If you work with Building Information Modelling, you’ve likely come across the term “Revit families” more times than you can count. Understanding Revit families is essential to mastering Autodesk Revit, since every building model created in the software is assembled from these reusable components. Whether you’re new to BIM or looking to deepen your knowledge, this guide breaks down what Revit families are, the different types available, and how to load them into your projects.
Understanding Revit as a BIM Platform
Autodesk Revit is a Building Information Modelling platform, which means every model built within it mirrors how a real structure comes together. Just as a physical building rises from its foundation with walls of varying thickness and length, along with doors and windows in different sizes, colors, and styles, Revit follows the same logic digitally. This approach is what makes Revit such a powerful and realistic tool for architects, engineers, and designers.
What Are Revit Families?
Revit families are libraries of fully functional BIM templates and 3D models representing building objects such as doors, windows, stairs, furniture, and more. These components can be downloaded from external sources, including specialized websites that host thousands of ready-to-use family files. Families are a core part of any Revit project, since a complete 3D building model is typically constructed from hundreds or even thousands of individual family elements.
To fully grasp how families function within Revit, it helps to understand the hierarchy of terms used in the software:
Model → Family Categories → Families → Types → Instance
- The model refers to the entire building as represented in Revit.
- Family categories are broad groupings of elements a building consists of, such as columns, floors, walls, doors, and windows.
- Families represent different variations within a category, for instance, a rectangular column, a round column, or a rolled I-beam column.
- Types describe size variations within a single family. A rectangular column, for example, might come in 400×400 or 500×500 dimensions.
- Instances are the individual placements of a type within the model. If a building has five 400×400 columns, each one is a separate instance.
This structured approach is what gives Revit its precision and scalability, allowing teams to manage complex projects with consistency.
Types of Revit Families
Revit supports several distinct kinds of families, each suited to different modeling needs:
- System families – Built-in elements like walls, floors, and roofs that are created directly within the project environment.
- Loadable families – User-created or pre-built elements such as doors, windows, and furniture, which are loaded into projects as needed and modified using the Revit Family Editor.
- In-Place families – Custom, project-specific components built directly within a single project.
- Nested families – Families embedded within other families, useful for building complex, multi-part components.
- Grouped families – Multiple elements combined into a single reusable object for efficiency.
- Face-based families – Loadable families that attach to planar surfaces, automatically adjusting their orientation and location.
- Work Plane-based families – Loadable families that require a defined work plane for accurate placement.
- Line-based families – Loadable families generated by drawing a line, often used for linear elements.
- Adaptive families – Loadable families that adjust to varying project conditions using adaptive points, ideal for complex or curved geometry.
Knowing which family type fits your design need helps streamline your workflow and keeps your Revit projects organized and efficient.
How to Load Revit Families Into Your Project
Loading a family into your Revit project is a straightforward process:
- Go to the Insert tab and select Load from Library – Load Family.
- Double-click the category of the family you need.
- Select the specific family file and click Open.
Once loaded, the family becomes available in your project browser, ready to be placed and customized according to your design requirements.
Where to Find Revit Family Templates
If you’re planning to create your own custom families, Revit stores its default family templates locally on your machine. You can typically find them at:
C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT xxxxFamily TemplatesEnglish_I
These templates serve as starting points for building new families from scratch, whether you’re modeling a unique piece of furniture or a specialized structural component.
Creating Your Own Revit Families
Family creation is a broader and more advanced topic that requires a solid understanding of Revit’s basic functions before diving in. Autodesk has published a detailed step-by-step guide covering the fundamentals of family creation, which is a valuable resource for beginners looking to build their own custom Revit content from the ground up.
Final Thoughts
Revit families are the building blocks of every successful BIM project. From system families that form the structural core of a building to loadable families that add detail and function, understanding how these components work together gives you far greater control over your designs. Whether you’re loading pre-built families from a library or creating custom ones tailored to a specific project, mastering this system is one of the most valuable skills you can develop as a Revit user. As you continue working with BIM, take time to explore free family downloads and experiment with the Family Editor to expand your library and improve your modeling efficiency.