CAD Drawing Online

Get CAD results without the CAD hassles or expense

The Easy Choice for Creating Your CAD Drawings Online

Easy to Use

SmartDraw's CAD drawing software has the CAD tools you need to make scaled drawings of all kinds. Start with any of the built-in CAD templates and drag and drop symbols. You can set the size of walls or objects by simply typing into the dimensions label. You can also set the specific angle between two walls.

1'1' 10"

Easy to Find the Symbols You Need

SmartDraw includes a vast collection of mechanical engineering and architectural symbols for every type of CAD drafting project.

Door

Easy to Draw and Print to Scale

SmartDraw lets you quickly select a common standard architectural scale, a metric scale, and more. You can print to scale just as easily. And your printed scale doesn't have to match your drawing's scale. You can easily change the scale at any time, even after you've started drawing. Keep track of your settings in a scale-independent annotation layer.

Draw and Print to Scale

Easy to Work With Other Apps

SmartDraw is easy to work with no matter what other apps you use. You can add CAD drawings to:

  • Microsoft Office®
    • Word®
    • PowerPoint®
    • Excel®
  • Microsoft Teams®
  • Google Workspace™
    • Google Docs
    • Google Sheets
  • Atlassian™ apps
    • Confluence
    • Jira

Easy to Save to Your Existing Storage Solution

SmartDraw works hand in glove with most file storage systems. You can save your CAD drawings directly to:

  • SharePoint®
  • OneDrive®
  • Google Drive™
  • DropBox®
  • Box®

There is no need to create a parallel set of common folders and permissions, SmartDraw can just save files directly into your existing set up. You can spend less time managing software and more time on making CAD drawings.

Easy to Share

Share your CAD drawing with anyone, even if they don't own a copy of SmartDraw, with a link. You can also easily export any diagram as a PDF or common image formats like PNG or SVG.

Easy to Share

Easy to Get Help

Have a question? Chat or email us. SmartDraw support is in-house and free!

Easy to Get Help

Easy Collaboration

SmartDraw makes it easy to work with a team on any engineering or design project.

You can save your drawing to a shared folder or send anyone a link. Your team or client can easily share comments and feedback.

SmartDraw also works where you already communicate with your team. You can collaborate on plans in Microsoft Teams®, Slack or Confluence.

Use SmartDraw's CAD drawing software to realize your vision and share the results.

Collaborate on CAD

Our CAD Drawing Software Features

  • Floor plan templates
  • Engineering templates
  • Floor plan symbols
  • HVAC and engineering symbols
  • Built-in engineering scales
  • Built-in architectural scales
  • Ability to define a custom scale
  • Change scale at any time
  • Ability to add layers
  • Scale independent annotation layer
  • Shape data
  • Export a manifest
  • Export as PDF, PNG, or SVG
  • Works with Google Workspace™
  • Works with with Microsoft Office®
  • Works with Microsoft Teams®
  • Works with 3rd party storage providers

How to Create Your CAD Drawing Online

Step 1

Pick a Template

Determine the type of diagram you're going to make. SmartDraw has templates for all kinds of floor plans to warehouses and offices.

SmartDraw also has templates for engineering diagrams including circuit diagrams, wiring diagrams, HVAC diagrams, piping diagrams, and more.

Step 2

Take Measurements for Scaled Drawings

If you're making a scaled CAD drawing like a blueprint or floor plan, you'll want to start by taking measurements of any existing structures. If you're creating a new plan, brainstorm designs based on the size and shape of the location on which to build.

Step 3

Draw Lines or Walls

Engineering diagrams like circuit diagrams will use lines and connect symbols that represent components like switches and fuses.

The foundation of most floor plans will be creating an outline of walls much like lines.

Step 4

Find Symbols and Add Them

Find the symbols needed to create your design. Most engineering diagrams like HVAC and electrical drawings will have specialized symbols that represent components you need. These will be docked to the template you selected.

You can also search for symbols and easily drag and drop symbols to your drawing area and connect them.

Step 5

Print or Share Your CAD Drawing

Once your drawing is finished you can insert it directly to Microsoft Word®, Excel®, PowerPoint®, Google Docs™, Google Sheets™, and more.

SmartDraw also has apps to integrate with Atlassian's Confluence and Jira. You can share your design in Microsoft Teams. You can also easily export your plan as a PDF, PNG, SVG, or print it.

CAD Templates and Examples

SmartDraw comes with dozens of templates to help you create blueprints, landscape layouts, electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, block diagrams, facility plans, circuit diagrams, and more.

Wiring DiagramWiring Diagram Circuit Diagram - Microphone Pre-AmplifierCircuit Diagram - Microphone Pre-Amplifier HVAC Drawing - Indoor Outdoor ControlHVAC Drawing - Indoor Outdoor Control
Piping Instrument DiagramPiping Instrument Diagram Power Plant DiagramPower Plant Diagram Commercial Landscape DesignCommercial Landscape Design
Welding Diagram - Types of JointsWelding Diagram - Types of Joints House Plan - ContemporaryHouse Plan - Contemporary Outpatient Clinic Facility PlanOutpatient Clinic Facility Plan

What is a CAD Drawing?

CAD stands for computer-aided design and drafting and it refers to designing and documenting technical specs and plans in various engineering fields.

CAD drawing does not have to be challenging to be effective. And you don't have to be tied to a PC to do it either. SmartDraw's CAD drafting software is uniquely powerful and easy to use. Get started quickly with templates and examples that are easy to customize. Bring drawings to life in minutes with powerful CAD drafting tools. Extensive, custom symbol libraries give drawings a professional finish. SmartDraw CAD drafting software produces presentation-ready results for both the beginner and the expert.

CAD Blueprint

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About CAD

What is CAD?

CAD stands for Computer Aided Design (and/or drafting, depending on the industry). CAD usually refers to computer software used to create 2D and 3D models and designs such as architectural designs, building plans, floor plans, electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, technical drawings, and blueprints.

Who uses CAD software?

CAD drawings are used by architects, civil engineers, mechanical engineers, and construction professionals.

Types of CAD drawings

CAD drawings can include floor plans, blueprints, piping and instrumentation diagrams, HVAC, site plans, wiring diagrams, circuit diagrams, and other technical drawings. Learn more.

Is CAD hard to learn?

Traditional CAD software like AutoCAD is well-known for having a steep learning curve. CAD doesn't have to be hard. SmartDraw was designed to be more accessible and easier to use.

Does SmartDraw import Visio files?

To help you move away from legacy software, SmartDraw can import and edit Visio® diagrams and stencils. See how good SmartDraw's Visio import is.

What is the best CAD software?

There are many options when it comes to choosing CAD software, and all options have their perks and drawbacks. The best software for you depends on what types of designs you will be making, as well as how much money and time you are willing to dedicate to buying and learning a new program. One of the biggest benefits of SmartDraw over traditional CAD software is that you can use SmartDraw on any device. Whether you're in the office or on the go, you'll enjoy the full set of features, symbols, and high-quality output you get only with SmartDraw. Learn more.

SmartDraw is Used by Over 85% of the Fortune 500

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Northrop Grumman logo
Oracle logo
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Thermo Fisher Scientific logo
Verizon logo
Wells Fargo logo
3M logo
Amazon logo
AT&T logo
Cisco logo
Honeywell logo
Intel logo
Johnson and Johnson logo
Mariott logo
Abbott Labs logo
Motorola logo
Northrop Grumman logo
Oracle logo
Pfizer logo
Thermo Fisher Scientific logo
Verizon logo
Wells Fargo logo

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