The drawing set and what each drawing shows
| Drawing | What it shows | Usual scale |
|---|---|---|
| Location / key plan | Where the site is in the city, nearby roads and landmarks | 1:2000 to 1:5000 or NTS |
| Site plan | Building footprint on the plot, setbacks, access, parking, levels, trees, north point | 1:200 to 1:500 |
| Floor plan | Walls, doors, windows, stairs, room names and sizes, furniture, cut at about 1.2 m | 1:100 (1:50 for small buildings) |
| Roof / terrace plan | Slopes, parapets, water tanks, solar panels, rainwater outlets | 1:100 |
| Section | Vertical cut: floor heights, slabs, beams, stairs, foundations, levels | 1:100 or 1:50 |
| Elevation | Outside faces with openings, materials and heights | 1:100 |
| Working drawing | Fully dimensioned plans, sections and elevations with specifications for the site | 1:50 |
| Detail drawing | Staircase, toilet, kitchen, door/window, wall section junctions | 1:20, 1:10, 1:5 |
| Services drawings | Electrical layout, plumbing and drainage, HVAC, fire | 1:100 |
| Views and axonometrics | 3D understanding of form, spaces and light | NTS |
How a plan, section and elevation are related
A plan is a horizontal cut seen from above; a section is a vertical cut seen from the side; an elevation is the outside of the building seen straight on, without perspective. Draw them so that they align: walls in the plan project straight up into the section and elevation drawn above or beside it. Mark every section line (A–A, B–B) on the plan with the viewing direction, and label elevations by direction (north, south, east, west) or by the road they face.
Line weights and line types
| Line | Used for | Typical pen |
|---|---|---|
| Thick continuous | Cut walls and slabs in plan and section | 0.5–0.7 mm |
| Medium continuous | Edges seen beyond the cut, outline in elevation | 0.25–0.35 mm |
| Thin continuous | Furniture, hatching, dimensions, floor patterns | 0.13–0.18 mm |
| Dashed | Hidden edges, overhead beams, projections above the cut | 0.18–0.25 mm |
| Chain (dot-dash) | Centre lines, grid lines, section lines | 0.18 mm |
Common symbols and conventions
- North point on every plan and site plan
- Level marks such as +0.45 for plinth and ±0.00 for ground
- Door swing drawn as a quarter arc; windows as three thin lines in the wall
- Staircase with numbered risers, an arrow marked UP, and a break line
- Grid lines with lettered and numbered bubbles for columns
- Hatching for materials in section: brick, concrete, earth, timber
- Dimension chains: outer overall, middle room sizes, inner openings
- Title block with project, drawing name, scale, date, sheet number and your name
Sheet sizes
| Size | mm | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 841 × 1189 | Thesis panels, large site plans |
| A1 | 594 × 841 | Design studio sheets in most colleges |
| A2 | 420 × 594 | Junior years, building construction plates |
| A3 | 297 × 420 | Portfolios, reports, working drawings sets |
Drawing order that saves time
- Site plan and grid first, so every other drawing shares the same reference
- Ground floor plan, then upper floors traced from it
- Sections through the staircase and the most complex space
- Elevations projected from plans and sections
- Working drawings and details only after the design is frozen
- Views and post-production last
Software used for each drawing
- AutoCAD: plans, sections, elevations and working drawings with exact dimensions
- Revit: one BIM model from which plans, sections, elevations and schedules are generated
- SketchUp and Rhino: massing, views and quick 3D studies
- Lumion, Enscape, V-Ray, D5: renders and walkthroughs
- Photoshop and InDesign: post-production and sheet composition
FAQs
What is the difference between a section and an elevation?
A section is a vertical cut through the building and shows what is inside, such as floor heights, slabs and stairs; the cut parts are drawn thick. An elevation shows only the outside face of the building, without cutting it.
At what height is a floor plan cut?
Usually about 1.2 m (4 feet) above the floor, so that windows, doors and walls are cut while sills and furniture appear below. Mention it if your studio uses a different height.
What scale is used for architectural plans?
1:100 is standard for plans, sections and elevations of most buildings; 1:50 for working drawings and small buildings; 1:20 to 1:5 for details; 1:200 to 1:500 for site plans.
What are working drawings in architecture?
Working drawings are the fully dimensioned plans, sections, elevations and details, with specifications, that a contractor uses to build. B.Arch students usually prepare a set in the third or fourth year.
Can Project Buddyy help with my drawings?
Yes. We help with drafting, working drawings and studio sheets in AutoCAD, Revit and SketchUp, starting from ₹2,999, and explain each drawing so you can defend it in the jury.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-26. Always follow the format your own department gives you.