How to Draw Polygons in QGIS

How to Draw in QGIS

Updated on:

June 8, 2026

By:

Use this interactive demo to learn how to draw and create polygon shapes in QGIS.

Quick summary

This demo shows how to draw polygon shapes in QGIS by enabling editing mode and using the Add Polygon Feature tool to create rectangles, circles, ovals, and custom polygons on a shapefile layer.

Steps

Select the polygon shapefile layer in the Layers Panel.
Click the Toggle Editing tool in the top menu to enable editing mode.
Click the Add Polygon Feature tool in the toolbar.
Select your desired shape type to create (e.g. rectangle, circle, oval, or polygon).
Drag your cursor across the map layout and right-click at the endpoint to complete the shape.
Enter an ID in the dialog and click OK; repeat these steps for each additional shape.
Confirm that all shapes have been successfully created on the layer.

📌 Why this matters

QGIS is the leading open-source geographic information system, and the ability to draw and digitize polygon features is a core skill for any GIS analyst or spatial data professional. Creating accurate polygon shapes directly on shapefile layers allows users to define geographic boundaries, land parcels, zones, and regions without costly proprietary software. Mastering the Toggle Editing workflow and Add Polygon Feature tool in QGIS empowers teams to collect, edit, and manage vector spatial data efficiently. This makes QGIS an essential tool for urban planning, environmental analysis, field data collection, and geospatial research.

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