Adding a level in Revit means creating a new horizontal plane where you can place walls, floors, and other building elements

A level in Revit is a reference plane that represents a floor or story height in your building model. When you add a level, you are telling Revit where that floor exists in 3D space — both its height and its name. Levels control where you can place walls, floors, ceilings, and structural elements. Without levels, Revit cannot organize your building vertically.

Most Revit projects start with at least two levels: one for the ground floor and one for the floor above. You add more levels as your building gets taller. Each level appears as a horizontal line in section and elevation views, and as a selectable plane in plan view.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the section or elevation view where you want to add the level, because levels are drawn as horizontal lines in these views.
  • Use the Level tool from the Datum panel on the Modify tab, then click to place the line at the height where your new floor should be.
  • Type a name for the level (like "Second Floor" or "Roof") in the properties panel when ready after placing it.
  • The level height is measured from the project's zero point, which is usually ground level or a reference datum.
  • Once created, a level appears in all section and elevation views automatically, and you can use it to create a new floor plan.

Open a section or elevation view to see where levels go

Levels are drawn as horizontal lines, so you can only see and place them in views that show height — section views and elevation views. You cannot add a level from a plan view. If your project is open and you are looking at a floor plan, switch to a section or elevation first.

To switch views, look at the Project Browser on the left side of your screen. Under "Sections (Building Section)" or "Elevations (Building Elevation)", double-click any section or elevation view. The view will open in the center of your screen. If your project has no sections or elevations yet, you can create one: go to the View tab, click Section, and click in the plan view to draw a section line.

Find the Level tool and draw the new level line

Once you are in a section or elevation view, go to the Modify tab at the top. In the Datum panel (the group with tools for reference planes and grids), click the Level button. Your cursor will change to a crosshair.

Click and drag horizontally at the height where you want the new level to be. The line does not have to be perfectly level — Revit will snap it to horizontal automatically. Release the mouse button. A horizontal line will appear with a small circle at each end and a label showing a temporary name like "Level 1" or "Level 2".

Name the level and set its height

when ready after you place the level, the properties panel on the right side of your screen will show the level's settings. Look for the "Name" field near the top. Click in that field and type a name for your level — for example, "Ground Floor", "Second Floor", "Roof", or "Mezzanine". Press Enter to confirm.

The "Elevation" field shows the level's height in your project's units (usually feet and inches, or millimeters, depending on your template). If you need to adjust the height, click in the Elevation field and type the correct value. For example, if your ground floor is at 0 feet and each story is 12 feet tall, your second floor level should be at 12 feet, and your third floor at 24 feet. Press Enter to explore the change.

Use the level to create a new floor plan

After you add a level, Revit automatically creates a corresponding floor plan view. Look in the Project Browser on the left. Under "Floor Plans", you will see a new plan with the name you gave the level. Double-click it to open that plan view.

In this new plan, you can now place walls, doors, windows, and other elements at that floor height. Any element you place in this plan will be associated with that level. If you later change the level's height, all elements on that level will move with it.

Adjust level position and visibility if needed

If you need to move a level after placing it, go back to a section or elevation view where you can see it. Click the level line to select it. A blue circle will appear at each end of the line. Drag either circle up or down to change the level's height. You can also change the height in the properties panel by editing the Elevation value.

If a level is not visible in a particular view, it may be hidden by the view's visibility settings. Right-click the level in the Project Browser and select "Show in View" to make sure it appears. You can also control which levels appear in each view by going to the View tab, clicking Visibility/Graphics, and checking the Levels category.

Common mistakes when adding levels

The most common mistake is trying to add a level from a plan view instead of a section or elevation. If the Level tool is grayed out or does not work, switch to a section or elevation view first. Another mistake is forgetting to name the level — if you leave it as "Level 1" when you meant "Second Floor", your floor plan will be confusing later.

A third mistake is placing levels at inconsistent heights. If your first floor is at 0 feet and your second floor is at 12 feet, make sure your third floor is at 24 feet, not 36 feet, unless your building actually has a taller story. Inconsistent heights will cause walls and floors to misalign when you model them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a level from a plan view?

No. Levels are horizontal reference planes, so you can only draw them in views that show height — section views and elevation views. If you are in a plan view, switch to a section or elevation first by double-clicking one in the Project Browser.

What if I place a level at the wrong height?

Click the level line in a section or elevation view to select it. In the properties panel on the right, find the Elevation field and type the correct height. Press Enter. All elements on that level will move with it automatically.

Do I have to create a floor plan for every level I add?

Revit creates a floor plan automatically when you add a level, but you do not have to use it. If you add a level just as a reference (for example, to mark the roof height) and do not need to model that floor, you can leave the plan empty or delete it later.

Can I rename a level after I create it?

Yes. Click the level line in a section or elevation view. In the properties panel, click the Name field and type the new name. Press Enter. The floor plan view will also rename itself to match.

What is the project's zero point, and how do I know where it is?

The zero point is the reference height from which all level elevations are measured — usually ground level or a site datum. In most templates, the first level is placed at 0 feet. You can see the zero point by looking at the Elevation values in the properties panel. If your ground floor is at 0 feet, that is your zero point.