2D Floor Plans vs 3D Floor Plans What's the Difference?

Hey guys, I hope Summer is treating you well and you’re taking time to enjoy each day! With so much going on in the world, it’s important to just take a second, breathe, and be still. More importantly, it’s important to take time for yourselves.

I’m excited to introduce you to this post’s guest contributor Rahul Agrawal. He is the Co-founder & Chief Business Officer at Styldod, where you can complete virtual staging, photo editing, and much more for Residential and Commercial Real Estate projects. He's your everyday IT Kanpur nerd who pushes the boundaries with his innovative entrepreneurial stints and is also a sound startup investor & advisor. Rahul attributes his success as a professional to the discipline he has learned from his district hockey days, being a swimmer and a gym enthusiast.

In the real estate business, floor plans are important to evaluate a property. Their main objective is to provide accurate visualization of the property in the exact dimensions of the physical property design.

Importance of Floor Plans

 A house floor plan design:

  • shows the flow of spaces in a room

  • accurately depicts scaled-down walls, positions of electrical and plumbing points, windows and doors, and the furniture layout.

This article will discuss the difference between a 2D floor plan and a 3D floor plan. 

What is a 3D floor plan? 

3D floor plans are drawings made in three dimensions (length, breadth, and height). A 3D floor plan offers an aerial view of the property, showcasing the intricate details of the property such as doors, walls, windows, flooring, furniture entities, etc.

Pros of Using 3D Floor Plans 

1. Perfect for promotion

You can use 3D renderings for online as well as offline advertising. The CGI imagery is of high quality and presents the property in the most spectacular way, helping you to stand out among your competitors.

2. Communicates the vision of the property design

A 3D floor plan rendering allows buyers to easily understand the property's scale and proportions and imagine themselves living in it. This can easily translate into a sale.

3. Shows elevations 

If the property has high ceilings and panoramic windows, it is crucial to highlight them in your floor plan, which can only be done through 3D. One look at the elevations in the floor plan 3D render will help the buyer appreciate the strength of the architectural design even before visiting it.

4. Conveys textures and colors

A 3D floor plan rendering is very detailed and realistic. Every space and feature is beautifully presented using different textures and colors. 

Cons of Using 3D Floor Plans

1. More expensive 

3D renderings take more time and effort and hence costs more. A 3D artist builds the model, places furniture and decor items, sets up the lighting, and applies textures to make the 3D floor plan look as realistic as possible. Many realtors claim that 3D floor plans help increase sales, making it a justified investment.

2More time-consuming

Since a 3D floor plan is complex and detailed, it takes a lot of time to develop it. But the beautiful visuals impress the prospects, making it worth the wait. 

What is a 2D floor plan? 

A 2D floor plan is drawn in 2D and is a 'flat' drawing of the property. It clearly shows the property's structure, including wall types, load-bearing walls, and orientation of the windows and doors. A 2D floor plan provides a topological view with no reference to depth or height.

Pros of Using 2D Floor Plans 

1. Less time-consuming

A 2D floor plan is a simple schematic drawing of the property where furniture and decor are represented with pictorial symbols. It doesn't involve complex operations and hence can be done in less time.

2. Less expensive 

A 2D floor plan is affordable as only one drafter is enough to create a 2D CAD floor plan - unlike 3D floor plan renderings which require the expertise of a few CGI Specialists.

3. Shows the bare essentials 

2D floor plans clearly and effectively show the planning and a schematic furniture layout. This allows clients to concentrate on the essentials and not get distracted by additional elements and details.

 Cons of 2D Floor Plans

1. Not great as advertising materials

Unfortunately, 2D drawings are simple and do not have the visual appeal to make the property stand out from the competition.

2. Hard to understand

Not everybody can decipher engineering symbols in a 2D floor plan, making it difficult to imagine how the property will look in 3D.  

3. Doesn't show the whole picture

With no elevations shown in the 2D floor plan, it's difficult for the buyer to imagine the scale of the glazing surface and the height of the ceiling to get the whole picture of the interior.

4. Lack textures or colors

A 2D floor plan is a simple schematic drawing. However, if the buyer wants a fuller understanding of textures and colors, like the finishing materials, or a color palette, they are more likely to get it from your competitor.

 Floor plans are essential to help promote your property and generate leads. However, both 2D and 3D floor plans don't convey the same message. The choice of showing a 2D and 3D rendered floor plan depends on what needs and benefits you want to communicate.


Anthony West

Real Estate, Entrepreneurship, and whatever else inspires me.