An elevation drawing shows a building’s exterior or an interior wall as viewed straight-on from the side, capturing height, proportions, and vertical features that a floor plan can’t show.
Architects use elevations to communicate a building’s appearance.
What Does an Elevation Drawing Show?
- Roof pitch and roofline
- Window and door placement across floors
- Exterior siding and material choices
- Overall building height and proportions
Why Are Elevation Drawings Important?
A front elevation drawing for a new home shows exactly how tall the roofline sits and where windows align across floors, details a floor plan alone wouldn’t capture. Interior elevations serve a similar purpose for spaces like kitchens, showing cabinet and appliance placement on a wall.
Elevation Drawing vs. Floor Plan
A floor plan is a top-down view showing room layout; an elevation is a side-on view showing height and vertical detail. Together they give a complete picture of a building that neither drawing type provides alone.