About Plan Sheets
Yes, when you print at 100% (Actual size). The PDF is vector and each drawing is placed at its stated scale: a 10-foot line at 1/4" = 1'-0" is exactly 2 1/2 inches (180 points) on the page, and a 3 m line at 1:50 is exactly 60 mm.
By the ToolFluency team · Updated September 2026
Design a deck plan by dragging its shape, or place your own drawings, on a construction sheet with title block, scale and seal area. Free true-scale vector PDF.
How to use
- Design a deck, or skip to drawing your own. Choose Design a deck and start from a 12' x 16', L-shaped or wraparound deck, or click its corners to draw the outline. Drag a corner or an edge to reshape it (edges move square, so the corners stay 90 degrees), or click an edge and type its length, such as 18'6". Set the deck height, joist size, spacing and species, pick the ledger edge, and click the arrow to flip the joist direction. Back on the sheet, the deck plan is drawn for you with its dimensions, and it redraws whenever you change the deck. Choose Draw details to add your own lines on top.
- Draw or add a drawing. Choose Draw a new drawing to use the built-in drawing tools: lines, rectangles, circles, arcs, trim and offset, with lengths you can type such as 12'6" or 3810 mm. Or add a Sketch Pad JSON file, or a DXF or SVG from another CAD program. The drawing lands on the sheet at the largest standard scale that fits, such as 1/4" = 1'-0" or 3/4" = 1'-0".
- Draw each kind of work on its own layer. In the drawing editor, pick New work, Existing, Demolition or Hidden under Drawing on. Each layer prints with its own line weight and style: new work heavy, existing grey, demolition and hidden dashed. The other layers stay on screen as dashed reference lines you can snap and trim to. Choose Edit drawing later to change any of it.
- Check the size. If a DXF or SVG did not say which units it was drawn in, the tool tells you and reads it as millimetres. Pick the right File units (millimetres, inches, feet or metres) and the drawing rescales. Change the drawing scale from the Scale list; the sheet's scale field updates to match, or shows As indicated when drawings use different scales.
- Choose the paper. Tabloid (11 x 17 in) is the default because many building departments accept it for small residential permits. Letter, ARCH C (18 x 24 in) and ARCH D (24 x 36 in) are also available. Drag each drawing on the preview to place it.
- Fill in the title block: project name, address and number, sheet number and title, firm name, address and logo, and the designer's name and BCIN if that applies to you. Edit the general notes and add revisions (number, description, date) as the drawings change.
- Export the PDF and print it at 100% (Actual size). The file is vector with embedded fonts, and every drawing is placed at its exact scale, so dimensions measure true with a scale ruler. Printing with Fit to page shrinks the drawing and breaks the scale.
- Your plan sets save automatically in this browser. Use Save file to keep a portable .tfplans copy (the drawings, notes and images) and Open file to continue on another computer.
Frequently asked questions
Will the PDF print to scale?
Yes, when you print at 100% (Actual size). The PDF is vector and each drawing is placed at its stated scale: a 10-foot line at 1/4" = 1'-0" is exactly 2 1/2 inches (180 points) on the page, and a 3 m line at 1:50 is exactly 60 mm. The file also asks PDF viewers not to scale it when printing, but a print dialog set to Fit to page will still shrink it, so check that setting.
Can I draw in Plan Sheets, or do I have to import a drawing?
Both.
Draw a new drawing opens the same drawing tools as the ToolFluency
2D Sketch Pad right inside Plan Sheets, with layers for new work, existing, demolition and hidden lines. You can also bring in drawings saved from the Sketch Pad (Export, JSON), and DXF or SVG files from other CAD and drawing programs. Lines, circles and arcs come in exactly; curves such as splines become short straight pieces. Construction (guide) lines are left out. If a DXF or SVG does not state its units, choose them under File units and the drawing rescales.
Does Plan Sheets add an engineer's seal or approve my drawings?
No. Plan Sheets never creates a seal, and nothing it produces is reviewed, checked or approved by anyone. The sheet has a seal area that stays marked SEAL unless a licensed practitioner uploads their own seal image. You are responsible for the content of your drawings and for meeting your building department's requirements.
Who can prepare permit drawings in Ontario?
The Ontario Building Code (Division C, Section 3.2) generally requires anyone who carries out design activities for a building permit to be registered with the province, which is where a BCIN comes from. There are exemptions: for example, drawings for a house you own, a garage or shed of 55 m² or less that serves a house, or design work that a qualified person reviews and takes responsibility for. Ask your building department which applies to your project before you apply. If you are a registered designer, enter your name and BCIN in the title block; the tool prints them exactly as you type them.
Which paper sizes can I use?
Tabloid (11 x 17 in), Letter (8.5 x 11 in), ARCH C (18 x 24 in) and ARCH D (24 x 36 in), all landscape. The title block, text sizes and seal area adjust to each size. Many Ontario building departments accept 11 x 17 for small residential permits, and some ask for PDF uploads in black and white; check your municipality's submission guide.
Is my work uploaded anywhere?
No. Plan sets are saved in your browser on this device, and PDFs are built on your computer. Use Save file to download a .tfplans copy you can back up or open on another computer. Clearing your browser data deletes the saved plan sets, so keep a file copy of anything important.
Can Plan Sheets draw a deck plan for me?
Yes, the deck plan. Choose Design a deck, start from a 12' x 16', L-shaped or wraparound deck (or click its corners), and drag or type the sizes you want. The deck plan is drawn on the sheet at a real scale with overall and edge dimensions, and it updates every time you change the deck. Anything you add with Draw details stays in place when the deck changes. Convert to plain lines turns it into an ordinary drawing if you want to edit every line yourself. Framing plans with beams and posts, elevations and footing details are not drawn yet.
Can I add dimensions, section markers or more sheets?
Deck plans get their dimensions automatically. Dimensions you place by hand, leaders, drawing symbols (north arrow, section and detail markers, level datums), hatching and multi-sheet sets with a cover page are not available yet. This version puts drawings on one sheet with a full title block and exports a true-scale PDF.
Part of ToolFluency’s library of free online tools for Construction. No account needed, no data leaves your device.