BenchUp — Free 3D Woodworking & Furniture Design App

BenchUp

3 min read Original article ↗

3D design for
your next woodworking project.

BenchUp is a free, open-source 3D modeling app for woodworking and furniture design. Plan a shelf, table, cabinet, or workbench with exact measurements before you build. Use it on Windows, macOS, Linux, or right in your desktop browser.

BenchUp’s 3D editor showing a loft bed model, with drawing tools on the left and model controls on the right.
A little sketch. A whole new dimension.Actual BenchUp workspace

Free & open source. No account needed.
Made for a desktop browser and a mouse.

From the first line
to the finer details.

Start with a simple shape. Keep the tools you need close, and your model at the center.

Draw. Pull. Make it yours.

Sketch lines, rectangles, circles, and freehand outlines. Turn faces into forms with Push/Pull, then move, scale, offset, and paint.

Keep your ideas in measure.

Snap to geometry and axes, type exact lengths, and add dimensions. Organize the bigger picture with groups, components, and tags.

Your work, in your hands.

Autosave locally and download portable .ketchup projects. Import SketchUp geometry or export an OBJ to take your model further.

Plan your furniture
before the first cut.

For woodworkers, furniture makers, and DIY builders who want to explore a project in 3D.

Model the pieces

Draw board outlines with rectangles and lines, then use Push/Pull to give them thickness. Move and copy geometry to explore shelves, tables, cabinets, workbenches, and other furniture.

Check dimensions and fit

Enter exact lengths, snap to geometry and axes, and use Tape Measure and Dimensions to inspect your design. Orbit around the assembly to review proportions before taking it to the workshop.

Keep the project organized

Use groups, reusable components, and tags to organize parts. Save a portable .ketchup project locally, import SketchUp geometry, or export OBJ geometry for another 3D workflow.

Start with the browser editor or download the desktop app. Read the user guide for modeling instructions and supported workflows.

Your first shape
is three steps away.

The editor opens with a clean slate.
Here’s a good place to start.

Open the workspace

  1. Draw a rectangle

    Click one corner, then the opposite corner to create your first face.

  2. Give it some depth

    Choose Push/Pull, click the face, move your mouse, and click to finish.

  3. Find a fresh perspective

    Choose Orbit and drag to look around. Scroll to zoom; press F to fit your model.

A few things
before you begin.

What do I need to run it?

A desktop browser with hardware acceleration and WebGPU or WebGL2 support. Use a mouse and keyboard for modeling. You can also run BenchUp as a native Windows, macOS, or Linux app.

Where does my work go?

Your model is autosaved in this browser on this device. Use File → Save to download a .ketchup project you can keep or open again. Clearing browser data can remove autosaved work, so download projects you want to keep. There’s no cloud storage or account to set up.

Can I use my existing models?

Use File → Import/Export to import SketchUp (.skp) geometry or export Wavefront OBJ (.obj). Imports run locally. SketchUp textures, scenes, and some model features aren’t supported; OBJ export includes geometry without materials.

Is BenchUp free?

Yes. BenchUp is open source under the MIT license and written in Rust. Explore the code, read the full guide, or contribute on GitHub.

A blank canvas.
Plenty of possibilities.

Let’s make something Prefer the desktop? Download BenchUp