SketchUp Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield SketchUp facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which SketchUp tool would you use to divide a face or edge into equal segments? → Divide command via right-click on an edge
2. What is the recommended best practice for using Tags in SketchUp? → Keep all raw geometry on Tag0 and assign Tags only to groups and components
3. What happens if you edit a component's definition geometry in SketchUp? → All instances of that component update simultaneously
4. Which file format allows you to import a 2D CAD drawing (like a floor plan) into SketchUp for use as a reference? → .dwg / .dxf
5. Which SketchUp style setting controls the appearance of edges that are hidden behind surfaces? → Back Edges
6. What does the 'JointPushPull' extension extend beyond SketchUp's native Push/Pull tool? → Push/pull operations on curved and non-planar surfaces
7. In SketchUp 2020 and later, what replaced the term 'Layers' in the interface? → Tags
8. How do you assign a group or component to a Tag in SketchUp? → Select the group/component and choose the tag in the Entity Info panel or Tags panel
9. Which SketchUp tool would you use to create a shape with equal sides, such as a hexagon? → Polygon
10. What is the definition of an inference point? → Inference Points are the various points of an edge or line indicated by your cursor
11. When you export a SketchUp model to AutoCAD (.dwg), what is exported? → Edges and faces as 2D or 3D AutoCAD entities based on export settings
12. What does the Follow Me tool do in SketchUp? → Extrudes a profile face along a selected path edge
13. What is the function of the Measurements box (formerly VCB) in SketchUp? → Allows you to enter precise dimensions for operations
14. In SketchUp, how do you make a rectangle? → Select the Rectangle tool () from the toolbar or press the R key.
15. What does pressing 'S' activate in SketchUp? → Scale tool
16. What is a 'Scrapbook' in LayOut? → A library of reusable graphic elements such as title blocks, symbols, and callouts
17. In LayOut, what does 'Hybrid' rendering mode do for a viewport? → Combines raster textures/shadows with crisp vector line work
18. How many Scene tabs can you create in a single SketchUp model? → There is no practical limit
19. Which SketchUp rendering mode shows materials and textures on faces? → Shaded with Textures
20. What does the pencil icon next to a tag name in the Tags panel indicate in SketchUp? → That tag is the active drawing tag where new geometry will be placed
21. What is the purpose of the 'Transition Time' setting in SketchUp's scene animation? → It controls how long the camera takes to move between two scenes
22. What does enabling 'Use sun for shading' in SketchUp Shadows settings do to materials? → Makes shaded faces appear darker on shadow sides based on sun angle
23. In SketchUp, how do nested components differ from top-level components? → Nested components are contained within another group or component, creating a hierarchy
24. What is 3D Warehouse in SketchUp? → An online library of free 3D models and components
25. What is the function of the Eraser tool in SketchUp when used with Ctrl held down (Option on Mac)? → Softens/smooths edges instead of deleting them
26. What is 'gluing' behavior in a SketchUp component? → Making a component snap to and align with a face when placed
27. When using the Arc tool in SketchUp, what does the magenta (pink) color of the arc indicate? → The arc is tangent to adjacent geometry
28. What does 'Make Component' do in SketchUp? → Converts geometry into a reusable, named definition that can be instanced multiple times
29. What is the purpose of the Rotate tool in SketchUp? → Spins selected geometry around a specified pivot point and axis
30. What happens to a Scene in SketchUp if you change a tag's visibility without updating the scene? → The scene retains its previously saved visibility state until you manually update it