Floor Plan Symbols & Abbreviations (Your A-Z Guide)

Quickly identify common floor plan symbols, abbreviations, and icons so you can communicate designs clearly and work more efficiently.

Floor plan symbols help clients understand how a building will be built, remodeled, or repaired.

Floor plans are supposed to be simple diagrams that help you visualize a space and determine whether the design is going to work for its intended purpose, whether it’s remodeling a kitchen, building an entire home from scratch, or mapping out a temporary event space. 

Architectural floor plan symbols also help designers, builders, and architects evaluate the feasibility of their plans, communicate design elements to contractors, and show clients the features of their new home.

Understanding floor plan icons, patterns, and abbreviations can be intimidating at first. 

That’s why we’ve created this A-to-Z guide of floor plan symbols, abbreviations, and icons so you know how to read and draw floor plan symbols.

Below, we’ll look at:

• What are floor plan symbols
• Common floor plan symbols
• Common abbreviations

Key Takeaways

• Floor plan symbols are standardized icons and shapes used on architectural floor plans to represent structural elements, doors, windows, furniture, and mechanical systems.
• Learning how to read floor plan symbols and abbreviations helps builders, remodelers, and contractors communicate designs clearly and avoid costly mistakes.
• Common floor plan symbols include door symbols, window symbols, wall symbols, stair symbols, electrical symbols, plumbing symbols, HVAC symbols, and furniture symbols.
• With Cedreo, housing professionals can create detailed floor plans with accurate symbols and abbreviations in a fraction of the time it takes with traditional tools.

Why trust us? Here at Cedreo, we’ve got 20+ years of experience working with housing pros in the home design space. So we know what it takes for builders and contractors to create floor plans with the right symbols and abbreviations that help them land more clients!

What Are Floor Plan Symbols?

Standardized floor plan symbols are a set of icons initially adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

• These standard symbols are used to represent key architectural features like windows, doors, and structural walls, as well as building materials, furniture, appliances, and technical information.
• Floor plan symbols represent the basic layout of the property, how it’s oriented, and how the different rooms and structural elements work together.

Done right, reading floor plans becomes second nature, whether you’re reviewing a set of architectural plans for a new build or walking a client through a remodel.

However, effective blueprints often require a lot of information in a limited amount of space. 

That’s why floor plan symbols and abbreviations help remodelers, contractors, and builders communicate that information, while also making floor plans easy to read. 

Check out the next sections for a breakdown of the most common types of floor plan symbols and what they mean.

12 Common Floor Plan Symbols By Type

Floor plans use a set of standardized symbols to represent various elements like windows, walls, stairs, and furniture.

These symbols may include shapes and lines, numbers, and abbreviations.

In most floor plans, you’ll see a mix of stylized drawings and simple shapes that stand in for real-world objects.

Keep in mind that even standardized floor plan symbols can have slight variations from one architect or firm to another.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to check the legend on any set of plans you’re reviewing, or pay attention to the specific symbol options your design software provides.

In these next few sections, we’ll look at 12 of the most common floor plan symbols and how they’re used on architectural floor plans.

1. Compass Floor Plan Symbol and Scale Measurements

Scale

Typically found in the blueprint legend, scales are represented as “scale bars” (black and white lines with numbers) much like a drawing of a ruler. 

The scale tells you whether dimensions are measured in feet and inches (imperial measurements), or the metric system, and establishes a system for translating measurements.

Floor plan scales are typically represented in one of two ways:

1. As equivalent measurements (¼” is equal to 1’)
2. As a ratio (1:100 or 1:48)

Different floor plan drawings might use different scales, depending on what you’re trying to depict and how much detail you need. 

Cedreo lets you download plans to scale with the corresponding scale measurements appearing on the plan.

Compass

The compass (or north arrow) helps you understand the orientation of a property and the building relative to true north.

Seeing the building in relation to the cardinal directions helps architects and designers know where to place windows to optimize natural lighting.

The north arrow also helps reduce heating and cooling costs by ensuring you position the home for maximum energy efficiency.r maximum energy efficiency.

2. Door Symbols on a Floor Plan

The door symbol on a floor plan is typically represented as a gap in the wall with a straight line and curved line (an arc) that shows the direction the door swings open.

Door symbols also indicate which way the door swings to give viewers a sense of how much clearance they’ll need.

Door floor plan symbols vary depending on the type of door, from pocket doors to double doors.

One thing we hear from builders all the time is that getting the door symbols right on floor plans helps avoid confusion during construction.

Here’s a quick look at some common door symbols:

• Open doorway: Open doorways are represented as a space between walls on floor plans.
• Sliding door: Sliding doors are represented as two thin rectangles extending from a black rectangle, shown by two parallel lines in the wall opening.
• Pocket door: Pocket doors are sliding doors that disappear into the wall when open. The symbol looks similar to sliding doors, only here one set of lines slips inside the other.
• Single door: A single-hinged door is represented by a straight line that runs perpendicular to the wall and a curved line to indicate which way it opens.
• Double door: The double door symbol looks like the letter “M,” made from two curved lines that join in the center.
• Bifold door: Bifold doors are most commonly used on closets. The floor plan symbol looks like two peaks, separated by a small space.

3. Window Floor Plan Symbols

Window floor plan symbols are represented as breaks in the wall, typically shown with three parallel lines that distinguish them from solid walls.

Window symbols on floor plans are relatively easy to identify once you know the pattern.

There may be slight variations in how different types of floor plan drawings depict windows, but the core concept stays the same on most floor plans.

• Standard fixed windows: Standard windows are represented by a single straight line centered within a rectangle on the wall.
• Sliding glass windows: Windows that slide horizontally to open are often represented by offset rectangles with a parallel line in the center that represent the sliding panels, all placed within a rectangle on the wall.
• Casement windows: Casement windows are hinged on the sides and open inward or outward like a door. Floor plan symbols include arcs (two curved lines) that indicate which way they open.
• Bay windows: Floor plan symbols for bay windows are a combination of three or more windows that angle outward, extending beyond exterior walls.

4. Wall Symbols on Floor Plans

Wall floor plan symbols are represented by different types of single and double lines that indicate the thickness and purpose of each wall in the structure.

Sometimes they also include additional shapes to help define the type of wall.

Thicker lines, or parallel lines that are farther apart indicate exterior walls, while thinner lines or parallel lines that are closer together are generally used to show interior walls.

Here are some different examples of wall symbols you’ll find on floor plans drawn in Cedreo:

Exterior Walls

• Insulated exterior wall: Drawn as a thick grey line with a solid red line running along one edge and a series of yellow rectangles running along the other edge to show the location of the insulation.
• Exterior wall: Drawn as a thick grey line with a solid red line running along one edge.
• Parapet wall around the edge of a flat roof: Drawn as a thick grey line with a thin red line through the center and a thicker red line along one side.

Interior & Partition Walls

• Insulated interior wall: Drawn as a thick grey line containing a pattern of yellow squares across one side to show the location of the insulation.
• Interior wall: Drawn as a solid, plain, thick line.
• Distribution partition: Drawn as a solid, thinner dark grey line.
• Waterproof partition: Drawn as a solid, thin green line.

5. Stairs Symbols on a Floor Plan

Stair floor plan symbols are represented as a series of parallel lines within a rectangle, with an arrow pointing in the ascending direction to indicate which way is “up” based on which level you’re viewing on the 2D floor plan.

Stair symbols on floor plans are drawn from a top-down perspective and look like a set of connected thin rectangles.

Here are the most common stair floor plan symbols:

• Straight stairs: Straight stairs are represented as a rectangle containing a series of parallel lines, with an arrow pointing toward the ascending direction.
• Winding stairs: Winding stairs (or a curved staircase) are drawn in a “U” shape, composed of several small rectangles.
• L-shaped stairs: L-shaped stairs look like a set of rectangles connected in the shape of the letter “L.”

Spiral stairs: Spiral stairs are an outlier among stair symbols. They’re represented by a circle with lines radiating from the center (like a wheel or a sliced pie). This symbol features an arrow pointing either clockwise or counterclockwise.

6. Appliance Symbols on Floor Plans

Appliance symbols on floor plans are stylized drawings that represent the location and type of major household appliances like stoves, washers, dryers, and refrigerators.

In floor plans that include bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms, you’ll typically use these symbols to indicate where you’ll find hookups for major appliances.

In most cases, appliance symbols appear alongside plumbing symbols such as drains, sinks, and toilets.

Here are some of the most common appliance symbols on floor plans:

Washer and dryer: Two side-by-side squares or circles, often labeled “W” and “D,” found in laundry rooms.

Stove/range: A rectangle with four circles representing burners on top.

Refrigerator: A simple rectangle, often labeled with“REF” or a snowflake.

Dishwasher: A square or rectangle labeled “DW”.

7. Furniture Symbols on a Floor Plan

Furniture symbols are stylized top-down drawings that represent tables, chairs, beds, sofas, and other furnishings, showing their size and placement within a room.

Furniture floor plan symbols aren’t always included in blueprints, but they can be useful for helping clients envision how a living space might be set up.

Here are some common furniture symbols you’ll find on floor plans:

• Bed: A rectangle with a smaller rectangle at the head end. A king size bed symbol is wider than a twin or queen.
• Dining tables: A circle, oval, or rectangle with smaller rectangles or circles around it representing chairs.
• Sofa: A long rectangle with a thinner rectangle along the back edge, sometimes with armrest shapes on the sides.
• Desk: A rectangle, often shown with a small circle nearby for a chair.

With Cedreo, you can easily move, change dimensions and colors of the furniture symbols (such as table, chair, and bed symbols) to suit client preferences on your floor plans.

And for most 3D objects, when you add them to the 3D view, the corresponding 2D symbol gets added to the floor plan automatically. 

8. Plumbing Symbols on a Floor Plan

Plumbing symbols on floor plans represent fixtures like sinks, tubs, toilets, and showers, indicating where water supply and drainage connections are located.

Plumbing fixtures are typically found in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

• Bathtub: A rectangle within a rectangle (both often with rounded edges).
• Shower: The shower symbol on a floor plan is a square or rectangle with a small circle and often includes lines representing the slope to the drain.
• Toilet: The toilet symbol is an oval with a rectangle attached at the top.
• Kitchen sink: There are several different floor plan symbols for representing a bathroom or kitchen sink. A double sink is two circles or ovals inside a rectangle.
• Floor drain: A circle with hatching.
• Water heater: A circle labeled “WH” or “WTR HTR.” The water heater symbol is commonly found near mechanical elements on floor plans.

9. Lighting and Electrical Floor Plan Symbols

Electrical symbols on floor plans show where you’ll find key systems like outlets, switches, ceiling fixtures, and specialty lighting. 

A floor plan with electrical symbols helps electricians plan wiring routes and ensure proper spacing.

For a more detailed breakdown, check out our full guide to electrical symbols on floor plans.

Examples of basic electrical floor plan symbols:

• Power outlet: Typically shown as a small circle or square with two parallel lines extending from it.
• Light switch: A simple “S” or combination of lines that connect to lighting fixtures.
• Ceiling light: Represented by a circle with rays or lines radiating from the center. Ceiling fans are shown similarly but with blades extending from the circle.

10. HVAC Floor Plan Symbols

HVAC symbols on floor plans represent heating, ventilation, and air conditioning components that maintain indoor comfort and air quality.

HVAC systems are critical mechanical elements in any building, and their symbols help contractors have a basic idea of where ductwork, vents, and equipment go in the building.

Common HVAC symbols include: 

Outdoor units: Represented as squares with a fan shape in the center.

Supply and return air vents: Typically drawn with a rectangle containing a series of short parallel lines.

Indoor units: Drawn as simple rectangles

11. Fire and Emergency Floor Plan Symbols

Fire and emergency symbols on floor plans help builders, inspectors, and occupants identify critical safety features within a structure.

These floor plan symbols are especially important for safety compliance and emergency planning.

• Smoke detector: A circle with “SD” or a wavy line through it.
• Fire extinguisher: A fire extinguisher symbol on a floor plan is usually a rectangle labeled “FE” or a small icon resembling a canister. The fire extinguisher symbol on a floor plan is required in commercial and multi-family floor plans.
• Emergency exit: Marked with “EXIT” in bold or a door symbol with an arrow pointing toward the exit route.

12. Landscaping Floor Plan Symbols

Landscaping symbols are used on floor plans to show outdoor features that impact design aesthetics and functionality, from plants and trees to patios and outdoor furniture.

These symbols appear most often on site plans and landscape plans, where showing the relationship between the building and surrounding outdoor spaces is essential.

Here are some common landscaping symbols:

Lawn or grass: An open area with small stipple dots or short scattered lines indicating ground cover.

Trees: A circle with an irregular or scalloped edge, drawn from above. Evergreens are often shown as a circle with a star-like pattern inside.

Shrubs: Smaller circles or clusters of scalloped shapes, usually grouped along walls or property edges.

Patio or deck: A rectangle with a grid or line pattern indicating the surface material (pavers, wood planks, or stone).

Fence: A thin line with short perpendicular tick marks along its length.

How to Read Floor Plan Abbreviations

In addition to the floor plan symbols and abbreviations we’ve covered above, designers often use standard abbreviations and floor plan acronyms to communicate additional details in their floor plans while maintaining a clean presentation.

While many of these house plan abbreviations are both familiar and straightforward, it can be hard to keep track of the hundreds of items on this list.

Below are some of the most common floor plan acronyms, organized by category for quick reference.

Room and Space Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
BATH	Bathroom
BSMT	Basement
CAB	Cabinet
CBD	Cupboard
CL	Closet / Centerline
CTYD	Courtyard
KIT	Kitchen
LIN	Linen Closet
MB	Master Bedroom
PAN	Pantry
PDR	Powder Room
RM	Room
STOR	Storage
WIC	Walk-In Closet
WR	Wardrobe

Structural and Measurement Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
A.F.F.	Above Finished Floor
A.F.G.	Above Finished Grade
ARCH.	Architectural
BC	Bookcase
CF	Concrete Floor
CLG	Ceiling
COL	Column
CT	Ceramic Tile
CW	Cavity Wall
D	Door / Dryer
DBL	Double Ovens
DIM.	Dimension
DN	Down
ED	Edge Distance
EQ	Equal
EXT	Exterior
F.F.L.	Finished Floor Level
F.G.	Finish Grade
FL	Floor Level
FS	Far Side
FTG	Fitting
GA	Gauge
G.C.	General Contractor
HDCP	Handicapped (Accessible)
ID	Inner Diameter
IN	Inch
INSUL	Insulation
INT	Interior
LH	Left Hand
LM	List Of Materials
MAS	Masonry
MAX	Maximum
MIN	Minimum
NOM	Nominal
NTS	Not To Scale
OC	On Center
OD	Outside Diameter
OPNG	Opening / Rough Opening
PSF	Pounds Per Square Foot
PSI	Pounds Per Square Inch
R	Radius
RH	Right Hand
RO	Rough Opening
ROW	Right Of Way
SC	Sharp Corners
T&G	Tongue And Groove
TYP	Typical
VIF	Verify In Field
WD / WDW	Window
WS	Weatherstripping

Plumbing and Water System Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
BV	Butterfly Valve
CSINK	Countersink
DS	Downspout
DW	Dishwasher
FCO	Floor Cleanout
FD	Floor Drain
GM	Gas Meter
GPM	Gallons Per Minute
HW	Hot Water
INV.	Invert
PVC	Polyvinyl Chloride
RD	Roof Drain
RDL	Roof Drain Leader
SAN	Sanitary
SHR	Shower
TLT	Toilet
VP	Vent Pipe
WC	Water Closet
WH	Water Heater
W/D	Washer And Dryer Units
WTR. HTR.	Water Heater

HVAC, Electrical, and Safety Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
A/C	Air Conditioner
ACT	Acoustic Ceiling Tile
EF	Exhaust Fan
FACP	Fire Alarm Control Panel
HTR	Heater
HVAC	Heating, Ventilation, And Air Conditioning
J-BOX	Junction Box
LT	Light
LTG	Lighting
OV	Oven
REF / REFRIG	Refrigerator
SD	Smoke Detector / Sliding Door
SPK	Sprinkler
TELE	Telephone
VA	Voltage
VB	Vapor Barrier
VENT	Ventilator

How to Add Abbreviations and Symbols on Floor Plans

Adding accurate, easy-to-read symbols is key when you create floor plans in Cedreo.

Whether you’re illustrating the location of a kitchen sink, bifold doors, or dining tables, Cedreo helps you create detailed floor plans with accurate architectural symbols faster than ever.

Here’s how to add floor plan symbols and abbreviations to your plans in three simple steps with Cedreo.

Step 1: Add Symbols on 2D Floor Plans

Cedreo includes a full symbol library that covers everything from electrical symbols to furniture layouts. Here’s how to add the floor plan drawing symbols to your plan.

Go to the ‘Plan Details’ tab
After you finish designing your layout, head to the Plan Details tab in the editor. You can also do the same in the ‘Folder’ tab.

Open the Symbols Menu
Click “Symbol” in the left menu. Use categories or the search bar to quickly find what you need.

Click to place and customize
After selecting a symbol, click on your plan to place it. Then drag, rotate, or mirror it to fit your layout. You can also:

• Adjust dimensions and angle
• Apply a mirror effect 
• Change symbol color for visual clarity

Step 2: Automatically Add 2D Symbols from 3D Products

One of Cedreo’s time-saving features is the ability to automatically display 2D symbols when you add 3D objects. Here’s how to do it.

Go to the ‘Furnishings’ tab
Find the 3D object you would like to add from the catalog. Click the product, then click on your design to add the object.

Toggle 2D Representation On
Click on the object and in the options menu, select the option ‘Display the associated symbol on 2D’. In the 2D view, you will see a corresponding 2D symbol.

Check out this webinar video for more detailed tips.

Step 3: Add Custom Floor Plan Abbreviations

Cedreo lets you easily add floor plan abbreviations to your plans. Here’s how.

Go to the ‘Folder’ tab
Once you’ve added the symbols and finished your plans, open the Folder tab.

Use the ‘Text’ Tool
Select the Text option and click on your plan where you need to add the abbreviation.  Adjust the font and font size as needed in the option menu.

Create Floor Plans With Architectural Symbols, Faster With Cedreo!

Cedreo’s floor plan software helps contractors, builders, and remodelers generate complete house floor plans in under two hours.

Add plan symbols for wall openings, windows, doors, and home decor, then customize the sizes and colors to fit your vision.

With Cedreo, you can:

• Draw floor plans quickly with built-in architectural symbols
• Add plan symbols and abbreviations with a few simple clicks
• Create photorealistic 3D renderings from your floor plans
• Generate professional project presentations to win more clients

 Sign up for free today!

Floor Plan Symbols FAQs