A grid plan, in urban planning, is a city plan based on a gridiron pattern, characterized by straight streets intersecting at right angles, forming a grid.

Key characteristics of a grid plan include:

• Straight Streets: Streets run in straight lines.
• Right Angles: Streets intersect at 90-degree angles.
• Regular Blocks: The intersections create regular, often square or rectangular, blocks.

The grid plan is a simple and efficient way to organize a city, making it easy to navigate and divide land for development. However, grid plans can also be monotonous and lack focal points or natural adaptation to topography.

An example of a city using a grid plan is Manhattan, New York. Learn more about the Commissioners' Plan of 1811.