Quick summary: Send CAD files with WeTransfer by uploading your drawings at wetransfer.com and sharing via email or transfer link. WeTransfer supports all CAD formats including .dwg, .dxf, .rvt, and .skp files - ideal for sharing architectural drawings, engineering designs, and 3D models with clients and collaborators.
Why WeTransfer for CAD File Transfers?
CAD files from AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, SolidWorks, and other design software are often too large for email, especially 3D models with textures or complex assemblies. WeTransfer makes it simple to send CAD files without compression, maintaining drawing integrity and all embedded references.
Whether you're sharing architectural plans with a client, sending engineering drawings to a fabricator, or collaborating with other designers, WeTransfer handles technical file transfers reliably.
Step-by-Step: How to Send Your CAD Files
Here's how to transfer CAD drawings and models using WeTransfer:
1. Visit WeTransfer.com
Open your browser and go to wetransfer.com. No install is required, you can send files directly from your browser.
2. Choose Your Delivery Method
Select either:
- Email: Send directly via email to your recipients
- Link: Generate a shareable transfer link for project teams or client portals
3. Upload Your CAD Files
Click Add your files and select your CAD drawings. WeTransfer supports all major formats including:
- AutoCAD: .dwg, .dxf, .dwf
- Revit: .rvt, .rfa, .rte
- SketchUp: .skp
- SolidWorks: .sldprt, .sldasm, .slddrw
- Rhino: .3dm
- And many more
4. Include Reference Files
If your CAD file references external files (xrefs, textures, linked models, or custom fonts), add them to the same transfer. This ensures the recipient can open your file with all elements intact.
5. Add Technical Notes (optional)
Include a message with project details, revision numbers, or viewing instructions. This helps recipients understand which version they're receiving.
6. Transfer Your Files
Click Transfer to upload. Larger CAD assemblies may take several minutes depending on your connection speed.
If you send large architectural projects, complex assemblies with many parts, or entire project folders with multiple drawings and supporting files, try WeTransfer Ultimate. Ultimate transfers can remain available for up to a year.
Tips for Sending CAD Files Successfully
Bind or package your files. Package all external references into a single folder before uploading. This prevents missing xref errors on the recipient's end.
Include a viewer-friendly format. Consider also sending a PDF version of your drawings so clients without CAD software can still review your work.
Use clear naming conventions. Name your files descriptively: "ProjectName_FloorPlan_RevC_2025-10-14.dwg" helps recipients track versions and understand content at a glance.
Add password protection for client work. Important for proprietary designs, unreleased products, or confidential client projects.
Sending Complete Project Folders
Complex CAD projects often include dozens or hundreds of files with dependencies. When sending complete projects:
- Organize files in a clear folder structure before uploading
- Include a README.txt with project information and folder organization
- Verify all external references point to locations within the transfer folder
- Test opening the main file to ensure all references load correctly
WeTransfer preserves your folder structure, so recipients download everything exactly as you organized it.
Security for Technical Files
All CAD files uploaded to WeTransfer are encrypted during transfer using TLS encryption. Your content is always your content - we don’t use machine learning or any form of AI to process content shared via WeTransfer.
For sensitive projects containing proprietary designs or confidential client information, use the password protection feature.
Troubleshooting CAD File Transfers
Missing external references? This happens when you forget to include linked files. Use your CAD software's packaging feature before uploading to WeTransfer.
Recipient can't open the file? Ensure they have compatible software or send a viewer-friendly format like PDF or DWF alongside your native CAD file.
Version compatibility issues? Consider saving your file in an older format version for broader compatibility, especially when sending to clients who may not have the latest CAD software.
Now you're ready to share your CAD files quickly and securely with WeTransfer.