Dimension_72a for Illustrator CS6 and CC (Mac only) $20 USD
• Dimension_72a will calculate the overall dimensions of all selected art and create dimension lines and text at the desired positions.
• Dimensions can be added to segments of paths.
• Dimensions can be set in inches, millimeters or centimeters and will display up to the maximum number of decimal places entered.
• The displayed dimension will be multiplied by the scale factor entered, if desired.

http://www.worker72a.com/pages/DIM.html

It's Mac only but I have this:
http://www.worker72a.com/pages/DIM.html

Dimension_72a for Illustrator CS6 and CC
• Dimension_72a will calculate the overall dimensions of all selected art and create dimension lines and text at the desired positions.
• Dimensions can be added to segments of paths.
• Dimensions can be set in inches, millimeters or centimeters and will display up to the maximum number of decimal places entered.
• The displayed dimension will be multiplied by the scale factor entered, if desired.

Has anybody worked with Flexi Sign Design software? When working with Illustrator for the sign/design business, the measurement display tool is the only (besides the art size limitation - of course!) tool missing. I agree, it should be a basic tool - part of the program!

In response to Yogesh Sharma, have a look at Fusion 360 create drawing tool. It lets you pick sides and quick create dimensions on sides without having to draw lines and arrow heads and then having to write in dimensions.

I pay for Illy shouldn't have to pay for plugin for something so "basic"

I'm not sure if someone has mentioned this, but Astute graphics has a plugin called VectorScribe that adds measurements for this exact application. They have a lot of plugins at Astute that should be standard features of illy (like Phantasm)

Three possibilities:
1. Vector Scribe, by Astute Graphics, is a plug-in that will do what you are requesting.
2. The Measure Tool is hidden beneath the Eyedropper Tool in the Tools palette.
3. To show your clients a certain measurement in your drawing (printed) you will need to manually add them.

I really can't see why this hasn't been a feature since day one
Why the reluctance to include a dimension tool?

I make some illustrations of furnitures. It is only outline drawings, but I really need to be able to add measure to the drawing so people easily can se the measure of the furniture.

A simplified version of the third-party software Hotdoor CADTools would be a great addition to Illustrator. When creating label proofs we need to show the label dimensions, having to add them manually is slow and time consuming.

My personal answers to @Yogesh Sharma's questions:

1. It would have to be inside Illustrator first and foremost. Personally, I frequently send pngs of an object, with measurements shown visually. The people I send these to would not likely be able to use an online service to figure out all of these measurements themselves. But- the additional separate online service idea you mentioned sounds neat, and would be cool to have in addition. Provided it is an online service that would be easy to use for people outside of the "Adobe" network, that don't have subscriptions or accounts.

2: I use mostly horizontal and vertical dimensions- but angular dimensions would be handy as well.

Details on workflow; The projects I usually need this for are when I send graphics to be screen printed onto a product, and along with the "graphic" file, I will send a second file with dimensions shown for each section. Also for sending sticker design files- with a separate file visually showing the height and width specs of the sticker.

What I'm imaging is a tool similar to like exists in CAD, where you can click a point and draw a line, then the measurement of that line just shows up to the side, and the two end points of that line show up as arrows.

Our business frequently needs to create spec sheets which are graphically appealing so we can submit them for tender and post to our website. This requires dimensions to be placed on almost every item every time.

Having a pre-set dimension style(s) that allow you to quickly add dimensions, and also override that text would improve our workflow massively.

Also the ability to add supplemental text on the other side of the dimension line such as “=“, “TYP”, “O/A” etc.

Just installed 2019, CADTools doesn't work. Great.

The "callout" tools (like cad tools for illustrator) are needed because we often have to submit scaled permit application drawings. It would be problematic to go from app to app and back again.

i am a dress designer need body scan for men & women. share details and also suggest if that scan cloth auto cut and then stitch.

I'm a graphic designer that's in sign industry and just switched from corel to illustrator. I use this script https://o2creative.co.nz/shop/Powerscripts/Add_Dimensions_PowerScript_for_Adobe_Illustrator (it's better compare to https://specees.dazed.design/ and https://adamdehaven.com/blog/dimension-adobe-illustrator-designs-with-a-simple-script/) to work around the inconvenience and I have to admit it's quite faster than corel's dimension tool. The only thing I'd add to this is the option of having both inch and foot together instead of either one of those. Also it'd be great if this is live editing that would automatically changes with the object size

I'm not trying to turn Illustrator into Corel Draw, but Corel definitely has some advantage that we could learn from.

Can you please make realistic, not true view? Thank you.

I would like to take autocad space drawings and populate with accurately sized furniture. I would like to input the ratio given by the architect and have my preliminary subdivisions of the area be accurate.

Cool! I'd like to try your solution, Ivan. Is there a chance to test it out before buy?

I used to spend a lot of time making dimensions, color, and fonts spec for developers and clients. Therefore a few months ago my colleague and I worked very hard to developed an extension called Specees for Adobe Illustrator that can generate height, width, distance, length of straight lines, round corner radius, and color and fonts properties of multiple objects at the same time:

http://specees.dazed.design/