---
title: "Topography to AutoCAD and Revit: Free Site Contours"
description: "Download contour lines for any site as a DXF with levels, open them in AutoCAD, and build a Revit toposurface or toposolid from them. Free up to 1 km²."
canonical: https://atlasly.app/guides/topography-to-autocad-revit
target_query: "topography dwg free download"
reviewed: 2026-10-27
---

# Topography to AutoCAD and Revit: contours for any site

To design on a sloping site you need contour lines with their levels. Atlasly exports contours from global terrain data as a DXF where every contour keeps its level, ready for AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Rhino or a Revit site surface.

## What you get

- Contour polylines on the C-TOPO-MAJOR and C-TOPO-MINOR layers of the DXF, in metres.
- Each contour's level is stored as its elevation, so it sits at the right height and shows in AutoCAD Properties.
- With Professional or one-off site credits, the OBJ export carries contours as 3D lines at their levels, alongside buildings.
- The contour interval comes from the source terrain data; you cannot choose it. There is no terrain surface mesh in the export.

## Step 1: export the contours

- Open Export Map and search for the site.
- Draw an area a little larger than your site so the surface does not end at the boundary. Up to 1 km² is free.
- Keep the Contours layer on. Turn off other layers if you want a contours-only file.
- Choose DXF and download.

## Step 2: AutoCAD and Civil 3D

- Open the DXF with File > Open and check UNITS is metres.
- Select a contour and look at Elevation in Properties to read its level.
- Use the 3D Orbit view to see the contours at their heights.
- In Civil 3D, create a TIN surface and add the contour polylines as contour data.
- Save as DWG if you need to share it in that format.

## Step 3: Revit site surface

- Open a site plan view and use Insert > Link CAD with Import units set to Meter.
- Revit 2024 and later: Massing & Site > Toposolid > Create from Import > Select Import Instance, then pick the contour layers.
- Revit 2023 and earlier: Massing & Site > Toposurface > Create from Import > Select Import Instance.
- Check a few spot heights against a known level, then simplify the surface if it is heavy.
- Menu names vary by version. If the surface comes in flat, check that the contour layers you picked are the C-TOPO layers.

## Rhino and SketchUp

- Rhino: import the DXF in metres. Use Patch with the contour curves to make a terrain surface.
- SketchUp Pro: import the DXF, then use the Sandbox tools (From Contours) to make a terrain mesh.

## How accurate is it?

The contours are drawn from global terrain data, not a site survey. Their levels have an unrecorded local datum and the terrain source has a limited resolution, so small changes in level, retaining walls and recent earthworks will not show. Use them for early design and studio work. Commission a topographic survey before detailed design, planning drawings or construction.

- Source: [Topographic survey vs site analysis](https://atlasly.app/blog/topographic-survey-vs-site-analysis)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I download topography as DWG for free?**

You can download contours as DXF for free up to 1 km² and save them as DWG in AutoCAD or with the free ODA File Converter. Atlasly does not export DWG itself.

**Can I choose the contour interval?**

No. The interval comes from the terrain source. If you need tighter contours, use a survey or a local terrain dataset.

**Can I make a Revit toposurface from the file?**

Yes. Link the DXF in metres and use Create from Import with the contour layers. In Revit 2024 and later this is under Toposolid; in earlier versions under Toposurface.

**Is this good enough for a planning application?**

No. It is suitable for early design and student work. Planning and construction drawings need a measured topographic survey.

## Download contours for your site

Draw the area, keep the Contours layer and download a DXF with levels. Free up to 1 km².

- [Open Export Map](https://atlasly.app/atlas-ai/export-map?utm_source=atlasly&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=topography-to-autocad-revit)

## Related

- [Map to DWG and DXF for AutoCAD](https://atlasly.app/guides/map-to-dwg)
- [Free CadMapper alternative](https://atlasly.app/guides/cadmapper-alternative)
- [Atlasly and Revit](https://atlasly.app/integrations/revit)
- [Topographic survey vs site analysis](https://atlasly.app/blog/topographic-survey-vs-site-analysis)

---

Source: https://atlasly.app/guides/topography-to-autocad-revit