom half the sheet number, with a 5 in the sheet-type position for a details sheet, or a 4 for an enlarged area. The VA's CAD guide uses the same digits, with 5 for details.

Also searched as: detail bubble, detail marker.

Look-alikes

A section marker and an elevation marker use the same two-part circle.

More blueprint symbols

Sources

Last reviewed September 24, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research

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