Updated October 2026: Phases in Revit let you show how a building changes over time: existing conditions, demolition, new construction and the finished result. Each element records the phase it was created in and the phase it was demolished in, and each view uses a phase and a phase filter to decide what to show and how. The steps below follow Autodesk’s Revit help for phasing, which has not changed in how it works for Revit 2027.
Planning an addition or a renovation? This guide shows how to create phases in Revit, set phase filters, demolish elements, handle infill elements and rooms, map phases in linked models, and set graphic overrides so each phase is easy to read on a sheet.
Quick answer
To create phases in Revit, go to Manage > Phasing panel > Phases, click After (or Before) under Insert, and name each new phase. Then duplicate your views, set each view’s Phase and Phase Filter in the Properties palette, and use the Demolish tool on the Modify tab to mark elements as demolished.
Use the Graphic Overrides tab of the Phases dialog to control how New, Existing, Demolished and Temporary elements look in each phase filter.
Practice file · .RVT
Follow this guide on the same Revit file
The Revit project (.rvt) from this phasing tutorial is on the Mashyo Patreon. Open it beside this page and set up phases, phase filters and demolition on a real model instead of an empty project.
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In this guide you will learn how to represent the stages of construction in Revit: as-built (existing), demolition, new construction and renovation. Phasing works in both 2D and 3D views, and it also drives schedules, so quantities can be reported per phase.
| What you want to do | Go to |
|---|---|
| Add phases to a project | Create phases in Revit |
| Show only existing, new or demolished elements in a view | Phase filters |
| Colour demolished work red, or halftone existing work | Graphic overrides |
| Fix patches that appear in walls where a door or window was removed | Infill elements |
| Show a room in more than one phase | Rooms |
| Match phases of a linked model to your project | Phase mapping |
How to Create Phases in Revit
Each phase has a name and a chronological order, and represents a stage of your project. Every new Revit project starts with two phases, Existing and New Construction. The workflow below adds more and sets up one view per phase.
Step 1 – Duplicate the view
Duplicate an existing view that has the same discipline and view type as the phase you want to show. To make separate phase views of a floor plan, create several duplicates of one floor plan.
To duplicate a view, go to the Project Browser, right-click the view, choose Duplicate View, then click Duplicate. Learn more about duplicating views.
Step 2 – Set the phase of existing elements
A duplicated view has the same phase and phase filter as the original. Remember that elements have their own phase settings, and views have their own phase settings. The element’s phase says when it exists; the view’s phase says which moment in time the view shows.
Convert all existing elements to the “Existing” phase:
- Open the 3D view.
- Select all existing elements in the view.
- In the Properties palette, under Phasing, set Phase Created to Existing.
Step 3 – Add a new phase
- Go to Manage > Phasing panel > Phases.
- On the Project Phases tab, click After under the Insert section.
- Type a name for each new phase, then click OK.
Tip: name phases for the work, not the date
Names like “Phase 1 Demolition” and “Phase 1 New Work” stay meaningful when the schedule changes. Phase order is what Revit uses, so check the order before you assign elements.
Phase Filters in Revit
A phase filter is a rule applied to a view that controls how elements are displayed based on their phase status: New, Existing, Demolished or Temporary. For each status the filter either shows the element by category, shows it with the overrides you set, or does not display it.
Step 4 – Set the phase filter on a view
Open the Phase 1 view. In the Properties palette, set Phase to Phase 1 and Phase Filter to Show All.
The Phase Filters tab of the Phases dialog is where you change what each filter does to a view when it is applied.
In practice you only need three of the default filters:
| Phase filter | What it shows | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Show Complete | The finished project after demolition and new work in the view’s phase | Proposed plans |
| Show Demo + New | Demolished elements and new elements of the view’s phase | Demolition plans |
| Show Previous + New | Elements from earlier phases plus the new work of the view’s phase | Renovation and phase-by-phase drawings |
Other defaults, such as Show All, Show Only Current Phase and Show New + Existing, are available for checking work. Filter names can differ slightly between templates, so check the Phase Filters tab in your own project. You can also create your own filters with New.
Step 5 – Add elements
Add elements to the Phase 1 view. By default, any element you add or create is assigned to the same phase as the view, so you rarely need to set Phase Created by hand for new work.
Step 6 – Demolish elements (demolition plan)
To demolish elements in a phase, use the Demolish tool on the Modify tab. Click each element you want to remove and Revit marks it as demolished in the current phase. If you demolish an element in one view, it is marked as demolished in every view that uses the same phase. Do not press Delete: that removes the element from the model entirely, including from earlier phases.
After demolition, match type, trim and extend, and join elements from different phases so the view reads cleanly.
If you don’t want to merge geometry, use the Invisible Lines tool on the Modify tab to hide the boundary lines of any element in the view.
Phase Graphic Overrides in Revit
Step 7 – Set graphic overrides
Graphic overrides control the colour, pattern and transparency of elements for each phase status. They apply to every view that uses a filter set to Overridden for that status.
- Open Manage > Phasing panel > Phases and click the Graphic Overrides tab.
- Change the settings for New, Existing, Demolished and Temporary elements.
- Click OK.
Check the Visible box on the foreground pattern before applying, otherwise the colour will not show. For example, set demolished elements to red with a diagonal cut pattern. A common office standard looks like this:
| Phase status | Display setting | Suggested override |
|---|---|---|
| New | By Category | No override, so new work prints in your normal graphics |
| Existing | By Category or Overridden | Halftone and grey lines in Show Previous + New views |
| Demolished | Overridden | Dashed lines, red colour, diagonal cut pattern |
| Temporary | Overridden | Distinct colour, such as blue, so temporary work is not mistaken for new work |
Step 8 – Add annotations
Finally, annotate each phase view with the same text, tags, dimensions and symbols you use in other views. Learn how to add annotations. The tools are on the Annotate tab.
Phase Filter Settings for Each View
To match each view with its phase and filter:
- Open the view from the Project Browser.
- Change Phase Filter and Phase in the Properties palette.
- Click Apply.
The images below show the full set of views: existing, demolition for each phase, the “Show All” and “Previous + New” versions, and the completed result.
Infill Elements in Revit Phasing
Infill elements are patches that fill the holes left by inserts (such as windows or doors) in host elements (such as walls or roofs) when the insert and host have different phases. Revit creates one automatically when the insert and its host do not share the same Phase Created and Phase Demolished values.
You can’t delete an infill. If you do, the original insert and its host are removed too.
Rooms in Revit Phases
Rooms and room tags can only be displayed in the one phase in which they were created, regardless of phase filters. To copy rooms from one phase to another:
- Hold Ctrl and select the rooms in the view.
- Press Ctrl + C to copy them with their tags.
- Open the other view.
- Go to Modify > Clipboard panel > Paste drop-down.
- Click Paste Aligned to Selected View.
Learn more about Rooms in Revit.
Can You Delete Phases in Revit?
Not directly. You cannot delete a phase once it has been created, but you can combine it with the previous or next phase in order from the Phases dialog. Elements from the combined phase move to the phase that remains.
Phase Mapping for Linked Models
Phase mapping is the coordination of the phases in a linked model with the phases in your project. To set it up:
- Select the linked model.
- Go to Modify | RVT Links > Properties panel.
- Click Type Properties.
- Under the Phase Mapping parameter, click Edit.
- Select the matching phase from the link for each host phase.
- Click OK.
Linked phases not showing?
Phase mapping only takes effect when the link’s display settings use the right phase. Open Visibility/Graphics > Revit Links > Display Settings and, under the Basics tab, choose By Host View or Custom. Phase mapping is kept unless phases are combined in either model.
Phases vs Design Options in Revit
Design options compare different choices for your project, while phasing shows how your project changes over time. Table 1 shows the differences. Learn more about Revit design options.
| Phases | Design Options |
|---|---|
| Show how a building changes over time (cumulative changes). | Show different choices for a building (variations). |
| Create and manage different stages of your project, such as existing, demolition, new construction, and complete. | Create and manage different sets and options of elements, such as walls, doors, windows, furniture, etc. |
| Control elements by changing phase and phase filter. | Control elements in each option and option set. |
| Generate accurate schedules and reports based on the phases of the elements. | Compare and evaluate the performance and cost of each option. |
Both are useful for managing scenarios in a project, but they serve different purposes: use phases for a sequence in time and design options for alternatives to choose between.
Practice file · .RVT
Now do it once on a real model
Phases make sense on paper and get confusing in a real project: which phase is the view, which phase is the element, which filter hides what. The practice file gives you the Revit project from this tutorial so you can run each step yourself and keep it for reference.
Download the phases practice file
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FAQs
How do I create phases in Revit?
Go to Manage > Phasing > Phases, click After or Before under Insert on the Project Phases tab, name the new phase and click OK. Then set each view’s Phase and Phase Filter in the Properties palette.
What is a phase filter in Revit?
A phase filter is a rule applied to a view that controls how New, Existing, Demolished and Temporary elements are displayed: by category, overridden, or not displayed.
How do I demolish an element in Revit?
Use the Demolish tool on the Modify tab and click the element. It is marked as demolished in the view’s phase and in every other view of that phase. Pressing Delete would remove it from the model instead.
Can I delete a phase in Revit?
No, but you can combine a phase with the one before or after it in the Phases dialog.
Why do my rooms only show in one phase?
Rooms and room tags display only in the phase where they were created. Copy them and use Paste Aligned to Selected View in the other phase view.
What is the difference between phases and design options in Revit?
Phases show how a building changes over time. Design options show alternative designs for the same stage so you can compare and choose.
Is there a Revit practice file for this phasing tutorial?
Yes. The Revit project file for this lesson is available to Mashyo members on Patreon for $5.5/month, together with the practice files for the other Mashyo tutorials. You can cancel at any time. Open the phases practice file on Patreon.
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.
