Floor Plan Guides
Step-by-step help with drawing, reading and designing plans, in metric and imperial: most of these floor plan guides have a diagram or a real plan to look at, and each has a link that opens the idea in the editor.
In this section
- How to Draw a Floor PlanLearn to draw a floor plan step by step: pick a scale, draw walls at real thickness, cut in doors and windows, then add dimensions. Paper or screen.
- How to Make a Floor PlanHow to make a floor plan from start to finish: decide what it is for, collect the sizes, start from a template, check it in 3D, then share a PDF or link.
- How to Measure a RoomHow to measure a room for an accurate floor plan: wall lengths, both diagonals, door and window positions and ceiling height, in feet or meters.
- Floor Plan SymbolsA visual guide to floor plan symbols: walls, door swings, windows, openings, stairs, columns, dimension lines, fixtures and abbreviations, and how to read them.
- Floor Plan DimensionsHow floor plan dimensions work: dimension lines, overall and chain dimensions, metric and feet-and-inches notation, and centre-line versus clear room sizes.
- Floor Plan ScaleWhat floor plan scales mean, which to use (1:50, 1:100, 1/4″ = 1′), how to read lengths off a scaled plan, and how to print so the scale stays true.
- 2D vs 3D Floor Plans2D vs 3D floor plans compared: what each shows, who reads them, when you need a measured 2D plan, when a 3D view helps, and how to get both from one drawing.
- How to Design a House Floor PlanDesign a house floor plan in eight steps: write the brief, read the plot, zone day and night spaces, plan circulation, then size, furnish and test rooms.
- Floor Plan Design TipsTen floor plan design tips to check any layout: door swings, routes, furniture walls, wet rooms, daylight, storage, quiet spaces, sightlines and room areas.
- Small House Layout IdeasSmall house layout ideas: combine living spaces, cut corridors, use sliding doors and built-in storage, and keep sightlines long. Test most on a studio plan.
- Open Floor Plan IdeasOpen floor plan ideas for kitchen, dining and living spaces: zone with furniture and light, keep routes at the edges, and leave room around counters and tables.
- Furniture Layout TipsFurniture layout tips with spacing guides in cm and inches: walkways, space around beds, sofas and dining tables, and a step-by-step way to arrange a room.
- Floor Plan and Home Renovation Statistics 202680 sourced figures on renovation spending, DIY vs hiring pros, floor plans in listings, new home sizes, kitchens, India housing and home offices, as of Oct 2026
Which guide do you need?
You are starting from nothing
The whole process, from deciding what the plan is for to sharing it.
You have a room to measure
The measurements to take, in order, and how to check the corners are square.
You are reading someone else’s plan
Door swings, windows, stairs and the other symbols explained.
You need to print at a scale
1:50, 1:100 and 1/4″ = 1′-0″, and how to keep a print true to scale.
You are designing a new house
Zoning, circulation and room sizes before the first wall.
Your rooms feel cramped
Spacing guides for beds, sofas, tables and walkways.
Help inside the editor
The editor has a quick tour that runs the first time you open it on a larger screen, and a help button to run it again. The keyboard shortcut sheet lists every shortcut, and the command palette finds any command by name.
Calculators for planning
- Room size calculatorArea and perimeter of a room from its width and length, in feet and meters.
- Square footage calculatorSquare feet and square meters of a space, converted both ways.
- Floor area calculatorAdd up several rooms to get the total floor area of a home or office.
- Room dimension calculatorTurn a target area and proportion into a width and length for the room.
- Furniture layout plannerCheck whether chosen furniture fits a room with space left to walk around it.
Frequently asked questions
Which guide should I read first?
If you have never made a floor plan, start with how to make a floor plan. If you are drawing a home you already live in, start with how to measure a room, then come back for symbols and dimensions.
Do I need any software to follow the guides?
No. The examples open in the editor, which runs in your browser with nothing to install. The drawing, measuring and scale guides also work with paper, a pencil and a tape measure.
Do the guides use metric or imperial units?
Both. Sizes are given in meters and in feet and inches, and the editor switches between the two at any time.
Are the sizes in the guides building regulations?
No. They are common rules of thumb and are described as such. Regulations differ between countries and towns, so check the ones that apply where you build.
Ready to plan your space?
It is free, runs in your browser and needs no account. Projects are saved privately on this device.