.webp)
Getting a phone scan into AutoCAD used to mean going through a conversion service, waiting for a processed file, or fighting with a third-party converter. Polycam's DXF export changes that. The file opens directly in AutoCAD, saves as a native DWG, and the floor plan geometry is already clean when it arrives.
Polycam vs Matterport CAD File vs Scan2CAD
| Polycam | Matterport CAD File | Scan2CAD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Exports a DXF floor plan directly from a phone scan | Managed service producing a packaged DWG from a Matterport hardware capture | Converts existing paper drawings or PDFs into editable DXF/DWG |
| Hardware required | LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad Pro currently required for 2D floorplan/DXF export (Polycam is expanding this capability to additional devices) | Matterport Pro1, Pro2, Pro2 Lite, or Pro3 camera | None, desktop software that works from scanned images |
| Turnaround | Same day as the site visit | As fast as 3 business days on Professional plan or higher, per Matterport | Self-service, minutes per drawing to convert (no wait, you run it yourself) |
| Output | Clean 2D DXF floor plan you develop to project LOD in AutoCAD | Packaged DWG floor plan plus reflected ceiling plan, at LOD 200 | Editable DXF/DWG from a raster source, not from 3D scan data |
| Cost | Part of a paid Polycam plan | Separate add-on purchase | Separate desktop software purchase |
| Best for | In-house AutoCAD teams who want to own the process | Teams wanting a complete packaged deliverable without doing CAD work | Digitizing old paper drawings or PDFs, not 3D scan data |
DXF vs DWG: What's the Difference?
If you've ever wondered why some apps export DXF, and others mention DWG, you're not alone. The short version: they're closely related formats, and AutoCAD handles both.
DWG is Autodesk's native format, proprietary to this day. It's what AutoCAD saves in by default. DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) is the open interchange format Autodesk created specifically so that other applications could exchange drawing data with AutoCAD. Autodesk's own AutoCAD documentation confirms the workflow is that simple: a DXF file becomes a native DWG the moment you open it and choose Save As DWG, no intermediate conversion step required.
That's the whole story for a Polycam workflow. Polycam exports DXF. AutoCAD opens it. You save as DWG and carry on. No conversion software, no plugin, no compatibility workaround.
From Polycam to DXF
Polycam actually exports two different DXF files, and it's worth knowing which one you're after before you start. One is a point cloud DXF, an export of the raw 3D mesh data, useful if you need the scan geometry itself in a CAD environment. The other is a 2D floorplan DXF, a flattened, structured floor plan with walls, openings, and rooms already laid out. This guide is about the second one, the 2D floorplan DXF, since that's what turns into an editable, professional-looking drawing in AutoCAD.
The result is a clean, structured floor plan: closed wall lines, correctly placed openings, room boundaries, and detected furniture. It's much closer to a finished drawing than most people expect a mobile scan to produce.
Step 1: Capture in Space mode on a LiDAR-equipped device. 2D floorplan and DXF export currently require an iPhone or iPad Pro model with a LiDAR sensor; Polycam is expanding this capability to additional devices. Start in a corner of the space, aim at the opposite corner, and move through at a steady pace, scanning from floor to ceiling. Complete each room before moving to the next. For best practices in capture, see Polycam's Site Survey Workflow guide.
Step 2: Review and refine the floor plan. After processing, open the Floorplan view. Polycam will automatically generate a clean plan, but it's worth checking it against your site notes before exporting. Polycam's Floor Plan Editor lets you make adjustments directly: confirm that all rooms are represented, that openings are in the right positions, and that the layout looks right.
Step 3: Crop the 3D capture. Before exporting, use Polycam's cropping tool to trim the 3D model down to the area of interest. This operates on the underlying 3D capture, not the flat 2D DXF, but since the floor plan and DXF export are both generated from that same 3D data, removing geometry outside the building envelope here is what keeps the exported floor plan focused and the file size down, and makes it easier to navigate once it's in AutoCAD.
Step 4: Export as DXF. Tap the download icon (the downward-facing arrow) on mobile, or download on the web, select the floorplan DXF (not the point cloud DXF), and export. That's the file that goes into AutoCAD.
Opening in AutoCAD
Once you have the DXF file on your computer, getting it into AutoCAD is simple.
Step 1: Open the DXF. File > Open. AutoCAD opens it directly with no import plugin required.
Step 2: Check units before doing anything else. Go to Format > Units and confirm the drawing units match your project. If the scale looks wrong, set the correct units and use the SCALE command to correct the geometry before touching anything else. A units mismatch is easier to fix at the start than after you've already drawn on top of it.
Step 3: Set the drawing limits and zoom to extents. Go to Format > Drawing Limits, then use ZOOM > EXTENTS. Now you’ll see the whole floor plan and can start work.
Step 4: Save as DWG. Go to File > Save As, select DWG from the file type list, choose the correct AutoCAD version for your team, then save. Now your drawing is a native DWG file.
Applying Drawing Standards in AutoCAD
The floor plan comes in clean, so the work in AutoCAD is bringing it up to your firm's professional standards, not fixing broken geometry.
The first task is layer organization. The exported geometry comes in on just a handful of layers, so you'll want to sort it onto your firm's standard layers: walls, openings, annotations, dimensions, before you go further. The LAYER command handles the creating, renaming, and reassigning.
Once your layers are set, add dimensions using AutoCAD’s DIM commands. Polycam’s standard interior captures are accurate to within about half an inch, which is enough for most as-built and renovation projects. If you need dimensions for structural or MEP engineering, it’s good practice to double-check with a laser distance meter, no matter what capture method you use.
Finally, add your firm’s title block, a north arrow, a scale bar, the drawing number and revision, and the survey date.
For a full guide to what belongs in a finished as-built drawing set, see Polycam's As-Built Drawings guide.
Polycam vs Matterport CAD Service
Matterport offers a CAD File add-on that turns a Matterport capture into a packaged DWG deliverable. It's a managed service: you scan with Matterport hardware, upload to the cloud, purchase the add-on, and Matterport's software generates the CAD file from the point cloud.
The day-to-day practical differences are significant. Polycam's DXF is ready the same day as the site visit; Matterport states its CAD File is generated automatically from the point cloud and can arrive in as fast as 3 business days on a Professional subscription plan or higher, but it's still a submit-and-wait process rather than something you leave the site with. Polycam's Space mode works on compatible mobile devices; Matterport's CAD service requires a Matterport camera (Pro1, Pro2, Pro2 Lite, or Pro3), which is a separate hardware purchase. Polycam's DXF export is part of a paid plan; Matterport's CAD File is an additional purchase.
The outputs are different as well. Matterport’s CAD File includes both a floor plan and a reflected ceiling plan, packaged as a DWG at LOD 200. Polycam gives you a clean 2D floor plan that you can import into AutoCAD and develop to the level of detail your project needs.
If your team needs a complete DWG package without doing the AutoCAD work, Matterport’s service is a good choice. If you have in-house AutoCAD skills and want a quick scan-to-DWG workflow, Polycam is faster and more cost-effective.
Polycam vs Scan2CAD
Scan2CAD addresses a different need than Polycam, so it’s important not to assume they do the same thing.
Scan2CAD converts existing drawings stored as images or PDFs into editable DWG or DXF files, a process Scan2CAD's own documentation calls "raster-to-vector conversion." If you have a paper drawing scanned to a PDF, Scan2CAD can convert it into editable CAD geometry. It doesn't process 3D scan data or generate floor plans.
If you’re working with a Polycam capture, you don’t need Scan2CAD for that workflow. Scan2CAD is helpful when you have old paper drawings to import into AutoCAD along with your current scan data. Polycam’s DXF shows what’s there now, while Scan2CAD brings in the historical record. It’s also useful for digitizing handwritten site sketches from a survey.
FAQ
What are the best scan-to-DWG apps for architects? For a direct scan-to-DXF workflow that opens in AutoCAD, Polycam's Space mode generates a clean floor plan and exports DXF as part of its standard workflow. For a managed service that delivers a complete packaged DWG without in-house CAD work, Matterport's CAD File add-on is an option, though it requires Matterport hardware and is a separate paid service.
How do you convert phone scans to DWG? Capture in Polycam Space mode, review and refine the floor plan in Polycam's Floor Plan Editor, export as DXF, open the DXF in AutoCAD, apply your firm's drawing standards, and save as DWG. No third-party conversion tool is needed.
What is the scan-to-DWG workflow for as-builts?
- Capture the space in Polycam's Space mode.
- Review and refine the floor plan in Polycam's Floor Plan Editor.
- Export as DXF.
- Open the DXF in AutoCAD and confirm units.
- Organize layers, then add dimensions and annotations.
- Apply a title block and save as DWG.
The floor plan geometry comes out clean, so most of the AutoCAD time goes into drawing standards rather than geometry fixes. For the full as-built deliverable checklist, see Polycam's As-Built Drawings guide.
What are the alternatives to Matterport for DWG export? Polycam exports DXF directly from a Space mode capture without additional hardware or a paid conversion service. The floor plan arrives clean in AutoCAD; the work is applying drawing standards. Matterport's CAD File add-on delivers a more complete, packaged DWG that includes a reflected ceiling plan, but requires additional hardware and a separate purchase. Which fits depends on whether the team wants to own the CAD process or outsource it.
Which mobile app exports DWG most reliably for AutoCAD? Polycam exports DXF, which AutoCAD opens natively and saves as DWG. DWG is a proprietary Autodesk format, and writing it natively requires the AutoCAD engine.
Do I need Scan2CAD to convert a Polycam scan to DWG? No. Scan2CAD converts drawings stored as images or PDFs into editable CAD files. It's a raster-to-vector tool, not a 3D scan processor. Polycam's DXF goes straight into AutoCAD. Scan2CAD is relevant if you need to digitize old paper drawings or PDFs alongside Polycam scan data.
What is the difference between DXF and DWG? DWG is Autodesk's proprietary native format for AutoCAD. DXF is an open interchange format designed for exchanging drawing data between AutoCAD and other applications. AutoCAD handles both equally well, and per Autodesk's own documentation, switching from one to the other requires no special conversion step: open the DXF and save it as a DWG, and it becomes a fully native AutoCAD file.
How accurate is the floor plan Polycam generates? Polycam achieves +/-½-inch accuracy in standard interior captures. The floor plan produces clean, structured geometry. For most as-built and renovation work, that's more than sufficient. For dimensions driving structural or MEP engineering decisions, a spot-check with a laser distance meter is good professional practice with any capture method.