How To Use Spot Elevations in Revit

As a student, the Spot Elevation tool convinced me that it was time to switch from AutoCAD to Revit.

I tried to add this little annotation on a roof in the site plan view. The value changed as I hovered the mouse pointer over different roofs and surfaces. At that moment, I knew that AutoCAD would soon be gone from both my digital and real memory.

Elevation symbols are graphical representations used in architectural and engineering drawings to show the height or elevation of various elements of a building or structure.

They typically consist of a series of lines and numbers that indicate the relative heights of different parts of the structure. You can add them to plans, elevations, sections, and 3D views.

Here is a 2-step tutorial on how to use the annotation. The third step shows you how to create your symbol.

Step 1 – Add Spot Elevations

To add spot elevations:

1. Go to Annotate tab > Dimension panel > click Spot Elevation.
2. Click on a point to display its elevation on the annotation.
3. Drag the annotation in any direction (straight or diagonal) > click to position it.

To change values of spot elevations:

Use the options bar to Change the displayed value (relative base), the types of elevations for plans, and the preferred host.

To change the relative base: Go to the Properties palette > click Edit Type > change Elevation Base to “Relative” > Click OK.

Step 2 – Edit Annotation

To edit the style and text of spot elevations:

1. In the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
2. Duplicate the type and assign a name for your annotation.
3. Select a symbol family.
4. Assign text properties.
5. Click the prompt box of Units Format > Uncheck Use project settings.
6. Assign unit properties.
7. Click OK.

Learn more about how to change units

To add a symbol to the selector: Go to Insert tab > Load From Library panel > click Load Family. Browse to the default annotations location, and then return to the steps above to load it.

Step 3 – Create Symbol (optional)

Draw your spot elevations symbol.

To edit the spot elevation family:

1. Go to the File tab > drop-down Open menu > click Family.
2. Browse to: C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT 20XX\Libraries\English\US\Annotations.
3. Select “M_Spot Elevation – Exterior Filled.rfa” > click Open.
4. Select the filled region of the symbol.

5. Click Edit Sketch.
6. Use the tools in the Draw panel to edit the symbol and add your profile(s).
7. Select the new profile lines.
8. Go to the Subcategory panel > select “Invisible lines” for type.
9. Click Finish Edit Mode.
10. Go to the File tab > Save As drop-down menu > click Family.
11. Assign a name to the new annotation family.
12. In the Family Editor panel, click Load into Project.

To display the logo properly, I had to mirror the sketch in the family editor before loading it into the project.

Learn about other annotation symbols

Spot elevations may not be working in one or more views: Zoom in or out on the location of the annotation. Their scale is determined by the view scale; try a different view scale in the view control bar to see if they are simply too small to see.

Mohamed Fakhry

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.