Can You Change SketchUp to Metric?

by

Can You Change SketchUp to Metric?

If you’re using SketchUp for your architectural designs or 3D modeling projects, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to work with the metric system instead of the default imperial units. Fortunately, SketchUp allows users to easily change the units from imperial to metric, making it convenient for users all around the world.

Changing Units in SketchUp

To change the units in SketchUp, follow these simple steps:

  1. Open SketchUp: Launch SketchUp on your computer and open the project you want to work on.
  2. Access the Model Info: Click on “Window” in the top menu bar and select “Model Info” from the drop-down menu.

    This will open a new dialog box.

  3. Select Units: In the Model Info dialog box, click on “Units” tab located on the left side.

Model Info Dialog Box

In this Units tab, you will see options to customize various unit settings such as length format, precision, and angle format. To switch from imperial units to metric units:

  1. Select Length: Under Length section, click on the drop-down menu and choose “Millimeters” or “Meters” based on your preference.
  2. Precision: Adjust the precision slider to set how many decimal places you want for your measurements.

    This allows you to have more control over your model’s accuracy.

Saving Your Preferences

After selecting your desired unit preferences, click on “OK” button at the bottom of Model Info dialog box to save your changes. Now, all measurements within SketchUp will be displayed in metric units.

Converting Existing Models to Metric

If you already have an existing model created in SketchUp using imperial units and want to convert it to metric units, don’t worry! SketchUp provides an easy way to convert your entire model without manually changing each measurement.

  1. Select All: Press “Ctrl + A” (Windows) or “Command + A” (Mac) to select all elements in the model.
  2. Right-click: Right-click on the selection and choose “Scale Definition” from the context menu.
  3. Change Units: In the Scale Definition dialog box, choose your desired unit format under the “Length” section. For example, if you want millimeters, select “Millimeters”.

Scale Definition Dialog Box

Once you’ve selected the new unit format, click on “OK” button. SketchUp will automatically convert all measurements in your model to the chosen metric units.

In Conclusion

Changing SketchUp from imperial units to metric units is a breeze. Whether you’re starting a new project or converting an existing one, SketchUp provides a user-friendly interface that allows for easy customization of units. By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your architectural designs and 3D models are accurately represented in either imperial or metric units.