How to Create Revit Templates for Consistent Project Setup

A well-crafted Revit template is the foundation of efficient, standards-driven project delivery. Rather than building each new model from scratch, you load a single .rte file that already contains your organization’s layers, families, view settings, and annotation styles. This article provides a complete, production‑ready workflow for creating and maintaining Revit templates that keep every project on the same page.

Understanding Revit Templates

A Revit template is a starting point—a predefined set of project settings, families, views, sheets, and annotations. When you base a new project on a template, all team members inherit the same measurement units, line weights, object styles, and view templates. This eliminates the need to manually reconfigure basic settings and dramatically reduces errors and rework.

Templates support both standards enforcement and speed during project setup. Instead of spending hours loading components and adjusting view displays, you can begin modeling immediately. For firms that regularly produce similar project types—residential, commercial, healthcare—a dedicated template for each typology is recommended.

Core Components of a Revit Template

A complete template should include the following essential elements. Evaluate your current workflow and add only the items that your team uses repeatedly.

Project Units and Parameters

  • Linear, area, and volume units (e.g., millimeters, feet‑inches, square meters).
  • Project parameters for shared data (e.g., building name, fire rating zones).
  • Shared parameters for consistent tagging and scheduling across projects.

Views and View Templates

  • Pre‑created floor plans, ceiling plans, elevations, sections, 3D views, and drafting views.
  • View templates for each view type (floor plan, section, 3D) to standardize scale, detail level, visibility, and graphic overrides.
  • Default view filters (e.g., show grid lines only above a certain level).

Families and Loaded Content

  • Common annotation families: dimension styles, text types, tags (room, door, window).
  • Model families: doors, windows, furniture, casework, structural columns, beam systems.
  • Title blocks, project logos, and sheet templates.

Object Styles and Line Styles

  • Consistent line weights, line patterns, and line colors for all categories.
  • Custom object styles for imported CAD layers (if used).
  • Material assignments for common finishes (e.g., default concrete, gypsum board).

Naming Conventions

  • Standard names for views, sheets, families, and levels (e.g., “A‑101 Floor Plan Level 01”).
  • Numbering schemes for sheets (e.g., A‑100 series for plans).
  • Naming rules for shared parameters and project parameters.

Phasing and Worksets

  • Pre‑defined phases: Existing, New Construction, Demolition.
  • Workset defaults if you use worksharing in projects.

Step‑by‑Step Creation Process

Follow this workflow to build a robust Revit template from scratch. The process assumes you have administrative privileges and a clear set of office standards.

1. Plan Your Template Structure

Before opening Revit, list the settings and content your team needs. Interview senior staff to identify pain points in past projects. Common issues to address include inconsistent view display, missing annotation families, and conflicting object styles. Document your office BIM standards in a separate document that references the template.

2. Create a New Template File

Launch Revit and choose New > Template. Select a base template (often the default Revit template) or start from a clean project. Using an existing template as a base saves time but may carry forward unwanted settings. For maximum control, start with the DefaultMetric.rte or DefaultImperial.rte and strip out what you don’t need.

3. Set Up Project Units and Levels

Go to Manage tab > Project Units. Set length, area, volume, and angle units to match your office standards. Also define default elevations and a vertical alignment strategy (e.g., first floor at 0.00 m relative to ground). Create levels for typical floor heights and a level named “Site” at elevation 0.000.

4. Define View Templates

View templates are the most powerful standardization tool in Revit. Open a floor plan view, set its scale, detail level, and visibility to your preferred state. Then navigate to View tab > View Templates > Create Template from Current View. Name it, for example, “Floor Plan – 1:100 Scale – Medium Detail.” Repeat for sections, elevations, and 3D views. Include view filters for discipline‑specific visibility (architecture vs. structure).

5. Load Key Families and Annotation Content

Use the Insert tab > Load Family to load standard doors, windows, tags, dimensions, and text notes. Organize families into subcategories (e.g., “Doors – Wood,” “Doors – Metal”). Load only what is used frequently to keep the file lean. For large libraries, consider using the Content Browser or Autodesk Revit Content Library for on‑demand loading instead of bloating the template.

6. Configure Object Styles and Materials

Go to Manage > Object Styles. Set line weights, line colors, and patterns for every model category (walls, floors, roofs, structural framing). Under Materials, define a few standard materials (e.g., Concrete – Cast‑in‑Place, Gypsum Wall Board). Assign materials to major components in the template so that new instances inherit the correct appearance and thermal properties.

7. Create Standard Sheets and Titleblocks

Load or create a titleblock family that contains your company logo, project information parameters, and sheet numbering. Then create placeholder sheets (e.g., A‑001 Cover, A‑100 Plans, A‑200 Elevations). Attach a view to each sheet or leave them empty as starting points. Pre‑arrange the sheet order in the Project Browser.

Include a Generic Plan Sheet with Viewports

Place a viewport on one sheet that references a generic floor plan view. This acts as a visual guide when team members start a new project. Similarly, create a section sheet with sample sections.

8. Save as Template

When all settings are in place, go to File > Save As > Template. Choose the .rte file format. Save to a shared network location where all team members can access it. Name the file clearly, e.g., “Office_Template_Residential_v2025.rte.” For version control, include the year or version number in the filename.

Advanced Template Customization

After you have a basic template, consider these advanced customizations to improve workflow efficiency further.

Dynamo Scripts for Automated Setup

Use Dynamo to automate repetitive tasks during project initiation—for example, generating grids from a spreadsheet, creating view filters, or populating shared parameters. Embed these scripts in the template or reference them in your project startup checklist.

Shared Parameter Files

Create a single .txt shared parameter file that contains all company‑wide parameters (e.g., “FireRating,” “AcousticRating,” “CostCode”). Load this file into the template so that every project uses exactly the same parameter definitions. This ensures reliable scheduling and data exchange across projects.

Keynotes and Text Styles

Standardize keynote files (.txt) with a consistent numbering scheme. Pre‑load keynote text and create a keynote legend on a drafting view. Define a few text types: “Normal – 2.5mm,” “Title – 5.0mm,” “Note – 2.0mm.” This prevents font mixing and scale inconsistencies.

Linked File Coordination

If your office works with linked models (architectural, structural, MEP), include empty linked‑model placeholders in the template. Set up monitor/coordination settings for levels and grids. This speeds up the initial linking process in a new project.

Managing and Maintaining Templates

A template is not a one‑and‑done asset. Treat it like a living document that evolves with your practice.

Regular Review Cycle

Schedule a template review every 6–12 months. Collect feedback from project teams: what’s missing, what’s rarely used, what should be removed. Update view templates when Revit releases a new version or when your office adopts new graphic standards.

Version Control

Store templates in a central folder (e.g., a network drive or BIM 360). Use a naming convention that includes the version date. Archive older versions rather than overwriting them. For teams using Autodesk Construction Cloud, you can leverage Document Management for controlled access and approval workflows.

Training and Documentation

Write a one‑page quick‑start guide that outlines how to use the template (e.g., which view templates to apply, where to place standard families). Pair this with a short training session for new hires. Emphasize why the template exists: to reduce errors, speed up deliverables, and maintain brand consistency.

Backup and Redundancy

Store a backup copy of the template file in a separate location (cloud storage or external drive). If you use a BIM 360 environment, maintain the template file in the “Project Templates” folder. Ensure only designated administrators have write permissions to avoid accidental overwrites.

Conclusion

Creating a Revit template is one of the most valuable investments your BIM team can make. It ensures that every project starts from a consistent, well‑tested foundation—saving countless hours of repetitive setup work. By following the steps outlined here and committing to regular maintenance, you equip your team to produce high‑quality, predictable deliverables across all projects. For further reading, consult Autodesk Revit Help for official template workflows and BIM 360 for cloud‑based template management. Additional best practices are available from NIBS National BIM Standard and the Revit Forum community.