How-to guide

How to get floor plans from an IFC file

Name: How to get floor plans from an IFC file
Uploaded: 2026-11-06
Duration: 25 s
Description: How to see a floor plan of any storey of an IFC model, free on Windows: open the model, pick the storey and the cut height, zoom and pan. No BIM licence.

An IFC model has every storey in it, but no drawings. BIM Explorer, free on Windows, cuts the model at the height you choose and draws the plan on screen - walls cut heavy, what's below drawn light, with a scale bar. Your model never leaves your PC.

6 stepsFreeVideo 25 seconds

Step by step

Open the IFC model

Drag the .ifc file onto BIM Explorer or click Open IFC. No model to hand? Load sample opens a small house to try it on.

Open floor plans

In the Views tab choose Open floor plans. The plan opens on the storey nearest the ground, cut at 1.2 m - through the doors and windows.

Change the cut height

Type a new Cut height above the floor - 0.6 m here, below the window sills - or pick another storey from the list. The plan redraws; "Drawing…" shows while a big storey is worked out.

Zoom and pan

Scroll to zoom in on a detail and drag to pan. The scale bar changes as you zoom.

Fit the storey again

Double-click to fit the whole storey back on screen.

Need it on paper?

Export PDF saves every storey to scale as a vector PDF - that's part of BIM Explorer Pro, so free users see what Pro adds.

Tips

1.2 m is the usual plan cut. Go lower (0.6 m) to see below window sills, or higher to cut through high-level windows.
The plan comes from the model's 3D geometry, so it works on any IFC export - no 2D drawings needed in the file.
Plans are kept once drawn, so switching back to a storey is instant.
Use the free quantity check in Views to see whether the model also carries quantities.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free?

Yes. Floor plans on screen are free in BIM Explorer. Saving storey plans to scale as a PDF is part of BIM Explorer Pro (a one-off £29.99).

Which files does it work with?

IFC 2x3, IFC4 and IFC 4.3 models from any BIM tool. It doesn't open native Revit or ArchiCAD files - ask for an IFC export.

Is my model uploaded anywhere?

No. BIM Explorer works offline and models are kept on your PC.