Buy Chief Architect Software

Chief Architect Premier

Version	Price & Buy
X17 Build 27.2.1.2	$75
X16 Build 26.3.0.10	$65
X15 Build 25.1.0.45	$60
X13 Build 23.2.0.55	$50
X12 Build 22.3.0.55	$45
X10 Build 20.3.0.54	$45
X9 Build 19.3.1.8	$45
X8 Build 18.1.1.4	$45
X7 Build 17.1.0.51	$45
X6 Build 16.2.0.47	$45

How Does Chief Architect Automate Your Design Workflow?

Smart Building Technology

The moment you draw walls in Chief Architect Premier, the software begins creating a 3D model automatically. Doors and windows insert with proper framing details already configured. Cabinets align to walls and merge their countertops when positioned next to each other. This intelligent behavior means you're designing in 3D without the manual modeling work.

Roof generation happens with a single click using the automatic roof builder. Chief Architect analyzes your floor plan structure and creates hip roofs, gable roofs, or dutch gable configurations based on wall types you specify. The software generates roof planes, valleys, ridges, and even trusses automatically—roof designs that would take hours to model manually appear in seconds.

• Foundations generate automatically beneath your floor plan with proper footings and stem walls configured to local building standards
• Framing appears throughout the structure including studs, joists, beams, and headers sized according to span requirements
• Stairs calculate rise, run, and landing dimensions based on the floor heights you specify
• Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems place with appropriate symbols and can route through walls and floors

Construction Documentation

Every view of your project—floor plans, elevations, cross-sections, and details—comes from the same 3D model. When you modify a wall location or change a window size, Chief Architect updates every sheet in your documentation set automatically. This synchronized approach eliminates the inconsistencies that plague projects drawn with traditional CAD tools where each view exists as a separate, unconnected drawing.

Materials lists generate automatically from the components in your model. Wall framing counts every stud and header. Roofing calculations include shingles, underlayment, and ridge caps based on actual roof surface area. Cabinet schedules list every door style, drawer configuration, and hardware piece. You can generate these lists for the entire project, specific rooms, or custom areas you define with a polyline.

Why Do Clients Choose Designs Created with Chief Architect?

Photorealistic 3D Visualization

Chief Architect Premier renders your designs with ray-traced lighting that shows exactly how sunlight will enter windows at different times of day. Materials display with accurate reflections, textures, and bump mapping—hardwood floors show grain patterns, granite countertops reveal depth and sparkle, and glass surfaces reflect their surroundings realistically.

The real-time rendering engine allows you to explore material options instantly during client meetings. Change cabinet door styles, swap countertop materials, or try different paint colors and see results immediately without waiting for rendering processes to complete. This interactive capability helps clients make confident material selections and reduces the decision paralysis that often delays projects.

Mobile Collaboration Tools

The 3D Viewer app transforms how you share designs with clients, contractors, and project stakeholders. Export any camera view from Chief Architect Premier to your account, then share a link that allows recipients to explore the model on their phones, tablets, or computers without installing any software. They can walk through interiors using first-person controls, examine the exterior from any angle, or view floor plans with interactive cross-section sliders.

Augmented reality mode lets clients visualize room layouts by placing virtual models on their actual table or floor surfaces using their phone camera. Structural engineers can review framing details, subcontractors can take measurements from the model, and clients can show family members the design from anywhere. This accessibility accelerates approvals and reduces revision cycles because everyone involved can see and understand the design clearly.

What Design Applications Does Chief Architect Support?

Residential Design Projects

New home construction projects benefit from Chief Architect's complete documentation capabilities. Create foundation plans with proper footings and reinforcement details, generate framing plans showing every structural member, and produce roof plans with valleys, hips, and ridge details clearly marked. The software handles complex roof intersections, varied ceiling heights, and multi-level structures common in custom home design.

Remodeling projects and home additions start with as-built measurements you capture using a laser meter. Draw the existing structure, then use layer controls to show demolition work, new construction, and preserved elements distinctly. Reference the original plan while designing the addition to ensure proper alignment and transitions. Chief Architect automatically handles foundation work, roof tie-ins, and framing connections where new construction meets existing walls.

Interior Design Specialization

Kitchen and bath designers work with tools specifically configured for their workflows. Cabinet objects follow National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) standards for dimensioning wall elevations and floor plans automatically. Place appliances first as anchor points, then arrange cabinets that bump together forming continuous countertops with proper overhangs and backsplash details.

The manufacturer catalog includes cabinet door styles from brands like Diamond, Homecrest, Kemper, and Schrock with accurate door profiles, wood species, and finish options. Place specific model numbers in your design, and those exact specifications appear in cabinet schedules for ordering. Custom vanities, shaped cabinets for corner applications, and specialty storage solutions build using the same smart cabinet tools that automatically merge countertops and align with walls.

Light Commercial Applications

Small commercial buildings, multi-family residential units, and mixed-use developments fall within Chief Architect Premier's capabilities. The software handles multiple dwelling units with repeating floor plans, commercial storefronts with large window systems, and mixed-use buildings combining retail spaces with residential units above. Accessibility features including ADA-compliant ramps, door clearances, and restroom fixtures place with proper dimensions and clearances.

How Does the Comprehensive Design Library Work?

Material and Object Catalog

Chief Architect Premier includes 130,000+ materials, textures, and 3D objects accessible through the integrated library browser. Paint manufacturers like Behr and Benjamin Moore provide complete color collections with accurate color matching for renderings. Flooring brands including Armstrong offer wood species, tile patterns, and carpet textures you can apply to surfaces and see in photorealistic renderings.

Countertop materials from Cambria show actual quartz patterns with proper depth and translucency. Window and door manufacturers provide operating units with correct dimensions, glass options, and hardware configurations. The catalog extends beyond generic objects to include specific products you can order, with manufacturer names and model numbers appearing in project schedules for accurate specification and ordering.

Style Palette Tools

Design style libraries transform entire rooms with coordinated materials, colors, and furnishings representing specific aesthetics—American Contemporary, International Contemporary, Traditional, or Transitional styles. Apply a style palette to kitchen cabinets and watch door styles, wood species, and hardware update simultaneously. These curated collections help you explore design directions quickly and maintain consistency across material selections.

What Makes Chief Architect Integration-Friendly?

CAD File Compatibility

Import DWG and DXF files from other CAD systems to use as underlays for remodeling projects or to incorporate civil engineering site plans into your designs. Export floor plans and elevations as DWG files when structural engineers or consultants working in other software need to reference your work. PDF generation creates documentation sets you can email to clients, submit for permits, or share with contractors who don't need editable CAD files.

Collaboration Workflow

Share projects with structural engineers who analyze your framing design and return calculations for beam sizing and foundation requirements. Coordinate with mechanical contractors by exporting floor plans showing HVAC equipment locations, duct routing, and register placements. Electrical subcontractors receive plans with fixture locations, switch positions, and panel schedules clearly marked. The 3D model serves as a coordination tool where all trades can visualize their work in context with other building systems.

How to Get Started with Chief Architect Premier?

Essential Tools Overview

Wall drawing tools create enclosed room spaces that define the building structure. Smart objects including doors, windows, cabinets, and stairs place with a few clicks and automatically adapt to their surroundings. The automatic building tools generate roofs, foundations, and framing from your floor plan. 3D camera views let you examine the design from any angle, create walkthrough paths, or generate 360-degree panoramas for client presentations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chief Architect Premier