Are you wondering how to effectively use Revit design options? Design options let you build out several versions of the same part of a project — a different lobby entrance, a different facade, a different roof profile — inside one Revit file, without duplicating the model or losing track of what changed.
This guide covers the full workflow: preparing a base model, creating option sets, adding elements, building dedicated views and schedules, and applying the final choice. It also covers where design options fit next to Phases and Worksets, and the fixes for the mistakes that trip up almost everyone the first time they use this tool.
What Are Design Options in Revit?
A design option is an alternate version of part of your model that lives inside the same project file as everything else, instead of a separate saved copy. Alternatives are grouped into an Option Set — a container for one design decision, such as “Lobby Layout” or “Facade Material” — and each alternative inside that set is an Option.
Every option set has one option marked Primary. That’s the version Revit displays by default in every view and schedule, until a view or schedule is specifically set to show something else. Every other option in the set is Secondary, and only appears where you point a view or schedule at it directly.
Design Options vs. Phases vs. Worksets
Design options are easy to confuse with two other Revit tools that look similar on the surface but solve different problems. Before creating an option set, it’s worth checking which tool actually fits the situation:
| Tool | What it’s for | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Design Options | Comparing alternatives that exist at the same point in time (facade studies, layout options) | You’re tracking change over time, or splitting work among a team |
| Phases | Tracking a timeline — existing, demolition, new construction | You’re comparing options that exist simultaneously |
| Worksets | Splitting a model so several people can work in parallel | You’re trying to manage design alternatives — this creates confusion, not clarity |
A quick rule of thumb: if the question is “which one do we build,” reach for design options. If the question is “when did this happen,” reach for phases. If the question is “who’s allowed to edit this,” reach for worksets.
How to Use Design Options in Revit: A 7-Step Workflow
1. Build a Solid Base Model First
A well-structured base model saves hours of rework later. Model everything that stays the same across every option — structural grid, core, envelope, and any MEP systems that won’t change — once, directly in the Main Model, rather than duplicating it inside each option.
Levels, grids, and views can’t be assigned to a specific option anyway — they always belong to the Main Model. Keeping shared elements there from the start avoids duplicate geometry and keeps the file lighter.
2. Create an Option Set and Its Options
Each option set should represent one design decision — a specific problem with more than one possible answer, like cabinet layout, facade material, or furniture arrangement. Name the set after the decision itself (e.g., “Kitchen Layout”), not after any one answer.
- Go to the Manage tab and click Design Options.
- In the Design Options dialog, click New under Option Set.
- Give the set a descriptive name and click OK.
- Click New under Options to add individual options.
- Name each option clearly and click OK.
3. Add Elements to a Design Option
Once an option set exists, populate it. You can build new elements directly inside an active option, or move elements already in the Main Model into one.
To add new elements while an option is active:
- In the View Control Bar, open the Design Options selector and pick the active option.
- Insert or load whatever elements the option needs.
- Place them anywhere in the model — they’re automatically tagged to that option.
To move existing elements from the Main Model into an option:
- Select the elements to move.
- Go to the Manage tab, then the Design Options panel, and click Add to Set.
- Choose the option set and option.
- Click OK.
4. Create Dedicated Views for Each Option
Every option needs its own view to present or document cleanly. Without a dedicated view, Revit just shows whichever option is Primary.
- Go to the View tab and select Duplicate View.
- Choose Duplicate with Detailing or Duplicate as Dependent.
- Rename the view so it’s clear which option it shows.
- Open the Properties palette and find Visibility/Graphics Overrides.
- Under the Design Options tab, set the view to the specific option.
Dedicated views can be arranged side-by-side on sheets or on-screen, which makes comparing options — and presenting them to a client — much easier.
See how to duplicate views and sheets efficiently
5. Add Option-Specific Annotations
Annotations, tags, and other view-specific elements only need to go into dedicated views, since each one is already locked to a single option.
- Confirm the dedicated view is assigned to the correct design option.
- Add annotations, tags, and any other view-specific elements as needed.
Filters, visibility graphics, and view templates all work normally on top of this, so you can keep the display consistent across every option’s views.
Learn more about annotation symbols
6. Build a Dedicated Schedule for Each Option
Schedules behave like views by default: unless filtered, they count elements from every option in a set, which produces inflated or simply wrong quantities.
- Duplicate the schedule you want to dedicate to an option.
- Rename it clearly — for example, “Door Schedule – Option 1.”
- Open the new schedule’s Properties, go to Visibility/Graphics Overrides, and click Edit.
- For each design option set, choose the option this schedule should reflect.
Learn more about syncing schedules with Excel
7. Apply the Final Option
Applying an option makes it permanent: it merges the chosen option into the Main Model and deletes every other option in that set. Do this only after the decision is final.
- In the Design Options dialog, select the option to keep.
- Click Make Primary under Options.
- Select Accept Primary under Option Set.
- Confirm your choice.
After applying, review the model to confirm every element transferred correctly and that nothing from the deleted options was left behind.
Common Design Options Problems (and How to Fix Them)
These four issues account for most of the confusion around design options. Each one has a one-step fix.
Elements disappeared from a view
The view is pointed at the wrong option, not the one you’re editing. Open Visibility/Graphics Overrides, go to the Design Options tab, and check which option that view is set to display.
A schedule shows double (or wrong) quantities
The schedule is counting elements from every option in the set. Add the Design Option parameter to the schedule’s fields, then filter it to show only the option you need.
I can’t select or edit an element that’s right there
You can only edit elements that belong to the currently active design option. Check the active option shown in the bottom-right status bar and switch it if needed.
I created an option set, but nothing looks different
An option set is just an empty container until elements are added to its options. Add or move elements into each option before expecting to see a difference.
Design Options Best Practices Checklist
- Model shared elements (structure, core, site) once, in the Main Model — never duplicate them across options.
- Name option sets after the decision (e.g., “Facade Material”), not after a specific answer.
- Reach for design options only for true either/or comparisons — use Phases for timeline changes and Worksets for team collaboration.
- Build dedicated views and schedules before presenting options to a client or stakeholder.
- Apply the final option and delete the unused alternatives once a decision is made, rather than leaving them in the file indefinitely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Revit project have more than one option set?
Yes. Option sets are independent of each other, so a project can have one set for the facade, another for the lobby, and another for the roof, all at once. Each combination of options can be reviewed separately.
What happens when I apply a primary option?
Applying (or “accepting”) a primary option merges its elements into the Main Model and deletes every other option in that set. This step is permanent, so only do it once a decision is final.
Do design options make a Revit file larger or slower?
Every option adds geometry to the file, so a project with many open option sets will be larger than one with none. Applying and clearing out finished option sets once decisions are made keeps the file lean.
Can design options include structural or MEP elements, not just architecture?
Yes. Any model element can belong to a design option, including structural framing, ductwork, and piping. The same rule applies: whatever should stay identical across every option belongs in the Main Model instead.
Design options work best when they’re treated as a temporary workspace for exploring alternatives, not a permanent home for finished design. Once a decision is made, apply the primary option, clean up the leftovers, and move on.
Mohamed Fakhry has helped thousands of architects and designers find their next project with step-by-step guidance on his blog, mashyo.com. About Mohamed
His journey began during his university years when he recognized the need for information-rich 3D models to accelerate learning and improve production processes. Now, Mohamed shares his expertise through Revit tutorials that are accessible to all.
