In Revit, Levels are a reference plane for level-hosted elements, like walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings. The Levels help you organize the height of the design and elements. To ensure the organization of the project, it is essential to add a specific level to each floor within your project. Each end of the Level will show the height inside the Level Head.
Within Revit, Levels are categorized as annotation elements and represented as finite horizontal planes. The Levels can be placed inside an elevation or section view.
Table of Contents
In this article, we are going to take a look at the basics of Levels, how to create Levels using different methods, and how to modify their properties and visuals.
Levels in Revit
Before we start creating Levels, let’s dive into the basics of these Levels: what are Levels and what properties do they have?
Levels help you to organize the height of the design and elements because these act as a finite horizontal reference plane for hosted elements. You can think of hosted elements such as walls, floors, roofs, and ceilings. You can create a Level and Plan View for each floor or any secondary reference, such as ‘bottom of foundation’, ‘top of foundation’, etc.
Levels contain 2D and 3D extents. The 3D extents should cross through the whole model to make them visible in all views. You can modify the 2D extents individually for each Elevation or Section View when required.
The properties of Levels are categorized into Type and Instance Properties which are explained in the table below.
Level Type Properties
| Type parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Elevation Base | To control where the elevation is measured from. You can choose between Project Base Point (default) or Survey Base Point. |
| Line Weight | You can set the Line Weight for the Level type. To change the definition of Line Weight number use the Line Weight settings, read more about it here. |
| Color | To set a Color to the Level line. You can choose from predefined colors or create your custom color. |
| Line Pattern | To set a Line Pattern for the Level line. You can choose from a predefined list or create a custom one with dashes and dots. |
| Symbol | You can choose how the head of the Level is displayed. There are three options available by default which are: Level Head-Circle, Level Head-No Bubble, and <none>. |
| Symbol at End 1 Default | This option allows you to place a Bubble by default on the left end of the Level line. To modify the visibility of the bubble, you can click on a Level line and toggle the checkbox that appears next to the bubble. |
| Symbol at End 2 Default | This option allows you to place a Bubble by default on the right end of the Level line. |
Level Instance Properties
| Instance parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Elevation | You can adjust the vertical height of the Level with this parameter. |
| Story Above | This parameter is used with the Building Story when exporting the model to IFC format with the Split Walls, Columns, and Ducts by Level option. You can use this to indicate the next Building Story for the Level. This is, by default, the next highest Level where the Building Story parameter is enabled. |
| Computation Height | This option allows you to adjust the distance above the Level for computing the perimeter, area, and volume of a room, read more about it here. |
| Scope Box | You can use this to apply a Scope Box to Levels to organize Datum elements effectively. You can check this article for a better understanding of Scope Boxes. |
| Name | To give the Level a Name. When you rename a Level, a dialog asks if you like to rename all corresponding views. Click Yes, to rename all Views that share the exact name as the Level. |
| Structural | Check this Structural parameter to identify the level as “primarily” structural. Note that this parameter is unchecked by default. |
| Building Story | You can check this parameter to indicate the level corresponds to a functional floor within the model. For example, Levels that are used for parapets and landings are not primarily the functional floor so you can uncheck this parameter. Note that only Levels with Building Story parameter checked will be exported to IFC. |
| Design Option | This read-only parameter indicates in what Design Option the Level displays. But since the Levels are part of the unsupported elements of Design Options it will always be in the Main Model. Read more about the Design Option feature in this article. |
How to add Levels in Revit
In Revit there are multiple methods available to add Levels to a project, which we can categorize into two approaches:
- Add Single Level
- Add Multiple Levels
To add a level or multiple levels using any of the methods, it is necessary to have an Elevation or Section View open.
Note
When deleting a Level, Revit will also delete the associated Views and hosted elements.
Method 1 – Add Single Level
The first method is the most common way to add a Level to Revit. With this method you create each level one by one, allowing you to create a Plan View immediately. Additionally, you can choose which Plan View Types have to be made. Follow the steps written below to add single levels.
- Open an Elevation or Section View
- Go to the Architecture or Structure tab
- Click on Level in the Datum panel or use the default shortcut LL
- Change settings in the Options Bar, such as Make Plan View, Plan View Types, and Offset
- Pick Line from the Draw panel
- Left-click to enter the start point of the Level > Drag a Line horizontally
- Left-click to enter the end point of the Level and finish
Repeat steps 6 and 7 to create more levels including a Plan View. If you accidentally close the Add Level function, you can Select a Level and then use the Create Similar (shortcut: CS) function from the Modify tab to continue.
Level Option Bar
As you noticed earlier in Step 4, there are some options available inside the Options Bar when using the Level Function.
- Make Plan View: You can check this option to create Plan Views instantly after placing the Level.
- Plan View Types: When the Make Plan View is checked, it will make the Plan View Types you choose from the list. In Revit 2023 and earlier, there are three types to choose from. In Revit 2024, we have a Multi-discipline template that lets you choose from 11 Plan View Types. You can pick multiple types at once.
- Offset: The offset allows you to position the Level at a distance from the mouse pointer. This can be useful for maintaining a consistent offset from the Level below, letting you place them faster.
Tip
It’s advised to create a Level by dragging it from left to right because the Symbol at End 1/2 Default Type parameter corresponds with the endpoints. Now you can hide Level Bubbles on the same side simultaneously.
Method 2 – Add Multiple Levels
The second method is very useful when you need to add Multiple Levels at once without drawing them one by one. You can Select a Level and then use the Array tool. The downside of copying Levels is that it will not make Plan Views immediately, but you can create them later. Follow the steps outlined below for adding multiple Levels at once:
- Select an existing Level or Create the first one (see method 1)
- Go to the Modify | Levels tab > Modify panel
- Click on Array (default shortcut: AR)
- Change settings in the Options Bar, Uncheck Group and Associate, and enter a Number of Levels to copy.
- Click on the Level or any location within the Workspace area
- Move the mouse to the desired location > Click to copy the first array. You can also enter a value to offset.
Tip
In addition to the Array tool, you can use the Copy tool for duplicating multiple Levels.
This also enables you to place them swiftly.
Create Plan Views
Once you have created multiple Levels using the Array or Copy tool, you will notice that the Level heads you have made appear in black, while the existing one is likely in blue. The difference between these two colors is that blue Level Heads are associated with a Plan View and black Level Heads are not. Double-clicking on blue Level Heads will take you to the Plan View immediately.
To associate Plan View Types to the Levels that currently do not have any yet, you can follow the steps outlined below:
- Go to the View tab > Click on Plan Views in the Create panel > List of Plan View Types opens
- Choose a Plan View Type to create (Floor Plan in this case) > New Floor Plan dialog opens
- Select Levels to associate a Floor Plan View to (multiple allowed)
- Click on OK
After clicking OK, you will notice that the Floor Plans are created and can be found in the Project Browser. If you like to add more Plan View Types to each Level, you can repeat steps 1-4.
Tip
When exporting Sheets or Views to PDF, you can toggle the additional option to View links in blue, which allows you to print the Level Heads in black (unchecked) or blue (checked).
For more information check: How to export PDF files from Revit.
Modify Levels in Revit
You can modify Level properties or visibility after placing them. To modify a Level open an Elevation, Section, or 3D View.
- To change the Level Name, you can select the Level and click on the name > Enter a new name.
- To change the Level Elevation Height, you can select the Level and click on the elevation value > Enter a new value. (Alternative: you can use the Move tool to change height).
Offset Level line from Bubble
When Levels are close to each other you may want to change the location of the Level Bubbles for better reading. In Revit, you can change the location of the Level Bubble by adding an elbow.
- Select a Level line
- Click on the Add elbow symbol near the end of the Level line
- Drag the blue dots to your required location
When you add elbows to multiple Level lines, you will notice that it is possible to align the blue dots in a vertical line. To reset the elbow, drag the blue dot attached to the Level Bubble to the same height as the Level line.
Unconstrain Levels in Revit
Levels are only visible in views that intersect with the 3D extents. To adjust the extents of levels in views without affecting the 3D extents, you can modify them to 2D extents individually.
- Select a Level line
- Click on the 3D indicator to switch to the 2D extents
- Click on the Lock symbol to remove the alignment constraint
- Drag the blue dot to your required location
Tip
If you are missing Levels at an Elevation or Section View, you can check the 3D extents of the Levels. For more information, you can read this article.
Level Head Visibility
In Revit native software, you can change the visibility of the Level Bubbles by using two different methods, which are:
- Graphically and Individually
- Type Properties
The alternative and more flexible way is by using a Dynamo Script. This method allows you to Show or Hide Multiple Level Bubbles simultaneously. I have written a comprehensive article on this topic, which you can read here: How to Turn Off Multiple Level Bubbles in Revit.
Graphically and Individually
To change the visibility of the Level Bubble individually, you can open the view > Click on the Level line and uncheck the checkbox to Hide Bubble. You can do this on each extent of the Level (left and right). To show the Bubble, you can check it again.
Type Properties
To change the visibility of multiple Level Bubbles, you can change the Type Properties of the Level. Select a Level line > Properties Browser and click on Edit Type > Uncheck the Symbol at End 1 / 2 Default parameter > Click OK, and the Level Bubbles will be hidden for the Level type.
Propagate Extents
When modifying the extents of Levels, the changes will only apply to the view in which they are made. You can use the Propagate Extents function in Revit to “Copy” the extents and appearances to other views. It only works with views that are parallel to each other.
- Open a View and select Datum (Level) elements
- Go to Modify | Grids > Click on Propagate Extents
- In the Propagate datum extents window, select views to “copy” the 2D extents > Press OK
Wrapping Up
In Revit, levels play a crucial role in organizing and managing the vertical dimension of your design. Also, they serve as horizontal reference planes for elements placed on them. There are mainly two methods to create Levels in Revit: adding a single Level and adding multiple Levels. When adding multiple Levels, remember to create the associated View Plans afterward.
Modifying Levels in Revit involves changing properties and visibility. You can change the Level name, Elevation height and offset the Level line from the Bubble. Additionally, you can toggle the visibility of the Bubbles in the views.
I hope this article helped you to understand the basics of Levels, and how to create and modify levels in Revit. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
