17/08/2026
Welcome to this Revit beginner course. In this tutorial, I will show you how to get started with Revit Architecture, from opening a new project and selecting the correct architectural template to setting up your Project Browser, creating sections, and establishing building levels.
I am using Revit 2023, but the process is very similar in other Revit versions.
How to Open a New Revit Project
After launching Revit, select New, then click Browse to choose a project template. Change the display from thumbnails to Details so you can clearly read the template names.
You can also use the template dropdown to access the available Revit templates. For this training, select the Default Metric architectural template because we will work with metric units, then click Open and OK.
When your project opens, you will see several elevation markers. These markers are important because they provide your project elevations. Do not delete them. If your template does not contain the required elevation markers, consider using another Revit template.
Understanding the Revit Project Browser and Properties Palette
By default, the Project Browser appears alongside the Properties Palette. You can reposition the Project Browser by dragging its top section until the blue docking area appears, then releasing the mouse.
You can also expand or collapse the Project Browser to make your workspace more convenient.
The Project Browser contains different categories, including Views, Legends, Schedules, Sheets, Families and Groups. Under Views, you will find floor plans such as Level 1, Level 2 and Site, ceiling plans, and the available elevations.
The four default elevation markers represent different directions, including North, South, East and West.
How to Create a Section in Revit
Before creating building levels, you can work from an elevation or section view. To create a section, select the Section tool from the Quick Access Toolbar and draw the section line across your project.
Once the section is created, Section will appear in the Project Browser. Open the section view and you will be able to see the project levels.
Remember: levels can be created from elevation or section views, not directly from a floor plan.
How to Create Levels in Revit
To create a level, go to the Architecture tab and select Level. You can use Pick Lines or draw the level manually.
Using Pick Lines can help you create levels quickly and maintain consistent lengths. Before picking an existing level, set the desired Offset. For example, you can specify 150 mm, 600 mm or 3,600 mm depending on the required height.
The Make Plan View option determines whether Revit automatically creates a floor plan for the new level. If it is checked, a corresponding floor plan will be created. If unchecked, the level will simply control the elevation of elements.
After creating a level, click Modify to exit the Level command.
Renaming Revit Levels
You can rename a level by double-clicking its name. If the name already exists, temporarily add another character so Revit allows the change.
Revit will ask whether you want to rename the corresponding views. Select Yes if you want the floor plan name to match the level name.
For example, you can rename your levels to Ground Floor Plan, 1st Floor Level, Ceiling Level and Roof Level.
Setting Level Heights
You can change the distance between levels by selecting the level itself and editing the dimension value. For example, you can set the ground floor level to 150 mm or create a floor-to-floor height of 3,600 mm.
For a simple one-storey building, you may create levels such as:
Ground Floor
1st Floor Level
Ceiling Level
Roof Level
For a multi-storey building, continue creating levels according to the required building height.
Adjusting the Revit View Scale
If your level names and dimensions overlap, change the view scale using the scale control at the bottom of the Revit interface. A smaller scale can make the text easier to manage.
Once you finish editing the levels, return the scale to a convenient setting such as 1:100.
Understanding Elevation Markers Before Planning
Before beginning your floor plan, make sure the proposed design fits within the elevation markers. Do not delete these markers.
If your project is larger than the available elevation area, you can move the elevation markers outward. As an example, a test measurement may show approximately 45 m × 45 m between the markers. If your project is smaller than this, there may be no need to move them.
This is how you can get started with Revit Architecture as a complete beginner. In the next lesson, you can proceed to setting up your project and creating your floor plan.
If this tutorial helped you learn something about Revit, share it with your friends and on social media so they can benefit too. Save this post so you can easily return to the next lesson.
