Creating floor plans is an important part of designing or renovating a home or office space. With the rise of online tools and software, it’s now easier than ever to create detailed and professional-looking floor plans from the comfort of your home without needing design experience or expensive software.
In this article, we’ll explore the best free online floor plan creators and provide tips on how to make the most out of these tools to design the perfect layout for your needs.
Table of Contents
Benefits of Creating Floor Plans Online
Here are some of the main benefits of using an online floor plan creator:
- It’s free – Most online floor plan software has a free tier allowing you to create basic floor plans without paying. Some paid tiers unlock additional features.
- Intuitive and easy-to-use – Online tools are designed to be simple enough for beginners to pick up quickly. No design experience needed.
- Detail and precision – Online software allows you to precisely measure and position walls, doors, windows, and furniture to scale.
- Visualization – Seeing your layout in 2D and 3D makes it easier to envision the final space. Some even allow virtual walkthroughs.
- Collaboration – Online plans can easily be shared and edited with professionals or loved ones for feedback.
- Exportability – Floor plans can be exported as images or CAD files for further editing or to share with contractors.
The Best Free Online Floor Plan Software
There are many great free online floor plan creators to choose from. Here are some of the most popular:
1. Floorplanner
Floorplanner is one of the most full-featured free online floor plan creators. It includes a large library of over 250,000 3D models to deck out your space. Plans can be viewed in 2D and 3D, with options to do walkthroughs and flyovers.
Floorplanner also makes collaboration easy by allowing real-time co-editing of plans. And plans can be exported in several formats, including PDF, JPG, and SVG.
Key Features:
- Intuitive drag and drop editor
- Large library of 3D models
- Real-time collaboration
- 2D and 3D visualization
- Virtual walkthroughs and flyovers
2. HomeByMe
HomeByMe is another robust free online floor planner packed with features. It includes a catalog of over 150 3D branded items to visualize your space with real products. An augmented reality mode also allows you to preview your designs in real-world environments using your device’s camera.
Plans are easily sharable via links, and can be exported in JPG, PDF, and 3DS formats. HomeByMe also integrates with popular 3D software like SketchUp for further editing capabilities.
Key Features:
- Branded 3D catalog
- Augmented reality previews
- Easy sharing
- Export to SketchUp and other 3D software
3. SmartDraw
SmartDraw is a very versatile online diagramming tool that doubles as an easy-to-use floor plan creator. It comes equipped with thousands of floor plan symbols and pre-made templates to expedite the design process.
SmartDraw makes collaboration simple by integrating with cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox. And plans can be exported in a variety of formats, including PDF, JPG, and SVG.
Key Features:
- Floor plan templates
- Massive symbol library
- Cloud integration
- PDF, JPG, and SVG exports
4. RoomSketcher
RoomSketcher is tailored more specifically for floor plans and interior design. It includes an extensive library of over 8000 furniture and design symbols. You can create detailed plans with precise dimensions, then view them in 2D or 3D.
RoomSketcher also offers easy online sharing and embedding of floor plans, and plan exports to PDF, JPG, and SVG formats.
Key Features:
- 8000+ interior design symbols
- 2D and 3D visualization
- Precise dimensions
- PDF, JPG, and SVG exports
Tips for Designing Floor Plans Online
When using online floor plan software, keep these tips in mind:
Sketch ideas first
Before jumping into software, grab a paper and pencil and roughly sketch concepts for the layout and flow of spaces. This will help you visualize ideas more easily once in the software.
Use templates
Most online floor plan creators come equipped with pre-made templates or sample plans to help expedite the design process. Customize an existing template that closely matches your needs.
Mind the scale
Pay close attention to the scale and dimensions in these online tools. Precisely measuring walls, doors, windows, and furniture will ensure your final plans are accurate.
View plans in 3D
If the software allows, view your 2D layouts in 3D mode. This will help envision the final space and catch any design issues. Some tools even let you do virtual walkthroughs.
Collaborate when possible
If the floor plan software has collaboration features, take advantage! Get early feedback by sharing your plans with professionals or loved ones before finalizing.
Consider flow
Think about how people will move through the space. Position furniture, doorways, and hallways to allow for optimal flow between rooms and areas.
Export/print often
Frequently export or print copies of your floor plans as you go in case you need to recreate it in other software later or provide copies to contractors.
Final Thoughts
Creating detailed floor plans is crucial whether you’re designing a new home, renovating existing spaces, or just rearranging furniture. Thankfully, free online floor plan creators have made the process easier and more accessible than ever before.
With their drag-and-drop editors, massive libraries of symbols and models, intuitive features, and seamless collaboration capabilities, anyone can now create professional-grade floor plans.
So grab a pencil, paper, and your device of choice and start floor planning your next great space using the amazing free tools now available online!
