PencilCADSketching a floor plan to scale on iPad
A floor plan for a renovation, a furniture layout or a contractor’s quote doesn’t need architecture software. It needs good measurements, walls drawn at their real lengths, and a print at a scale someone can check with a ruler.
1. Measure the room first
Measure to the wall, not the baseboard. Matching diagonals mean a square room.
2. Pick units and a scale
Use the units you measured in, and a square that leaves room for dimensions.
3. Draw the walls at their real lengths
Type each length; a gap at the last corner means a measurement is off. Offset about 4½″ for an interior stud wall.
4. Add doors and windows
Cut each opening at its distance from the corner. The swing shows what a door hits.
5. Dimension it so it adds up
Overall length first, then chain the openings: when they add up, the plan can be trusted.
6. Furniture and the rest on layers
Put furniture and wiring on their own layers to hide them. Draw furniture at its listed size: if it fits the plan, it fits the room.
7. Print it at a scale
¼″ = 1′ (1:48) or 1:50 suits a room; ⅛″ = 1′ (1:96) or 1:100 a whole floor. Measure the check bar: “fit to page” quietly changes the scale.
A floor plan in PencilCAD
- Open More and choose Grid paper. In Settings → Tools, choose CAD.
- Tap Measure twice: feet and inches (to 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32) or metres, and 1 square = 1 ft.
- Draw walls with Line: type each length on a keyboard, or select its dimension and type 12′ 6″.
- Modify: Offset walls, Trim doorways. Swings with Shape’s arc, furniture on Layers.
- Share a PDF: one Letter or A4 sheet at the largest standard scale, with a check bar. Or open it on your iPhone.