SketchUp Pro System Requirements | Like many computer programs, SketchUp requires certain hardware and software specifications in order to install and run. These are basic requirements, though, so you may want to use our recommended suggestions to improve performance.
System Requirements for Windows 10 or 11
- Software
- An internet connection is required to install and authorize SketchUp and to use some of the features.
- SketchUp Pro requires .NET Framework version 4.5.2.
- Recommended hardware
- 2+ GHz processor
- Discrete Graphics card such as a current generation AMD or NVIDIA.
- 8+ GB RAM
- 2GB of available hard-disk space
- 3D class video card with 1 GB of memory or higher and support for hardware acceleration.
- 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse.
- Minimum hardware
- 1 GHz processor
- 4GB RAM
- 1GB of free hard-disk space
- 3D class video card with 512 MB of memory or higher and support for hardware acceleration. Please ensure that the video card driver supports OpenGL 3.1 or higher and is up to date.
System Requirements for Mac OS
- Software
- An internet connection is required to authorize SketchUp and to use some of the features.
- QuickTime 5.0 and web browser for multimedia tutorials.
- Safari
- Recommended hardware
- 2.1+ GHz processor or current generation Apple M1 processor
- 8GB RAM
- 2GB of available hard-disk space
- 3D class video card with 1 GB of memory or higher and support for hardware acceleration. Please ensure that the video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.1 or higher and is up to date.
- 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse
- Minimum hardware
- 2.1+ GHz Intel™ processor
- 4GB RAM
- 1GB of available hard-disk space.
- 3D class video card with 512 MB of memory or higher and support for hardware acceleration. Please ensure that the video card driver supports OpenGL version 3.1 or higher and up to date.
- 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse.
SketchUp requirements for laptop
Here are the system requirements to run SketchUp on a laptop:
Minimum requirements:
- Processor: 2.1+ GHz Intel™ processor
- RAM: 4GB
- Hard Drive: 1.5GB of available space
- Graphics Card: Modern GPU with at least 512MB of memory and OpenGL 3.1 support
- Mouse: 3-button mouse with a scroll wheel
Recommended requirements:
- Processor: 2.1+ GHz processor or current generation Apple M1 processor
- RAM: 16GB
- Hard Drive: 2GB of available space
- Graphics Card: Dedicated graphics card with at least 1GB of memory and OpenGL 3.1 support
- Mouse: 3-button mouse with a scroll wheel
Additional notes:
- While SketchUp can technically run on a laptop that meets the minimum requirements, it is highly recommended to use a laptop that meets the recommended requirements for optimal performance.
- If you plan on using SketchUp for professional purposes, such as creating complex models or rendering large projects, you will need a laptop with even more powerful specifications.
- You can check your laptop’s specifications by going to the System Preferences on a Mac or by right-clicking on “This PC” and selecting “Properties” on Windows.
Here are some additional tips for choosing a laptop for SketchUp:
- Look for a laptop with a powerful processor, such as an Intel Core i5 or i7 or a recent generation AMD Ryzen processor.
- Make sure the laptop has a dedicated graphics card, such as an NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX series card or an AMD Radeon RX series card.
- Aim for at least 16GB of RAM, especially if you plan on working with large models or using extensions.
- Consider getting a laptop with a solid-state drive (SSD) for faster loading times and performance.
- Make sure the laptop has a high-resolution display with good color accuracy, especially if you plan on doing a lot of rendering work.
SketchUp graphics card requirements
SketchUp requires a graphics card, also known as a GPU (graphics processing unit), to function properly. While it can technically run on integrated graphics, a dedicated graphics card will significantly improve your experience, especially when working with complex models.
Here’s a breakdown of the minimum and recommended graphics card requirements for SketchUp:
Minimum requirements:
- Graphics card: Modern GPU with at least 512MB of memory and support for hardware acceleration.
- Driver support: OpenGL 3.1 support and up-to-date drivers.
Recommended:
- Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon with more than 4GB of video memory.
- Driver support: Latest drivers for your specific graphics card.
Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a graphics card for SketchUp:
- Model size and complexity: If you plan on working with large and complex models, you’ll need a more powerful graphics card with more video memory.
- Rendering: If you intend to do a lot of rendering within SketchUp, a graphics card with good CUDA or OpenCL support will be beneficial.
- Other software: If you use other graphics-intensive software, you’ll need a graphics card that can handle the combined workload.
Overall, the best graphics card for SketchUp depends on your specific needs and budget. However, following the recommendations above will ensure that you have a smooth and enjoyable experience while using the software.