Floor Plan vs Site Plan: What Is the Difference?
Learn how floor plans and site plans differ, what each drawing shows, and which one you need first for a home or renovation project.
What is a floor plan?
A floor plan is a top-down view of the inside of one floor. It shows rooms, walls, doors, windows, and how you move through the space. It answers questions like where the kitchen sits, whether the bedrooms are private, and how the living areas connect.
For the interior layout itself, the 2D Floor Plan Maker is usually the most direct starting point.
What is a site plan?
A site plan shows the whole property from above. It places the building on its lot and adds boundaries, setbacks, driveways, access points, landscaping, and sometimes utilities or drainage.
Site plans are usually prepared for planning or permit applications, where the local authority needs to see how a building sits on the land, not just how the rooms are arranged.
Floor plan vs site plan comparison
| Item | Floor Plan | Site Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Interior layout of one floor | Whole property and building position |
| What it shows | Rooms, walls, doors, windows, circulation | Lot boundaries, setbacks, access, driveway, landscaping |
| Level of detail | Room-level detail | Property-level detail |
| Typical user | Homeowners, designers, renovators | Architects, surveyors, planning authorities |
| When you need it | Planning rooms, renovations, furniture, layout comparisons | New builds, extensions, permit applications |
| Professional requirement | A draft can start with AI tools | Often needs surveyed measurements and licensed work |
Which one do you need first?
Most homeowners start with the floor plan, because the first questions are about the inside: room sizes, layout, and flow. A site plan becomes important when you build something new, extend the building footprint, or apply for a permit.
Many projects need both at different stages: the floor plan to decide the layout, and the site plan to document how the project sits on the property.
When to use BuildFloorPlan
- Exploring interior layout ideas
- Turning a text description into a first floor plan draft
- Comparing room arrangements before committing
- Preparing for a conversation with a designer or contractor
When to hire a professional
- Permit or planning applications
- Boundary, setback, or access questions
- Land surveying
- Extensions or structural work
Start with the interior layout
Sketch the floor plan first with BuildFloorPlan, then bring in a professional for site and permit documentation when the project needs it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a site plan the same as a floor plan?
No. A floor plan shows the inside of one floor, while a site plan shows the whole property and where the building sits on it.
Do I need a site plan for a renovation?
Interior-only renovations usually start with a floor plan. Extensions or changes to the building footprint often need a site plan for permits, so check your local rules.
Can I make a site plan with BuildFloorPlan?
BuildFloorPlan focuses on floor plan drafts. Site plans for permits usually need surveyed measurements and a qualified professional.
Which drawing do builders ask for first?
It depends on the job. Interior work starts with the floor plan; new builds and extensions usually need both a floor plan and a site plan.