How to Create a Room Layout on Your iPhone
iPhones are surprisingly capable for room planning — AR scanning measures rooms automatically, and the larger iPhone Plus and Pro Max screens make on-device drawing realistic.
What You'll Need
- •iPhone running iOS 15 or later
- •Room Sketch 3D installed from the App Store
- •The room you want to plan
Step-by-Step
- 1
Install Room Sketch 3D from the App Store
Search 'Room Sketch 3D' in the App Store or use this link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/roomsketch3d-floorplanner/id6759799284. Install and open.
- 2
Choose AR scan or manual drawing
AR scan walks you around the room and measures automatically — fastest for capturing an existing room. Manual drawing is better for planning a new layout where the room doesn't exist yet.
- 3
AR scan: walk the room slowly
Hold the iPhone at chest height, walk slowly around the room's perimeter. Keep the camera pointed at the floor-wall junction. The app captures the floor plan automatically.
- 4
Manual drawing: tap to place walls
Tap to place wall corners; the app connects them with snap-to-grid walls. Pinch to zoom for precise placement. Add doors and windows by tapping on a wall and selecting from the menu.
- 5
Add furniture from the library
Tap the furniture button, browse the 350+ library, drag pieces into the room. For pieces not in the library, use the custom-size option with exact dimensions.
- 6
Switch to 3D
Tap the 3D button to see the room rendered. Pinch and drag to rotate the view. Switch back to 2D to make adjustments.
Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
AR scanning in poor lighting
ARKit needs decent light to track the room. Scanning a dim room produces inaccurate measurements. Turn on lights and open blinds before scanning.
Walking too fast
AR scanning needs slow, steady movement. Walking too fast or jerking the phone breaks the scan. Aim for 1–2 feet per second.
Not verifying AR results manually
AR scans are good but not perfect. After scanning, walk around the room with a tape and verify the major dimensions. Adjust any wrong walls in the manual drawing mode.
Trying to do detail work on iPhone
iPhone screens are great for capturing measurements and quick layout iteration, but detail work (precise furniture placement, fine-tuning) is faster on iPad or web. Use cloud sync to switch devices.
Tips for Better Results
Use AR scan + manual verification
AR scan gets you 80% of the way fast. A 5-minute manual verification with a tape catches the remaining errors. The combination is faster than either alone.
Cloud sync to a bigger screen
Capture on iPhone, finish on iPad or web. Cloud sync makes the same project available on every device. The bigger screen is much faster for detailed layout work.
Take photos as you scan
Wide-angle photos of each wall complement the AR scan with visual context. Stored together in the project, they're invaluable when shopping for furniture later.
Use the iPhone Plus or Pro Max if you have one
Larger iPhone screens make on-device drawing meaningfully easier. If you have a 6.7-inch model, use it for room planning over a smaller iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a floor plan on my iPhone?
Yes — Room Sketch 3D's iPhone app supports AR room scanning and manual drawing, with all the same features as the iPad and web versions. $9.99 one-time, no subscription.
How does AR room scanning work on iPhone?
Hold the iPhone at chest height, walk slowly around the room's perimeter pointing the camera at the floor-wall junction. The ARKit framework tracks distance and creates a floor plan automatically. Verify accuracy with a tape afterward.
Is the iPhone version different from the web version?
Same app, same features. iPhone has AR scanning (iOS only), web doesn't. Web has more screen real estate for detail work. Cloud sync makes the same project available on both.
What iPhone do I need?
iOS 15 or later. AR scanning works best on iPhone XS or newer (with LiDAR-enabled iPhone Pro models being most accurate). Manual drawing works on any iOS 15+ iPhone.
Can I do this in Room Sketch 3D?
Yes — Room Sketch 3D was built with iPhone as a primary platform. AR scanning, full 350+ furniture library, 2D and 3D views, and cloud sync all work on iPhone. $9.99 one-time via the App Store.
Ready to plan from your phone?
Room Sketch 3D's iPhone app is fully featured — start with an AR scan during your apartment viewing, finish the layout from the couch.
Start with Room Sketch 3DNo subscription · 30-day money-back · Web, iOS & Android