Photo: Maisy Vi

Which software is best for furniture design?

10 best paid and free furniture design software SketchUp. SolidWorks. Woodwork for Inventor. Fusion360. Vectorworks. Sketchlist 3D. Rhinoceros 3D. SmartDraw Cabinet Designer. More items... •

shapr3d.com - 10 furniture design software to try in 2022 - Shapr3D

Do you need to pour concrete for a shed?

Only when your shed is to be located in an area that is below the grade of the rest of your yard should a concrete pad be considered for extra...

Last updated Oct 9, 2020

What is the best flooring for an outside shed?

Most Popular Storage Shed Floor Options Concrete Slab. The most durable of shed floors, concrete floor will hold up against just about anything you...

Last updated May 18, 2021

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

There are dozens of options on the market when it comes to furniture design software. All companies claim their software for furniture design is the most intuitive, powerful, and easy to learn. Whether you're a professional woodworker or just getting started with the craft, you might wonder what the most suitable option is for you.

We assessed existing options based on the following criteria:

Range of tools and functionality

Ease of adoption

Tool usage time

Multiplatform experience

Value for the cost

10 best paid and free furniture design software

Shapr3D

At Shapr3D, we’re dedicated to building the most intuitive 3D modeling software for manufacturing and design professionals. Therefore, we proudly list our app among the best software for furniture design. Shapr3D runs on macOS and Windows. Furthermore, you can take your design with you on the go because Shapr3D runs on the iPad too. You can download Shapr3D from the AppStore or our website. ‍“I came up with the idea for Shapr3D because I could see the urgent need for a 3D modeling application that is intuitive and easy to use on the move. I believe that if you are using a tool for 8–10 hours a day, it should fundamentally be better than what is on offer to designers today.” Shapr3D was designed to minimize the tool usage time, so you can focus on developing concepts instead of spending time learning the software. With Shapr3D’s adaptive UI, you will find the most suitable tools without having to scan the menu.

How can you benefit from using Shapr3D as a woodworker?

Shapr3D makes woodworking jobs more efficient in everything, from creating furniture design concepts to pricing out materials and making exact cuts. With an easy-to-use and powerful toolkit, you can turn sketches into precise 3D models in minutes. We built Shapr3D around the Parasolid engine, which lets you directly adjust the dimensions of a finished model or individual components in a model by simply changing values. If you prefer a classic way of manufacturing with hand tools and without a CNC machine, you can easily transform your 3D models into 2D technical drawings by using the “Drawing” export option. Also with Shapr3D Pro, you can benefit from the drag-and-drop Visualization feature. It provides you with a wide range of materials and colors, which you can apply to your designs. This way, you can create realistic furniture 3D models in no time and present them to your clients. See how Yuan Zhang, a woodworker and Chinese traditional culture enthusiast, used Shapr3D Pro to design and manufacture a custom-made wooden chair, which he named a “Linglong Drum Stool.” Yuan Zhang summarizes his experience using 3D modeling software during the woodworking workflow: ‍“I started to design Chinese furniture models, and I even built my own digital furniture showroom. I learned woodworking, CNC programming, and programming the model in Shapr3D through digital engineering paths. (...) Shapr3D is so easy to use!“ To make the wooden chair design look even more realistic, Yuan Zhang applied materials with the Shapr3D Visualization feature. We developed the Visualization feature as a built-in rendering tool to help you make design decisions on the spot, create realistic design previews, and quickly adjust models. See how Yuan Zhang turned a 3D model into a realistic design preview with the help of Visualization: “I used 10–30 minutes to sketch and model in Shapr3D, but I need to come back to the app from time to time to adjust details. [...] overall Shapr3D is convenient to use and quick to conceptualize, that's why I like it. “ ‍ From sketching and 3D modeling in Shapr3D to manufacturing the chair, the whole process took Yuan Zhang about three months.

Pricing

You can download Shapr3D to get a free trial for PC and iPad. The free version (Shapr3D Basic) lets you create two designs, try all 3D modeling tools, import X_T, X_B, IGES, STEP, STL, SLDPRT, SLDASM, SHAPR, DXF, or DWG files and images, and export low-resolution STL and 3MF files. If you subscribe to Shapr3D Pro, you get a 14-day free trial using all the Pro features. A Shapr3D Pro subscription unlocks the full power of the platform and costs $29 if billed monthly or $239 if billed annually.

Furthermore, we made Shapr3D free for teachers and students.

The educational license is valid for 365 days and can be extended upon expiration. If you are a member of an accredited educational institution, you can learn about the educational license here.

The furniture design software that lets you manage landscapes and mechanical designs

CAD Pro focuses on providing BIM (building information modeling) technology for architects, engineers, and operators in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction markets. Their furniture design software is widely used for home remodeling, design, and landscaping. With Cad Pro, you can convert your furniture designs to various file formats and share them via email.

Pricing

CAD Pro pricing starts at $99.95 per feature as a one-time payment. They don’t offer free versions or free trials. According to CAD Pro, their solution is primarily made for Windows users. If you are a macOS and iPad user, you can download Shapr3D for free.

Are lumber prices coming down in 2022?

October 2022 lumber prices are up and down. It's been a wild couple of years with pricing on all varieties of wood products— up, down and all-...

Last updated Jun 25, 2021

What is the legal definition of a shed?

The International Building Code (IBC) defines a shed as a building or structure of an accessory character; it classifies them under utility and...

Last updated Sep 21, 2020

Promotion

Smart dimensioning tools

Smart design tools

Auto snap tools for precise alignment

Sketch tracing

Architectural tools

Auto shape tools

Gradient fill colors

Detailed fill patterns

Customizable views

House plans

SketchUp

SketchUp is a 3-dimensional modeling software product that’s widely used by architectural engineers, construction workers, and product designers in 140+ countries worldwide. Woodworkers can use the SketchUp furniture design software to design and visualize furniture and sketch 3D projects. Furthermore, they can view, assess, and modify designs before manufacturing to decrease wood waste. SketchUp is available on Windows and macOS. Since April 2022, users can download the SketchUp iPad app, too. Unlike Shapr3D, SketchUp is not available for iPad users for free. You’ll need a Go, Pro, Studio, Higher Education, or a Non-Profit subscription to try SketchUp on iPad.

Pricing

SketchUp offers different plans for users.

The SketchUp Free subscription is ideal for users who need wood furniture design software for personal projects. The free plan is somewhat limited, but you still get a 3D web modeler, 10 GB of cloud storage, and access to a mobile viewer. The SketchUp furniture design app offers a 30-day trial that lets you try the 3D modeler, create 2D documentation, and view photoreal images. SketchUp subscription prices range between $119 to $699 per year. The most expensive subscription, SketchUp Studio, is offered for Windows users only.

SolidWorks

Software with a wealth of capabilities for anyone designing 3D products

SolidWorks helps users design 3D products using any settings they wish. It could be a good fit for professionals who work with 3D design, engineering, and manufacturing products.

SolidWorks has also developed a custom solution for woodworkers called SWOOD Design.

SWOOD is a furniture design software that integrates with SolidWorks and provides woodworking CAD, CAM (computer-aided manufacturing), and Automation modules. These are dedicated sets of tools designed particularly for wood and panel processing. The following SWOOD capabilities are designed to help woodworkers facilitate and optimize their work: SWOOD Design: It allows users to easily create furniture objects within the SolidWorks 3D environment. A drag-and-drop hardware library, cut lists, BOMs, connectors, and materials are included. SWOOD CAM: It provides machining and manufacturing tools for designing and manufacturing wooden products. SWOOD Nesting: It lets woodworking professionals accurately nest project parts onto wood panels for manufacturing. It helps optimize wood panels and reduce materials waste. SWOOD Center Service: It is a configurator that enables production automation at a large scale and can be linked to a company database. SWOOD BW (Beam & Wall): This software is dedicated to timber and frame construction. It’s important to mention that an active SolidWorks license is needed to run SWOOD. Also, the company says a 4-day training course should be taken to leverage SWOOD capabilities.

Pricing

Unlike modern companies that sell their software through a website, SolidWorks software cannot be purchased online. Its pricing is only available upon request. We discovered that SolidWorks' annual Standard package fee, which covers technical support, upgrades, and software, is $1,295.

Woodwork for Inventor

Wood furniture design software for cabinet, joinery, and custom furniture design

Woodwork for Inventor (W4I) furniture design software is a suitable solution for woodworking experts who:

Design complex furniture

Require cutting tickets to include laminates, veneers, and edge banding

Need a parts list for procurement

Have to do multiple CNC cut files for production

Woodwork for Inventor company claims their furniture design software is used by various industries, and it’s worth mentioning that the W4I interface is available in six different languages, including English, French, German, Russian, Polish, Italian, and Spanish.

Pricing

Woodwork for Inventor offers three licenses with a complete feature set for an unlimited time: Standard, Home, and Educational. Please note that these licenses can be activated on one computer only. However, it’s also possible to transfer your existing license to another computer.

The prices are available upon request only.

Fusion 360

3D modeling design furniture software to design, validate, and manufacture your wood products

Fusion360 is a 3D modeling design software created by Autodesk.

Fusion360 lets you design and prototype 2D and 3D models, render high-resolution mockups and create detailed plans and schematics. Fusion360 is built for parametric modeling, which lets you adjust the dimensions of a finished model or individual components in a model by changing a value.

Pricing

Unlike Shapr3D, Fusion360 does not have a free version for users. However, the company offers a 30-day trial period to test the software.

Fusion 360 subscription costs $495/year or $60/month.

Vectorworks

The company offers nine different toolsets depending on the users’ needs. These include Vector Architect, Landmark, Spotlight, Design Suite, Fundamentals, Vision, Braceworks, ConnectCAD, and CloudServices.

The following custom solutions are available for woodworkers:

‍Vectors Architect

This solution lets you sketch, draw, and model in an integrated BIM workflow. Vectors Architect can be used during the entire creative process, from the concept stage to sketching and designing.

‍Landmark

Does a pole barn need footings?

Soil is not usually able to resist applied vertical loads through a post alone. Pole barn posts should therefore be set on footings to provide...

Last updated Apr 13, 2022

What sport goes back at least 3000 years?

Boxing. The earliest evidence of boxing can be traced back to Egypt circa 3000 BC. Aug 23, 2019

Last updated May 10, 2018

Promotion

It is an all-in-one tool for landscape design. It includes GIS (geographic information system) and planning solutions, creative modeling, irrigation, planting and hardscapes, graphics and presentation, site design, and reporting.

Pricing

Unlike Shapr3D, Vectorworks does not offer a free version for users. However, there is a 30-day trial for anyone willing to get acquainted with the software. A monthly subscription license offers flexibility to pay for required features and costs $153/month or $1,530/year. Alternatively, Vectorworks offers the perpetual license, which is a pay once, use forever solution. It costs $3,045 as a one-time payment, including 2 GB of cloud storage and one year of basic tech support.

Sketchlist 3D

A furniture design program that lets you build 3D models with life-like details You can model everything from home and offices to cabinets, beds, and drawers using SketchList 3D woodworking design software. SketchList automatically generates layouts, spreadsheets, drawings, cut lists, and other reports essential for production planning. The SketchList software for furniture design offers two packages for its users: SketchList 3D Hobby for casual users and SketchList 3D Pro for woodworking professionals.

Pricing

SketchList offers a 14-day trial for users to test the software.

The monthly license is $39 for SketchList 3D Hobby and $79 for SketchList 3D Pro. Licenses renew automatically unless you decide to cancel them. Alternatively, you can choose a one-time-purchase option with the full-design capability for hobbyists and woodworking experts. The price is $200 for SketchList 3D Hobby and $850 for SketchList 3D Pro.

Rhinoceros 3D

Rhino allows users to translate a design idea into a 3D model with high accuracy and editability enabled by Rhino 7's SubD geometry types. Designs can be transformed using meshes, curves, BlendEdge, and Boolean operations. It will take you some time to master this program, considering the number and variety of offered tools.

Pricing

Rhino is available for Windows and macOS users, with licenses between $700–$1000 for lifetime usage. The company does not provide a free trial. You can only purchase a license to one particular version of Rhino 3D. If you want to upgrade to the latest version, you might need to pay extra.

SmartDraw Cabinet Designer

At first glance, it might seem that SmartDraw is a diagram and flowchart-making tool, but the software is more than that. The company offers various solutions for commercial woodworking companies, individual woodworkers, and manufacturers. SmartDraw Cabinet Designer is an affordable and easy-to-use online furniture design software for beginners and professionals. Woodworkers can start with pre-made furniture models for home and use custom shapes for shelf units, hampers, drawers, and racks in their designs. Once your design is ready, you can export it to various standard formats, like PDF, or export it to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint in just a few clicks. With SmartDraw, you can add your designs to Google docs and sheets or share them via Atlassian's Confluence, Jira, or Trello.

The software works on Windows desktop only and requires an Internet connection.

Pricing

A monthly fee is $9.95 for a single user. You can also opt for a license for five users, which will cost you $5.95/user/month or $357/year. A SmartDraw Site License is designed for enterprises and provides a solution for an annual fee of $2,995 for companies with less than 500 employees or $4,995 for enterprises with 500–1,000 employees.

For companies with 1,000+ employees, a custom price is applied.

Each kind of furniture design software has its pros and cons.

We recommend considering the following factors before purchasing any piece of software:

Costs

There is free furniture design software with limited functionality and expensive options that might cost you thousands of dollars. Generally speaking, the more expensive the software, the more advanced features you can expect. Paying a bigger sum for a piece of software that might not suit you is risky. To avoid that, you can pick one with a free trial, like Shapr3D. This way, you can test the software, understand if it serves your needs, and make a conscious decision before purchasing it.

The learning curve

The less time you spend learning new software, the faster you can get to creating designs. Most legacy CAD software is complex and extremely difficult and time-consuming to master. So, it’s better to try out a few options first to see which ones are more intuitive and easy to use for you. At Shapr3D, we have easy-to-follow guides, tutorials, and a help desk for self-learning. Plus, you can use the software on iPad, Mac, and Windows.

Learn how to quickly design wooden furniture with Shapr3D video tutorials:

Design types

Before purchasing furniture design software for your PC or iPad, ask yourself what you’ll need this software for. For instance, some software focuses exclusively on office furniture design, house interior design, or landscape planning. Make sure the software you choose will accommodate all of your design and manufacturing needs.

shapr3d.com - 10 furniture design software to try in 2022 - Shapr3D

Where should you not use WD-40?

But Don't Spray It On: Door hinges. Sure, WD-40 will stop the squeaking, but it also attracts dust and dirt. ... Bike chains. WD-40 can cause dirt...

Last updated Sep 14, 2021

Is metal or roof shingles better on a shed?

Metal roofs usually lasts much longer than shingle roofs. Metal is durable and lightweight. It is very resistant to the effects of weather. Metal...

Last updated Nov 3, 2020

Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

Is a gambrel roof more expensive?

Cost of Construction Comparatively, Gambrel roof can cost about 15 to 20 percent more than a traditional gable roof. But in terms of benefits that...

Last updated Dec 2, 2021

Promotion

Is there a free alternative to AutoCAD?

The 10 Best Free AutoCAD Alternatives FreeCAD. FreeCAD, found at freecadweb.org, is one of the best free alternatives to AutoCAD. ... LibreCAD (2D)...

Last updated Sep 17, 2019