How to Create Standard Detail Libraries in Revit

If you have spent a couple of years working in Revit, you may have realized that lots of time can be consumed in documenting and managing project details. Wall sections, jamb detail, foundation details, etc. are all important, but creating them from scratch can feel repetitive and very time-consuming.

This is where a standard detail library can be useful! It’s one of those simple and powerful tools that can elevate your workflow, improve consistency, and add a little less anxiety to your life. We’ll go through how to set up your standard detail library in Revit and save yourself hours on future projects.

What Is a Standard Detail Library?

A standard detail library is like your toolkit in Revit. It is a collection of the 2D or 3D details you use most—wall sections, floor junctions, roof connections, etc.—stored in one location so they are all available to drag into new projects.

Instead of redrawing or copying details from past projects (and creating inconsistency), you will have one source of reliable, accurate, standard details.

Step 1: Gather Your Most Common Details

Start by identifying which details you use repeatedly. This might include:

• Wall-to-floor connections
• Roof edge or parapet details
• Foundation and slab sections
• Window and door details
• Stair and railing sections

Look through your past Revit projects and CAD files to find well-drafted examples. These will form the base of your new library.

Step 2: Create a Master Revit File

Once you’ve gathered your details, create a new Revit project file that will act as your master detail library.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Revit and start a new project using your office template.
2. In the Project Browser, go to Views → Drafting Views.
3. Create a new drafting view for each detail.
4. Give each one a clear, descriptive name — for example, “Roof Detail – Flat Roof” or “Foundation – Concrete Slab.”

Keeping your names consistent will make it much easier to find and manage details later on.

Step 3: Adding or Creating Your Details

Now it’s time to populate your library. You have two main choices as follows:

Option 1 – Detail in Revit, right therein:

You can use Revit’s 2D drafting tools (lines, filled regions, detail components, etc.). These drafting tools are lightweight and are a great way to create and represent standard construction details.

Option 2 – If your firm has decent, usable, and good-looking details in AutoCAD, you can import the details as CAD files into your Revit drafting views when they are opened. After importing the files, you will then need to clean up your details, converting any linework into native Revit detail components, if possible. This will maintain your library’s consistency and keep your library more and more Revit-friendly.

Step 4: Detail Components and Annotations

Detail components should be used whenever possible instead of simply relying on lines and filled regions. Detail components are intelligent 2D families that represent materials, such as insulation, steel, or timber and they provide a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing display in your drawings, while also allowing for future updates to be easier and better.

Adding annotations, dimensions, and keynotes that follow your own company’s graphic standards and notation style will also allow your drawings to look more consistent and professional from project to project in your firm.

Step 5: Keep Your Library Organised

A messy library defeats the purpose. Create a clear structure by grouping details by category, such as:

• Architectural Details
• Structural Details
• Mechanical Details

Save your master file in a shared network location or on the cloud (like Autodesk Docs or BIM 360), so everyone on your team can access the same, up-to-date version.

Pro tip: Keep a backup copy of your library in case something gets accidentally changed or deleted.

Step 6: Reuse Your Details in New Projects

When you start a new project, you don’t need to recreate anything. Simply:

1. Open your current project.
2. Go to Insert → Insert from File → Insert Views from File.
3. Select your detail library file.
4. Pick the drafting views (details) you want to import.

That’s it — your detail appears in your new project, ready for annotation or placement on sheets.

Step 7: Keep It Up to Date

A good detail library is always a work in progress. Building codes change, materials are updated, and your design standards and standards of work become improved over time.

In general, try to get in the habit of reviewing your library regularly, like maybe once a quarter, or after you finish larger projects. This will help keep your details current and consistent for everyone on the team.

Why it is worth your effort:

A Revit detail library is labor-intensive to create, but the effort is well worth it:

• You will save time on each project.
• Your drawings will be more consistent and presentable.
• The team will work more efficiently, applying the same standard details.
• It assists in quality control on multiple projects.

Overall, a detail library that is well organized will simplify your life and complete a better project.

Create a set of common details. A standard set of details in Revit will help you build smart, and working smarter by adding time to organize your most used details will make you work faster, reduce mistakes, and produce more consistent documentation from project to project.