How to Construct a Golden Rectangle

Co-authored by Kevin Wang

Last Updated: May 26, 2025 Approved

A golden rectangle is a rectangle with side lengths that are in the golden ratio (about 1:1.618).^{[1]
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Kevin Wang
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Expert Interview} This article also explains how to construct a square, which is needed to construct a golden rectangle.

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Draw a square. Let us name the vertices of the square as A, B, C and D.^{[2]
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Locate the mid-point of any one side of the square by bisecting it. Let us pick the side AB and call its mid-point as point P.

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Since P lies on the side AB, the opposite side shall be the side CD. Let's choose to connect P with C.
Draw a large arc towards the side BC.
Draw a line parallel to the side BC, passing through the point Q.
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Congratulations! You just drew a Golden Rectangle AQRD. Erase any extraneous constructions if you so wish.
- You may verify that the ratio of the measure of the shorter side of the rectangle (QR or AD) to the measure of its longer side (AQ or RD) is very close to 1:1.618.

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Question

What tool is used to draw a rectangle?

Community Answer

You can make rectangles with a stencil, a ruler, or trace around a rectangular object.

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