Introduction to Walls in Revit

Walls in Revit are system families, meaning they are pre-built elements that cannot be fully created from scratch but can be customized in various ways. Depending on the design requirements, they can be architectural, structural, or even curtain walls.

Furthermore, Revit walls are parametric, which means that when you change their properties—such as height, width, or materials—the model updates automatically. As a result, this makes walls highly efficient for both design and documentation.
You can explore Autodesk’s official documentation on Revit wall families for more technical details.

Types of Walls in Revit

Revit provides different wall categories based on their function:

      1 Architectural Walls

These walls are mainly used for design representation and space division. They are not primarily meant to carry structural loads, but instead, they include finishes like plaster, paint, tiles, or cladding. In short, architectural walls focus more on aesthetics and space planning rather than structure.
Learn how to customize them in your Revit Families 2025 guide.

      2 Structural Walls

Structural walls are load-bearing and essential for the stability of the building. They are usually made of concrete, brick, or blockwork and are integrated with the structural model. Additionally, they provide strength and support to the overall structure, ensuring safety and durability

      3 Curtain Walls

Curtain walls are non-load-bearing, mostly made of glass and aluminum frames. Revit allows detailed customization of curtain wall grids, mullions, and panels. Consequently, these are commonly used for modern commercial and high-rise buildings, where transparency and aesthetics matter most.

      4 Stacked Walls

A stacked wall is a combination of two or more wall types stacked vertically. For instance, the lower part could be a concrete wall while the upper part is a brick wall. Conveniently, Revit automatically manages their alignment and joins, making them easy to modify as design requirements evolve.

      5 Compound Walls

Compound walls include multiple layers or materials—such as a structural core, insulation, and finish layers. Each layer, moreover, can be customized in terms of thickness and material properties, allowing designers to create detailed wall assemblies.

Wall Creation in Revit

Creating walls in Revit is straightforward. From the “Architecture” tab, select Wall → Wall: Architectural, then draw by clicking two points. For project setup tips, see How to Start a Revit Project from Scratch (Beginner’s Guide 2025).
To create a wall:

1. Go to the Wall tool in the Architecture tab.

2. Select the desired wall type from the Properties panel.

3. Choose the location line (e.g., Wall Centerline, Finish Face, Core Face).

4. Draw the wall in the floor plan, section, or 3D view.

Additionally, Revit allows different placement options:

• Height or Depth can be set relative to levels.

• Walls can be constrained to levels, ensuring they update automatically when level heights change.

Thus, this flexibility makes modeling walls both accurate and efficient.

Wall Properties in Detail

Each wall type in Revit has several key properties:

• Type Properties: Define overall wall characteristics like structure, layers, materials, and thermal/structural properties.

• Instance Properties: Define wall-specific attributes like base constraint, top constraint, offset, location line, and orientation.

• Materials: Each wall layer can have a material assigned, affecting appearance, thermal performance, and schedules.

• Phasing: Walls can be assigned to specific project phases (Existing, New Construction, Demolition).

Together, these properties make walls intelligent components that adapt to your project’s needs.

Wall Layers and Structure

Compound walls consist of several layers:

• Core Layer – The structural component (e.g., concrete, masonry).

• Substrate Layer – Insulation or support layers.

• Finish Layers – Plaster, tiles, cladding, or paint.

To modify these layers, select Edit Type > Structure > Edit. Here, you can add or remove layers, change thicknesses, or assign materials. Consequently, you can fine-tune wall performance and appearance for accurate construction documentation.

Modifying and Editing Walls

Revit provides powerful modification tools for walls. With these tools, you can customize geometry, alignment, and connections:

• Attach Top/Base – Attach walls to roofs, floors, or ceilings.

• Edit Profile – Custom-shape a wall by sketching its outline.

• Split with Gap – Divide walls into smaller segments.

• Join Geometry – Seamlessly connect walls with floors, roofs, or beams.

• Wall Joins – Control how walls intersect at corners or T-junctions.

Ultimately, these editing options make wall modeling highly flexible and precise.

Openings in Walls

Walls often require openings for doors, windows, or mechanical penetrations. Revit provides several options:

• Doors & Windows: Loaded as families and placed directly into walls.

• Wall Openings: Rectangular or customized openings.

• Shaft Openings: Vertical voids for elevators or ducts.

Moreover, each type of opening can be adjusted parametrically, ensuring accuracy in coordination and documentation.

Curtain Wall Customization

Curtain walls are highly flexible in Revit.

You can:

• Add or remove grids manually or by spacing.

• Customize mullions with different profiles and materials.

• Replace curtain panels with glass, spandrel, or even custom panels (like doors).

As a result, Revit curtain walls are extremely versatile for modern façade design, offering both aesthetic and technical control

Best Practices for Using Walls in Revit

To maintain accuracy and efficiency, follow these best practices:

• Always use levels and constraints to control wall heights.

• Avoid duplicating too many wall types unnecessarily; keep the project clean.

• Use phasing correctly for renovation or existing conditions.

• Apply correct materials for realistic rendering and accurate schedules.

• Check wall joins regularly to avoid graphical or modeling issues.

• For large projects, create a wall naming standard (e.g., “200mm Brick – Insulated – Plaster”).

By following these tips, you’ll ensure your Revit model remains both efficient and professional.

Conclusion

Walls in Revit are far more than just partitions instead, they define the design intent, structural integrity, and visual appeal of a project. Moreover, with options ranging from simple architectural walls to complex compound and curtain walls, Revit gives designers and engineers the flexibility to model accurately while also maintaining BIM standards.

Therefore, by mastering wall properties, layers, customization, and best practices, you can significantly improve your efficiency and, as a result, ensure that your Revit models are both precise and professional.