Architectural Elevation Checklist: A Student’s Guide

Elevations are often the first drawings people can quickly understand. Unlike plans or sections, which cut through a building, they deliver an output close to what will be achieved and seen in reality. They show the external face of a building and give us an immediate sense of its identity.

They are also one of the key ways a building is understood in context. Elevations communicate how a proposal sits within its surroundings and how its facade responds to neighbouring buildings, streets, or landscape.

Beyond their visual role, elevations carry important technical information. They define heights, levels, external finishes, and key relationships between different parts of the building envelope.

In this guide, you’ll find exactly what to include in your elevations as we highlight common mistakes to avoid and provide useful tips that will help produce the best, most legible drawings.

Image Credits – Dezeen

What Are Architectural Elevations?

Architectural elevations are orthographic drawings that show the external faces of a building. They are usually drawn as flat, straight-on views of each side of the building, such as:

• Front elevation
• Rear elevation
• Side elevation
• Street elevation
• Courtyard elevation
• Internal / Interior elevation

Elevations show the height, appearance and external features of a building. They help explain the design in a way that plans cannot. And usually include windows, doors, roof form, materials, external finishes, ground levels, key heights, with some surrounding context.

Why Elevations Are Actually Super Important

Elevations are not just presentation drawings. They define how a building is seen and understood from the outside.

They help you:

• Explain the external appearance of a building
• Show how the design responds to the site
• Communicate material choices and finishes
• Demonstrate scale and proportion
• Coordinate openings such as windows and doors
• Define roof forms and overall building height
• Indicate key vertical dimensions and external levels
• Support planning and Building Regulations submissions
• Help clients, tutors, and consultants visualise the proposal

A strong elevation communicates the character of a building at a glance. It shows not just what the building looks like, but how it relates to its context and expresses its design intent.

Image Credits – Dezeen

What Makes a Professional Elevation?

Now let’s take a look at what comprises a good elevation:

Drawing Title and Orientation

Each elevation should be clearly titled. Use simple and consistent names such as:

• North Elevation
• South Elevation
• East Elevation
• West Elevation
• Front Elevation
• Rear Elevation

Make sure the title corresponds with the floor plans. If the plan shows the front of the building facing south, the elevation title should reflect that. Try to avoid vague titles such as “Elevation 1” unless they are clearly referenced elsewhere.

Scale

Include the drawing scale on every elevation. Some common scales include:

• 1:100 for general arrangement elevations
• 1:50 for more detailed elevations
• 1:20 or 1:10 for enlarged facade or construction details

Make sure the level of detail matches the scale. A 1:100 elevation need not be overloaded with tiny construction information, while a 1:50 elevation may need more detail around openings, materials and junctions.

External Walls and Building Outline

The building outline should be clear and easy to read. Make sure to use appropriate line weights to show hierarchy:

• Heavier lines for the main building outline
• Medium lines for openings, projections and significant features
• Lighter lines for surface patterns, joints, shadows and background context

The elevation should not feel flat. Line weight is one of the simplest ways to make it more readable.

Doors and Windows

Show all external doors and windows accurately. Check that their position and dimensions match the floor plans and sections. Ensure you Include:

• Window openings
• Door openings
• Glazing divisions
• Mullions and transoms
• Cills and heads
• Door swings where relevant
• Rooflights if visible
• External louvres, vents or grilles

If the project includes a window or door schedule, make sure the elevation references correspond with it. For example:

• W01, W02, W03 for windows
• D01, D02, D03 for doors

Roof Form

The roof is a key part of the elevation. So be sure to show its components accurately, including:

• Ridge lines
• Eaves
• Verges
• Parapets
• Gutters
• Downpipes
• Rooflights
• Chimneys
• Dormers
• Solar panels, if included
• Copings and upstands where visible

Make sure the roof form matches the plans and sections. This is a common area where drawings become inconsistent.

Materials and Finishes

Elevations should show the proposed external materials clearly. This may include:

• Brickwork
• Render
• Timber cladding
• Stone
• Metal cladding
• Tile hanging
• Slate
• Standing seam metal
• Glazing
• Concrete
• Green walls or planted elements

Use hatching, linework, shading or annotation to explain materials and do not rely on texture alone. Add clear notes where needed, especially if the material choice is important to the design or planning application. For example:

• Proposed facing brickwork
• Vertical timber cladding
• Aluminium framed windows
• Natural slate roof
• PPC aluminium rainwater goods

Ground Levels

Ground levels are very important on elevations. Show the following where necessary:

• Existing ground level
• Proposed ground level
• Finished floor levels
• Changes in level
• Steps, ramps or terraces
• Retaining walls where relevant

This is especially important on sloping sites. Without ground levels, it can be difficult to understand how the building sits on the site. You may use dashed lines to show existing ground levels and solid lines for proposed levels.

Floor Levels and Datums

Elevations should include key levels. These may include:

• Finished floor levels
• Ceiling levels where relevant
• Ridge height
• Eaves height
• Parapet height
• Window head and cill heights
• Door threshold levels

Levels help coordinate the elevation with plans, sections and construction drawings. Use a consistent datum across the drawing set. This is particularly useful for larger projects, sloping sites or extensions to existing buildings.

Dimensions

Elevations do not usually need as many dimensions as plans, but key dimensions are still important. Don’t forget to include dimensions for:

• Overall height
• Eaves height
• Ridge height
• Parapet height
• Floor-to-floor levels
• Key opening sizes
• Projection depths where relevant
• Important planning constraints

Avoid cluttering the elevation with unnecessary dimensions, instead, focus on the information needed to understand and assess the building.

Context

Context can make elevations much more useful. Depending on the project, you may show:

• Adjacent buildings
• Boundary walls
• Fences
• Trees
• Street levels
• Neighbouring rooflines
• Existing buildings to be retained
• Buildings shown in outline or lighter line weight

For planning drawings, context can be very important as it can help explain the scale, massing and relationship of the proposal to its surroundings.

Shadows and Depth

Elevations can easily look flat. Some simple shadow lines can help communicate depth, especially around:

• Window reveals
• Door recesses
• Roof overhangs
• Balconies
• Canopies
• Cladding changes
• External projections

Keep shadows subtle and consistent. They should improve clarity, not distract from the technical information.

Annotation

Use notes to clarify important elements. You might include:

• Material descriptions
• Finish references
• Window and door types
• Existing elements to be retained
• Elements to be demolished
• Proposed new elements
• Planning notes
• External fixtures
• Rainwater goods
• Ventilation grilles

Keep annotations neat and consistent and avoid long notes where a simple label will do.

Image Credits – Dezeen

Common Elevation Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them!)

These are some of the common issues made when drawing elevations.

Misalignment Between Drawings

Problem: Elements do not match between architectural drawings. For instance windows appear in one but not the other or door positions move.

Solution: Constantly check your drawings as a whole set. Your elevations should align directly with your plans and sections. A good drawing package should feel coordinated where each drawing supports the others.

Missing Levels

Problem: Elevations lack key level markers and vertical dimensions.

Solution: Include essential level markers like ground, floor, and roof. Keep them consistent across all drawings so the elevation ties back to the rest of the set. Without these, the drawing becomes harder to read.

Flat Elevations

Problem: Elevations appearing lifeless because there is no sense of depth and everything reads as a single surface.

Solution: Introduce depth through architectural information like window reveals, overhangs, facade projections, and subtle shadow lines. These elements are not merely decorative, they communicate how the building is constructed and make the elevation easier to understand. In addition to this, use a clear hierarchy with your lineweights. 

Poor Material Representation

Problem: Materials are either not shown or rendered in a way that is unclear or unrealistic.

Solution: Use a restrained palette of textures or hatches. Focus on clarity over decoration as the materials should be distinguishable but not overpower the drawing. Make sure you include a key if needed.

Lack of Context

Problem: The building is drawn in isolation.

Solution: Buildings do not exist in isolation and elevation drawings are often much clearer when they show some context. They help the viewer understand the scale and setting of your drawing, so add minimal but meaningful context to situate the design. This might include:

• Existing buildings
• Site levels
• Boundaries
• Street relationship
• Trees
• Retaining walls
• Neighbouring rooflines

Overcomplicated Details

Problem: Adding excessive detail, patterns, or materials without a clear logic.

Solution: Only include information that helps explain the architecture clearly, such as key junctions, major material changes, or important design features. Prioritise clarity and readability over excessive decoration, and maintain consistent drawing standards.

Image Credits – Dezeen

Taking Your Elevations from Good to Great

In this section, we will focus on how to develop stronger elevation drawings. 

Define the Purpose 

Be clear about what the elevation is meant to communicate. An elevation might need to show planning information, material intent or facade composition. Knowing this helps clarify what to add to your drawing.

Coordinate with Other Drawings

Elevations should be developed alongside the plans and sections not added at the end. Check alignment with:

• Door and window placement
• Roof outline and form
• External ground levels
• Wall thickness positions
• Structural grid references

If you change one drawing, don’t forget to update the others.

Use a Clear Graphic Hierarchy

Good drawings are easy to read because the information is organised visually. Be sure to:

• Vary line weights to distinguish depth and edges
• Use consistent symbols for repeated elements
• Apply hierarchy in labels and annotations
• Keep detailing intentional rather than uniform

The viewer should be able to understand the drawing quickly without having to decode it.

Add Material Information Carefully

Materials are important, but they can easily make drawings messy. Use textures or hatching sparingly, focusing on key facade details. For elevations, materials are often best communicated through clear labelling rather than heavy detailing. 

Use Entourage and Context Where Helpful

Scale figures, furniture and landscape elements can help make your drawings show scale and setting well. These should remain subtle so the building remains the focus. 

Check the Drawing as a Set

A single drawing may look fine on its own, but it needs to work as part of a complete package. Before submitting your drawings, check the following:

• Do the plans, elevations and sections match up?
• Are the titles and references consistent?
• Are the scales correct?
• Are the north points and section markers correct?
• Are levels coordinated?
• Are materials labelled consistently?
• Are windows and doors referenced properly?
• Is the drawing easy to understand?

Image Credits – Dezeen

Elevation Checklist

Use this checklist when reviewing your elevations:

Title Block

• Project name
• Project location
• Project number
• Drawing title 
• Drawing number
• Sheet number
• Date of drawing
• Scale of the drawing
• Paper size
• Drawing status (draft / tender / construction / as built) 
• Author/architect’s name
• Client name if required
• Client information if required
• Company information (name, logo, address)
• Revision number 
• Revision date
• References to related drawings/details 

Elevation Identification

• Site datum / setting-out point reference 
• Orientation label (e.g., North Elevation, South Elevation)
• Reference to corresponding location on the site/floor plan 
• Viewing direction arrows
• Elevation references coordinated with other drawings (plans, sections, details)

Graphic Clarity

• Consistent hierarchy of line types and weights
• Shadows used to express depth
• Annotation clear and consistent
• Hatching patterns clear and readable
• Appropriate level of detail for drawing scale
• Plot/print readability checked

Structural Elements

• Structural framing coordinated with engineer’s drawings (visible elements)
• Architectural features shown (cornices, eaves, balconies, canopies)
• Decorative elements shown (mouldings, trims, banding)
• Expansion/movement joints indicated
• Structural openings/lintels identified where visible

Openings

• Locations and sizes of doors (with swing direction indicated)
• Locations and sizes of windows
• Door and window types (e.g., sliding, casement)
• Glazing information where applicable

Roof 

• Roof pitch and overhang/eaves details
• Type of roofing materials shown
• Skylights, chimneys, vents, and roof penetrations shown
• Gutters and downpipes shown
• Parapets and edge conditions detailed

Material Notation

• External materials clearly labelled (walls, roof, cladding, glazing)
• Different hatching patterns or shading for various materials
• Finishes and colours indicated where applicable
• Material transitions and junctions identified
• Specific material notes where applicable

Services

• External light fittings shown
• Signage locations indicated where applicable
• Visible service equipment shown (HVAC units, flues, meter boxes)
• Soil/vent pipes shown
• Visible drainage outlets identified

Fire and Environmental Performance

• External escape routes/final exit doors identified where applicable 
• Fire service access points indicated (dry riser inlets, hydrants) 
• Cladding fire classification noted where applicable 

Context

• Building-to-ground relationship clearly resolved 
• Existing and proposed elements clearly differentiated
• Adjacent structures and spaces shown
• External steps or ramps up to an entrance shown
• Landscape features shown (trees, fences)
• Site context labels included (garden steps, retaining walls)
• Rights-of-light / daylight implications where elevation faces a boundary 

Dimensions

• Overall building height
• Floor-to-floor heights
• Finished floor levels (FFL)
• Existing and proposed ground levels
• Opening dimensions labelled 
• Roof heights 
• Relevant circulation elements shown

Symbols, Scale and Legends

• North Arrow
• A graphic scale for reference
• Printed scale verified
• A key or legend for all symbols used in the drawing
• Any specific notes or abbreviations relevant to the project

Final Thoughts

Elevations are important tools in communicating what a building looks like from the outside. They help explain the shape of the building, how different parts of the design come together and how it sits in context. 

For students, working on elevations is key in helping you develop an understanding of scale, composition, and how buildings relate to their surroundings in reality rather than just in plan.

Good elevations rarely rely on complexity but on clarity, consistency, and intention. When linework is structured, information is coordinated, and unnecessary detail is removed, the drawing becomes far more effective.

Thinking about your elevations early in the design process will also help you communicate ideas more clearly.

Make sure to download our elevations checklist and keep it nearby when working on your next design project.

Authors

Emma Walshaw, Architectural Technologist and founder of First In Architecture and Detail Library. Emma has written a number of books about construction and architectural detailing.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn

Valanne Fernandes, a Part 2 Architecture graduate. Valanne is a content creator with First In Architecture, spending her time researching, writing and designing inspiring new content for the website.

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