Skip to main content

Inkscape Shortcuts

This page is a complete keyboard shortcut reference for Inkscape on Windows, covering all 38 shortcuts organized into 5 sections. Whether you’re new to Inkscape or looking to master advanced features, this cheat sheet has every key combination you need — from basic editing and navigation to app-specific power-user actions.

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to work in Inkscape. Every time you use a shortcut instead of reaching for the mouse, you save a few seconds — and those seconds compound into hours over weeks and months. Start with the shortcuts you use most (copy, paste, undo, save), then gradually add app-specific ones as they become relevant to your workflow. Bookmark this page or download the PDF cheat sheet for quick reference.

Using keyboard shortcuts in Inkscape reduces context switching between keyboard and mouse, helping you maintain focus and work more efficiently. Research shows that shortcut-driven workflows can save up to 8 working days per year compared to menu-driven navigation. On Windows, most Inkscape shortcuts follow standard conventions — once you learn the modifier key patterns, new shortcuts become intuitive.

Tips for Learning Shortcuts

  • Practice one new Inkscape shortcut each day. Muscle memory builds faster when you focus on a single combination at a time rather than trying to learn them all at once.
  • Print or bookmark this page for quick reference while working in Inkscape. Having shortcuts visible nearby helps bridge the gap between looking them up and recalling them from memory.
  • Start with the shortcuts you use most. In Inkscape, common actions like copy, paste, undo, and save are worth learning first since they apply across nearly every workflow.

File7

ActionShortcut
New documentCtrlN
Open documentCtrlO
SaveCtrlS
Save asShiftCtrlS
Export PNG imageShiftCtrlE
PrintCtrlP
QuitCtrlQ

Edit8

ActionShortcut
UndoCtrlZ
RedoShiftCtrlZ
CopyCtrlC
CutCtrlX
PasteCtrlV
Paste in placeCtrlAltV
DuplicateCtrlD
CloneAltD

Tools13

ActionShortcut
Selector toolS
Node editorN
Rectangle toolR
Ellipse toolE
Spiral toolI
Star/Polygon tool*
Pencil (Bezier) toolB
Pen (freehand) toolP
Calligraphy toolC
Text toolT
Gradient toolG
Color pickerD
Paint bucket toolU

Object6

ActionShortcut
Group selectionCtrlG
UngroupShiftCtrlG
Raise to topHome
Lower to bottomEnd
Raise one stepPage Up
Lower one stepPage Down

Path4

ActionShortcut
Object to pathShiftCtrlC
UnionCtrl+
DifferenceCtrl-
IntersectionCtrl*

Frequently Asked Questions

Access Inkscape shortcuts from your menu bar

KeyShortcut detects the active app and shows its shortcuts instantly. No memorization needed.