CAD drafting: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What cad drafting is

A CAD drafter produces precise technical drawings and plans in computer aided design software, working from your sketches or measurements for construction, manufacturing or permit applications. Homeowners, builders and manufacturers hire drafters when a project needs accurate drawings that others can build or review.

Signs you need it

  • You have sketches or measurements of a room, building, addition or part, and need clean drawings that others can use
  • A builder, a manufacturer or a fabricator has asked for CAD drawings before work begins
  • Your permit office has asked for plans, and your rough sketches are not accepted
  • You need a set of drawings that show an existing building before a remodel
  • You need changes made to existing drawings that were prepared by someone who is no longer working on the project

What the pro does

  • Review your sketches, measurements, photos and the goal of the drawings
  • Confirm the units, the scale, the drawing standards and the sheet sizes needed
  • Draw the plans, sections, elevations or part views in the agreed software
  • Add dimensions, notes and labels so the drawing can be read and built from
  • Check the drawings against your measurements and flag any gaps or conflicts
  • Deliver the drawings in the formats you need, such as PDF for review and native files for editing

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of drawings and sheets, and how many views each sheet needs
  • The complexity of the object or building and how much detail must be drawn
  • Whether the drafter measures the site or works only from your measurements
  • Whether the drawings must follow a specific code, drawing standard or manufacturing tolerance
  • The number of revision rounds and how much new information you send during the job
  • The file formats and whether native files are included

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number of drawings, the sheet sizes and the views included
  • The drawing standard and the units used
  • Whether a site measurement visit is included, and who pays for travel
  • The revision rounds included and how new information is handled
  • The file formats delivered, including native CAD files and PDF

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What software do you use, and can you give me native files that I can edit?
  • Will you measure the site, or only work from my measurements?
  • Do you know the permit or building requirements for my project's location?
  • Will you check the drawings against my measurements and flag any gaps?
  • Who is responsible if the drawings do not match the built result?
  • Do the drawings need to be prepared or reviewed by a licensed professional for my permit?

Red flags

  • Will not show a sample set of drawings from past work
  • Promises that the drawings will be approved by a permit office
  • Changes measurements without telling you
  • Will not deliver the native CAD files after payment

What you can do yourself

You can sketch the layout with dimensions by hand or in a simple floor plan app, measure each wall and fixture carefully and keep the notes with the sketch. Hire a CAD drafter when a builder, manufacturer or permit office needs formal drawings, or when the project involves structure, systems or complex geometry.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to produce CAD drawings. Some projects need drawings prepared or stamped by a licensed professional, such as an architect or engineer, depending on the type of project and the local rules; check with your local building or planning department before you rely on drafted drawings for a permit.

CAD drafting questions

Can a drafter stamp my plans?

Usually not. A stamp or seal comes from a licensed professional such as an architect or engineer, and only where local rules allow it, so check with your local building department.

What information do I need to give the drafter?

Give your sketches, the measurements with units, photos of the site, the materials you plan to use and the purpose of the drawings. The more accurate the input, the fewer revisions you will need.

Who owns the drawings?

Agree on this in writing. Ask for the native files and confirm the rights to reuse the drawings for your project.

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