How to turn a floor plan into a SketchUp model

By Amr TawfikUpdated 27 October 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 open Extruda's IFC export, which already has the walls and storeys in place. Importing it 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 — Open Extruda's IFC export (faster)

Export the plan as IFC, then open it in SketchUp Pro:

Upload your 2D plan (image, PDF, or scan).
Export an IFC — or an OBJ / 3D model.
Open the IFC in SketchUp Pro. The walls and storeys come in intact, so you can go straight to finishes. Or bring in the 3D model directly.

IFC is on Pro and above. It holds walls, openings, doors, windows, spaces, columns and materials, in metric. Not a survey, with no roof, structure or MEP. Heights are standard values, not measured from the plan.

Get clean geometry for SketchUp

Upload a 2D plan and export IFC or a 3D model to open in SketchUp Pro — no tracing required.

Get early access →

Tips

Scale before you model. A correctly sized reference keeps push/pull heights in line with the plan.
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 open Extruda's IFC export with its walls and storeys intact. Starting from imported geometry is faster than tracing.

Does SketchUp import DXF or DWG?

SketchUp Pro imports DXF and DWG. A native .skp file isn't offered, but Extruda's IFC export opens in SketchUp Pro with walls and storeys intact, so you can skip 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 match the plan.