How to draw a floor plan yourself
You do not need to be an architect to draw a floor plan. With a tape measure, a notepad and a free floor planner you can have an accurate plan of your home in an afternoon. This guide walks through the process in the order that avoids rework.
1. Measure the space
Measure every room before you draw anything. Work in one unit (millimetres or inches) and write the numbers on a quick sketch.
- Measure wall lengths along the floor, then check the room's diagonals. If both diagonals match, the room is square.
- Record wall thickness. Measure it at a door opening, where you can see the full depth of the wall.
- For each door and window, note its width, its height and the distance from the nearest corner.
- Mark fixed items you cannot move: chimneys, columns, beams, plumbing stacks and the electrical panel.
2. Draw the outer walls first
Start with the outside shape, then add the interior walls. In
Floorplanner you can click to place points, or type a length and press
Enter. Typing 3.5m, 350 or 11'6" places the next wall
exactly, and 350<45 gives a length at an angle. Typed values are more
reliable than dragging.
3. Add interior walls
Interior walls are usually thinner than outer walls, so give them their own thickness. Join them to existing walls so the corners and T-junctions close cleanly. Snapping to the grid and to wall ends keeps everything aligned.
4. Place doors and windows
Put openings in once the walls are final. Set each one's width and its distance from the corner using your measurements. Check the door swing so it does not hit furniture or another door.
5. Add structure and levels
If you are planning a renovation, add beams and columns so you can see which walls carry load before you decide to move or remove them. For a multi-storey house, add one level per floor and place stairs so the openings line up.
6. Furnish the rooms
Drop in a bed, sofa, table or kitchen units at their real sizes. This is the quickest way to find out whether a room works. Leave about 900 mm (3 ft) for main walkways and about 1000 mm (3 ft 3 in) in front of kitchen units.
7. Plan plumbing and electrical
Place sinks, toilets, showers and sockets while the layout is still easy to change. Keeping wet rooms close together shortens the pipe runs and costs less.
8. Check dimensions and save
Compare the dimensions shown on the plan with your measurements. Save the plan to a file so you can keep a backup and share it with your builder or neighbours.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing units. Pick one display unit, or use a tool that converts for you.
- Ignoring wall thickness. Interior floor area is smaller than the outline suggests.
- Drawing furniture too late. A room that looks big on paper can feel tight with a bed in it.
- Forgetting clearances. Doors, drawers and ovens need room to open.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest way to draw a floor plan?
Measure each room, then use a browser floor planner such as Floorplanner. Type exact lengths for each wall instead of dragging, and add doors, windows and furniture afterwards.
Do I need special software to draw a floor plan?
No. A free browser tool is enough for most DIY and renovation plans. There is nothing to install and no account to create.
How accurate does a DIY floor plan need to be?
For planning furniture and layouts, within a centimetre or half an inch is fine. For anything you will order or build to measure, such as kitchen units, re-measure on site as well.
Can I use feet and inches?
Yes. Floorplanner switches between millimetres, centimetres, metres and feet-inches, and accepts typed values such as 11'6".
Ready to try it? Open Floorplanner. It is free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up.