How to turn a floor plan into a SketchUp model

Updated 13 July 20265 min read

You can build a SketchUp model from a floor plan two ways: import the plan as an image, trace it, and push/pull the walls up, or bring in ready-made DXF geometry and extrude that. Importing geometry skips the tracing and gets you to a 3D model faster.

Method 1 — Trace an imported image

Import the floor plan image into SketchUp and scale it to real dimensions.
Trace the walls with the Line/Rectangle tools to form closed faces.
Use Push/Pull to raise the walls to height.
Cut openings, add a floor, and apply materials.

Works in any version, but tracing is the slow part.

Method 2 — Import DXF geometry (faster)

Convert the plan to CAD first, then import it into SketchUp Pro:

Upload your 2D plan (image, PDF, or scan).
Export a clean DXF — or an OBJ / 3D model.
Import the DXF into SketchUp Pro and push/pull the walls, or bring in the 3D model directly.

Get clean geometry for SketchUp

Upload a 2D plan and export DXF or a 3D model to drop into SketchUp — no tracing required.

Get early access →

Tips

Scale before you model. A correctly sized reference makes push/pull heights accurate.
Close your faces. Push/Pull only works on closed shapes.
Import geometry when you can — it's faster and cleaner than tracing. See AI vs manual CAD.

Frequently asked questions

Can you import a floor plan into SketchUp?

Yes. You can import a floor plan image to trace over and push/pull into 3D, and SketchUp Pro can import DXF/DWG geometry directly. Starting from imported geometry is faster than tracing.

Does SketchUp import DXF or DWG?

SketchUp Pro imports DXF and DWG. If you convert your plan to DXF first, you can bring the walls straight in and extrude them, rather than tracing an image.

How do I extrude a floor plan in SketchUp?

Once the walls are flat faces in SketchUp, use the Push/Pull tool to raise them to wall height. If you traced an image, close the wall shapes into faces first.

What scale should I use?

Set the image or imported geometry to real-world dimensions using a known measurement, so push/pull heights and room sizes come out correct.