How to Export AutoCAD DWG to Revit – Quick & Easy Export and Import for DWG to Revit

The fastest way to easily export an AutoCAD dwg file to Revit. Learn how to speed up the export and import process from AutoCAD (dwg) to Revit. Exporting from AutoCAD to Revit is an easy task to perform, but some users get stuck on one or two vital settings that need to be configured. Let’s learn how to export from Autodesk’s AutoCAD (dwg file) to Autodesk’s Revit.

First things first, make sure your AutoCAD drawing is neat and tidy. The process of exporting from AutoCAD and importing to Revit is quite simple but if you overcomplicate your original dwg file, it can cause headaches.
First, open your DWG file in AutoCAD. Let’s centre the drawing to the origin. Select everything and type “move” into the command prompt. Choosing a centralised base point to move the drawing from, select the centre of the origin. This helps import the drawing in Revit to be centred to the origin, rather than going off the page. Save the AutoCAD drawing as a .dwg file.
Next, open up Revit and open the same view the drawing is of. For example, if the AutoCAD dwg file is of the ground floor plan, open the ground floor plan view in Revit. If it is a section drawing, open the section view in Revit.
Next, go to the “Insert” tab and click on “Link CAD”.
Linking a CAD file allows AutoCAD and Revit to work seamlessly together. Linking the CAD file inserts a reference drawing. Making a change to a referenced drawing from it’s original program will update in real time inside of Revit. For example, if we make a change to our floor plan in AutoCAD after linking it to Revit, it will update inside of Revit.

Be sure to check the import options inside of Revit. You can choose to preserve the colour or import it in black and white. Make sure the scale matches the scale of the original AutoCAD drawing.
Voila. You’re imported into Revit. Now, you can add walls over the autoCAD file, or build up the model in 3D inside of Revit.

If you have any issues, let me know in the comments below and we can figure it out together – that way if others are having the same problems we can offer a solution.

Prefer listening/reading? Check out the show notes:

[Mo_Shawa]

Very light and easy to swallow info.
Keep it up

[keshiraj]

Very clear nice explanation, I can see Drum set @1:27

[sundaynabi]

Thank you very much, I found that to be very important

[jakdee]

impressive direct to the point.Thank you

[nesrine]

Thanx for the courses u're making they are very helpful ❤️✌️

[somtochukwumaha]

Thank you so much! It worked perfectly!

[yanding]

Thanks, I know this side view of the speaker is a newer thing but I found very, very ignoring and not making sense. I am watching you from the front making eye contact, I did not move around, why am I looking at your side view and back-and-forth? You don't need it, just the front shot is perfect.

[hamzaboutaliss]

Can we export with different software version? like revit 2019 with CAD 2020 ?

[alexbautista]

cant I modify the object Im working with? for example if i make a house in autocad how can I import it into revit and still be able to modify the project?

[juangalindorestrepo]

Thank you for the tutorial. Is there a way to merge multiple sheets in a single CAD file when exporting from revit to CAD? I need this file to contain the view information so im able to actually make changes on it, but I also need to display the drawing in a titleblock in CAD, as its displayed in a revit sheet. Can't find a way around it.

[chicagolanddesigns]

Hi, I am working on an independent study project where I am building mile high skyscraper in revit. In order to render such a massive building I bought a 3d file of Chicago that is 14km by 14km. I have a revit version but was unable to assign the materials becuase not all layers were created. I used the 3rd max file to import to cad, then I assigned all of the layers. I then tried to import to revit, but it takes ages to load. The file is 277mb which explains it. I finally got the file in revit but was unable to save the file because it said “computer does not have enough space to save” except my computer has plenty of space and so did my hard drive. What should I do?

[ahmedsalman]

Hi, I imported a CAD file in Revit, but it's one object. How can I ungroup to count certain elements?

[esraalkamel]

I don't know why it doesn't work with me !!
I get a file from sketch up, import acad link in Revit do all the details that you explained.but it's a fixed lines in Revit.never move and not editable!

[tripleahafez]

What to do when origin isn’t showing on autocad,