Levels
Levels are the horizontal datum planes of a building — floors, roofs, ceilings. Almost everything in Revit is attached to a level, so setting them up correctly comes first.
In this lesson you will
- Explain what levels control
- Create and edit levels in an elevation view
- Create floor and ceiling plans for levels
- Name, dimension and pin levels
What levels do
A level is an infinite horizontal plane at a height. Walls have a base constraint and top constraint tied to levels; floors, rooms, furniture and plan views are associated with a level. Change a level's elevation and everything tied to it moves. The default architectural template starts with Level 1 and Level 2 (names vary by template).
Creating levels
- 1Open an elevation or section view — levels can only be drawn where you see them in side view.
- 2Architecture › Level (LL).
- 3On the Options Bar, keep Make Plan View ticked so Revit creates floor and ceiling plans.
- 4Snap the start of the new level above the existing level heads, type the height offset, and click the end.
- 5Or copy an existing level (CO) up by the floor-to-floor height — but copied levels don't get plan views (see below).
Editing levels
Click a level's height value to type a new elevation, or its name to rename it — Revit offers to rename the associated plan views too. Drag the end grips to adjust extents; the small padlock keeps level ends aligned.
Blue level heads have plan views; black level heads don't (reference levels). To create plans for them: View › Plan Views › Floor Plan and select the levels.
Name levels consistently — Ground, Level 1, Level 2, Roof — and pin them (PN) once set, so no one drags a level by accident.
How many levels?
Create levels for each structural floor, the roof, and any key heights such as a mezzanine, parapet or top of footing. Avoid levels for every small change in height — use offsets from levels instead. Too many levels clutter views and confuse constraints.
Quick reference
| Command / tool | How to start it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Level | LL | Creates levels (in elevation/section) |
| Floor Plan | View › Plan Views | Creates plans for existing levels |
| Pin | PN | Locks elements against movement |
| Copy / Array | CO / AR | Copies levels (without plan views) |
Common mistakes
Copied levels have no floor plans.
Create the plans with View › Plan Views › Floor Plan.
Walls moved when a level changed.
They're constrained to it — that's expected. Adjust offsets instead if needed.
Exercise
Levels for a two-storey house
- In the South elevation, set Level 1 to 0 and rename it Ground.
- Rename Level 2 to First at 3000.
- Add Roof at 6000 with a plan view.
- Add a reference level Top of footing at -500 without a plan view.
- Pin all levels.
You should end up with: Four correctly named levels, three with plan views.
Checklist
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Lesson quiz
In which kind of view can you create levels?
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