Get and Use SketchUp

Using SketchUp for Woodworking

SketchUp can become an indispensable tool when your woodworking expands beyond the simplest projects. It makes the design clear so that you can tell if the design makes sense—or if it even looks good—before you build it. It keeps track of dimensions. It can show you when parts don’t fit correctly.

SketchUp has two built-in templates dedicated to woodworking. One template uses inches. The other uses millimeters. Just tell SketchUp what you want to use the first time you use it and you’re all set. You can change your choice at any time.

SketchUp Isn’t Hard to Use!

Learning to use SketchUp might seem daunting at first. After all, it looks very complicated when you open it for the first time. Don’t be fooled! It will quickly begin to make sense once you’ve had some of the features explained to you. This page points you to multiple free sites that explain how to use SketchUp.

Downloading SketchUp

Get SketchUp by selecting one of the paid options cited above.

Much of the information that follows on this page applies only to the paid desktop versions of SketchUp. You can skip down to more information about the Free web version if you're strictly interested in using that version.

Installing SketchUp

Once you’ve downloaded the installation file, double-click to install it. It should put three icons on your desktop. We will work only with the SketchUp icon.

Starting SketchUp for the First Time

If you’ve never used SketchUp before, this is the place where things might begin to seem overwhelming. Not to worry! Just follow along as described below.

I'm going to explain how I like SketchUp to be set up. You might discover that you have different preferences. But start with what I explain here. This procedure will begin your exposure to the SketchUp environment. And, it will arm you with the ability to select different preferences if you choose to do that later.

You should now see these items on the right side of the SketchUp window:

If the items are not in the order shown, click and drag them up or down until they’re in this order.

Finally, SketchUp has many built-in keyboard shortcuts. They’re great time savers that you will want to use. But you’ll be glad to have 6 additional keyboard shortcuts. Here’s how to set them up.

Steps 11-12 arm you with the ability to delete all the guides. The shortcut lets you delete the guides without opening the Edit menu to do it.

Steps 13-14 arm you with the ability to hide an object by simply clicking on it and then pressing the X key. The shortcut lets you hide objects without opening the Edit menu to do it.

Steps 15-16 arm you with the ability unhide all hidden items by simply pressing the U key. The shortcut lets you unhide all objects without opening the Edit menu to do it.

Steps 17-18 arm you with the ability unhide the last hidden item (that is, not all the hidden items) by simply pressing the V key. The shortcut lets you unhide the last hidden object without opening the Edit menu to do it.

Steps 19-20 arm you with the ability to enable dimensioning by simply pressing the D key. You can avoid clicking on the Dimension icon in the Large Tool Set.

Finally, steps 21-22 arm you with the ability to update a Scene with one simple key-press (F3) and avoid the need to click the Update Scene(s) button in the Scenes tray and then click the Update button in the Scene Update window. (If you're new to SketchUp, please know that Scenes are addressed in some of the links that follow below.)

These shortcuts might not make much sense right now but TRY TO REMEMBER THESE SHORTCUTS. Write them down if necessary. Use them whenever possible to avoid going to a menu. They can make your SketchUp experience much simpler and much more enjoyable.

Complete List of All Keyboard Shortcuts

This is the list of ALL keyboard shortcuts. Each of the 6 additional keyboard shortcuts that you added using the above procedure is shown in brackets: [•]. You should copy this list and keep it handy to facilitate your design editing.

You are now ready to begin using SketchUp. If you find out later that you don’t like my preferred setup, the information given above should have provided you with enough knowledge to do things differently.

Starting to Use SketchUp

So how is SketchUp used? The links in the next section provide a broad spectrum of how-to advice for beginners.

You might like some presenters more than others, so pick and choose, and mix and match.

Beware that you will encounter references to SketchUp Make 2017. That was a free version that is no longer available.

The more you use SketchUp, the more comfortable you will feel using it. So, dive right in and begin using SketchUp. Then, when you think you're ready, try your hand at making your own designs.

There is a lot more help and advice on YouTube, so be sure always to check there. Have fun!

These are some links that you might find helpful. For beginners, you might try this excellent series from The SketchUp Essentials:

SketchUp Woodworking Tutorial for Beginners - Part 1

https://youtu.be/u80grW1zjOw

SketchUp Woodworking Tutorial for Beginners Part 2

https://youtu.be/xJdpbmUnw_Y

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Steve Ramsey

Steve Ramsey makes YouTube videos primarily for beginning woodworkers. He has a video for SketchUp beginners that takes you from downloading SketchUp through building a project. It's an excellent introduction.

https://youtu.be/r2K6gmcc_jA

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April Wilkerson

April Wilkerson is a clever, inventive, self-taught woodworker who has published many interesting YouTube woodworking videos. She has recently published a pair of videos aimed at the most basic SketchUp beginner. It's a good way to learn first things first. Take a look:

First Video: The Very Basics of Using SketchUp

https://youtu.be/rjSE28T3u78

Second Video: Familiarize Yourself with SketchUp by Drawing a Simple Table and a Simple Cabinet

https://youtu.be/vNf_YiBC_g0

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Jay Bates

Jay Bates is an accomplished woodworker who can be found on many YouTube woodworking videos. He sometimes creates videos that show his use of SketchUp. He talks a little fast but he does real things with his SketchUp designs, so what he does is of practical use. If you feel that you’re getting past the beginner stage, take a look at some of his videos:

Here’s a beginning SketchUp video from Jay Bates:

Familiarize Yourself With SketchUp

https://youtu.be/h1pMe_fXdoM

A simple table design by Jay Bates:

Notice his clever but simple techniques. He makes things even simpler by stressing “never draw what you can copy.” He can talk fast, so pay attention. There’s a lot of useful information in this single video:

SketchUp - Sofa Table With Hidden Storage

https://youtu.be/LAVZZlw4_Uo

A simple but visually appealing set of shelves by Jay Bates:

He adds little touches to turn an ordinary set of shelves into shelves that are simple, strong, and visually appealing. As he often does, through the course of this SketchUp design example, he offers quick suggestions on how to speed up the SketchUp design process. But he can talk fast, so you'll have to pay close attention. There's a lot to be learned from this video:

SketchUp - Proud Halflap Shelving System

https://youtu.be/MAZurkPip4A?si=Tj5Zfb9XQCEoPurF

Here's a whole lot of SketchUp information from Jay Bates' website:

Jay provides a lot of general information here as well as links to his many YouTube SketchUp videos. He describes and uses only one custom keyboard shortcut (for Dimension) and also provides a list of his favorite built-in keyboard shortcuts. Note that 6 custom keyboard shortcuts were described above, so Jay's list of shortcuts might not be a complete reference for you.

https://jayscustomcreations.com/sketchup/

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Matthias Wandel

Matthias Wandel is a very clever woodworker who has prepared a series of SketchUp YouTube tutorials for beginners. Take a look at this YouTube page with a list of those tutorials:

https://youtu.be/BKIeUxofprs

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Robert W. Lang

Robert W. Lang used to be the Executive Editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine. He produced a very complete series of SketchUp tutorials. Everyone can benefit from viewing these.

Part 1: Getting Started

1-4: https://youtu.be/k4AgIgK0u_o
5-7: https://youtu.be/VDqzAfQm-bA
8-10: https://youtu.be/DiVeK5QnleA
11-12: https://youtu.be/mmycQeDtVZU

Part 2: Advanced Techniques

1-3: https://youtu.be/XCWYGNDClv4
4-7: https://youtu.be/ic9zOe1gTtg
8-11: https://youtu.be/7eQhrU1O1Ks
12-13: https://youtu.be/nJUgTiQz9b4

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Advanced SketchUp Joinery Techniques from The SketchUp Essentials

The techniques discussed in these links are best suited to any woodworker who is already familiar with SketchUp and who just wants to polish his skills. Basic instructions from The SketchUp Essentials can be found at the beginning of this section. All the links cited here are from a single video.

You'll probably want to get your feet wet with the Free web version of SketchUp. It's an opportunity to use SketchUp and decide if you like it enough to invest in a paid version. Or, you might be perfectly happy to stay with the Free version. Either way, the links below will introduce you to the web features of SketchUp.

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Here is a very good 2-part introduction to the Free web version of SketchUp. It's presented by Justin Geis who hosts TheSketchUpEssentials on YouTube. He's a SketchUp expert who gives very clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

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This is a 7-part introduction by someone who provides a very complete introduction to using the Free web version of SketchUp.

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Look for other resources on YouTube for beginners and for the web version.

This page provides a foundation for getting, installing, setting up, and using SketchUp in your woodworking projects. There is a lot of other information and tutorials available on the internet. Be sure to search the internet and YouTube for more SketchUp hints and techniques.

Good luck, and keep on using SketchUp!

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Site Last Updated October 12, 2024

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