How to Use Revit Legends

Legends are Revit views that allow you to create and reuse graphical symbols and annotations across multiple sheets and projects.

They can help you save time, maintain consistency, and communicate your design intent more clearly.

In this blog post, we share with you seven tips for mastering legends in Revit and getting the most out of these custom views.

1. Create a legend view

To create a legend view, go to the View tab > Create panel > click Legend.

Type a name for your legend view, and then click OK.

You will see a blank canvas where you can add legend components.

2. Add legend components

Legend components are symbols that identify objects, materials, or processes on Revit drawings.

To add a legend component:

1. Go to the Annotate tab > Legends panel > click Legend Component.
2. In the options bar, select the component type from the drop-down menu.
3. Left-click to place the component on the legend view.

If you are using one host length for all components, duplicate a component multiple times:

1. Select the component
2. Press “CO” on the keyboard to copy and move the component.
3. In the options bar, check “Multiple”.
4. Left-click the component with mouse cursor and move it to a new place.
5. Select the new component
6. Change its type for the Family drop-down menu in the Options bar.

Another quick way to make a legend is extracting its components out of a view filter via Create ViewFilter Legend extension of EF-Tools plugin.

3. Set up the layout

To make your legend easy to read and understand, you should organize it in a logical and consistent way.

First, add detail lines to set up the layout or the borders of the legend.

Then, add text and annotation symbols to complete the legend view.

And finally, use filled regions to highlight specific parts of you legend. Learn more about hatch patterns

The Align, Move, and Rotate tools on the Modify tab allow you to arrange each legend component in place. You can also use the Group tool to create groups of related components and treat them as a single entity.

That’s it. Your fabulous legend is complete.

But we still have some work to do if you want to create a material-synchronized legend. In the next steps, we will prepare legend text and material symbols that are automatically updated when you change material properties in your project.

First, create a custom generic model family:

1. Go to the File tab > drop-down New menu > click Family.
2. Select the Metric Generic Model template file > click Open.

3. Go to the Create tab > Datum panel > click Reference Plane.
4. Draw a square of reference planes (4 lines).

5. In the Measure panel, click Aligned Dimensions (Shortcut: DI).
6. Apply dimensions to vertical and horizontal segments.
7. Apply dimensions to total horizontal and vertical lengths.

8. Go to the Dimensions tab > Label Dimensions > click Create Parameter.
9. Type “Width_Legend” > click OK.
10. Repeat for other total length and name it “Length_Legend”.
11. Click OK.

12. In the Properties panel, click Family Types.
13. Adjust the default hatch symbol size in the material legend.
14. Click OK.

15. Go to the Create tab > Forms panel > click Extrusion.
16. In the Draw panel, select the rectangle tool.
17. Sketch a profile on the reference lines.
18. Lock every line in place.
19. Click Finish Edit Mode.

20. In the Properties palette, click the Material prompt box.
21. Right click the Default material, select Duplicate Material and Assets.
22. Rename the new material to an appropriate name > select it.

23. Click the “Open Asset Browser” button on the bottom toolbar.
24. Select an appropriate material > click the “Replace Material” button.

25. In the Material Browser, go to the Graphics tab.
26. Under Surface Pattern, click the Foreground pattern to change it.
27. Select a new suitable pattern > click OK.

28. In the Material Browser, go to the Identity tab.
29. Enter a “Description” and “Mark” text.
30. Click OK.

31. In the Properties palette, click Associate Family Parameter for Material.
32. Click New Parameter.
33. Enter a name for the material parameter > click OK.

34. Click Finish Edit Mode.
35. In the Family Editor panel, click Load into Project.

Then, create a custom material’s tag:

1. Go to the File tab > drop-down the New menu > click Annotation Symbol.
2. Select the Metric Generic Tag template file > click Open.

3. In the Properties panel, click Family Category and Parameters.
4. Select “Material Tags” as a Family Category > click OK.

5. Go to the Create tab > Text panel > click Label.
6. Select “Material Tags” from the drop-down menu.
7. Select Description > click Add Parameter to Label.
8. Select Mark > click Add Parameter to Label.
9. Click OK.

10. Go to the Create tab.
11. Add the reference lines, lines, and dimensions as previously.

12. Create 3 labels: “Mark only”, “Description only”, “Mark plus Description”.
13. Go to the Modify tab > Properties panel > click Family Types.
14. Click New Parameter on the bottom toolbar > create a new parameter for each label.
15. Click OK.

16. Select the label.
17. In the Properties palette, click the “Associate Family Parameter” box next to the Visible field.
18. Select the suitable parameter > click OK.
19. Repeat steps 16-18 for each label.
20. Drag the labels to overlap.

21. Click Finish Edit Mode.
22. In the Family Editor panel, click Load into Project.

Finally, how can both families be used in a material legend for multiple synchronized materials?

4. Create a material legend

A material legend is a type of legend in Revit that displays the materials used in the building model, with the names and descriptions of the materials visible.

You can create a material legend using a custom generic model family and a custom material tag, which allows you to display the material tag and description parameter in your legend.

To create a material legend:

1. In the project browser, extend Families > Generic Models.
2. Extend MATERIALS_LEGEND > Duplicate a material.
3. Edit the type properties and select a new material.
4. Rename the type to match the material name.
5. In the legend view, go to Annotate tab > Legend Component.
6. Choose the type you created from the drop-down menu.
7. Place the legend component onto the legend.

8. Go to Annotate > Material Tag > left-click to tag the legend component.
9. Repeat the steps for each material you want to add to the legend.
10. Choose the tag type that shows the parameter you want to report.

Your materials legend is now ready and will update automatically if you change the material data.

5. Place on sheet

To place your legend on a sheet: drag the legend view from the Project Browser and drop it on the sheet.

You can then position and align your legend on your sheet. Learn how to make title blocks

6. Copy between projects

If you want to reuse your legend in another project or file, you can copy or import it.

To copy your legend:

1. In the Project Browser, open the legend view.
2. Select all elements in the view.
3. Use the Copy to Clipboard (shortcut: Ctrl+C).
4. Go to a legend view in another project.
5. Paste (shortcut: Ctrl+V) the legend into the view.

To import your legend as a view, go to the Insert tab > Load from Library panel > click Insert from File. Browse to and select the file that contains the legend view you want to import. Select the legend view and click OK.

The imported legend view appears in the list of legend views in your project. You can then place it on sheets as needed.

7. Learn about legend types

There are several types of legends that you can create and use in Revit, depending on your needs and preferences.

Some of the types of legends that you can create and use are:

1. Revision legend: Shows the changes made to a set of architectural drawings over time. Learn how to use revisions

2. Keynote legend: Explains the meaning of the symbols used in a set of architectural drawings. Read about keynotes

3. Color fill legend: Shows the colors used in the design of a building.

What is the difference between Revit legends and schedules? A legend is a graphical representation of symbols and annotations that are not linked to model elements, while a schedule is a tabular representation of data and parameters that are linked to model elements.

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.