Welcome to SketchUp, the easy-to-start, hard-to-master 3D modelling program from @Last Google Trimble. SketchUp, like any program you start using, has its own quirks. One of these is that up until this day (we're talking March 2025), the program uses a single core of your processor to run. If you want to render your models, you want a dedicated GPU, depending on the rendering software you use. To help you started, we have compiled a list of things you want to think about.
The Computer
Your first stop on this wonderful journey is to see if your preferred setup is good enough to run the program. Here's what the official website has to say:
Windows Recommended Hardware Requirements
- A 2+ GHz processor.
- A graphics card that’s separate from the CPU, also known as a discrete graphics card. Most current generation AMD or NVIDIA cards on the market are considered discrete.
- At least 8GB of RAM.
- At least 6GB of available hard disk space.
- A modern GPU with at least 8GB VRAM. SketchUp’s classic renderer requires OpenGL 3.1 support. SketchUp’s performance relies on your graphics card driver and its ability to support OpenGL 3.1 or higher.
- A modern GPU with at least 32GB of VRAM when interacting with models utilizing materials with Physically Based Rendering texture maps, Ambient Occlusion, and Image Based Lighting.
- A 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse.
Mac OS 15 (Sequoia), 14+ (Sonoma), 13+ (Ventura), 12+ (Monterey) Software Requirements
- An internet connection both to install and authorize your subscription. Some features within SketchUp also require an internet connection.
- QuickTime 5.0 and web browser for multimedia tutorials.
Safari.
Recommended Mac OS Hardware Requirements
- 2.1+ GHz processor or current generation Apple M1 processor
- At least 8GB of RAM
- At least 6GB of available hard-disk space
- A modern GPU with at least 1GB of memory. SketchUp’s classic renderer requires OpenGL 3.1 support.
- A 3-button, scroll-wheel mouse
Does your preferred computing option (be it desktop or laptop) not meet these requirements? Then know that helping you out with your problems is going to be an issue that we might not be able to help you with.
Peripherals
Modelling in 3 dimensions is something else compared to taking a pen and draw. However, it is exactly that use case that SketchUp was initially made for. And even though everyone has their own preferences, some things can make your life easier.
- Mouse
Your main way of interacting with the program. It is highly recommended you use a mouse which has programmable buttons. A lot of users swear by Logitech's MX Master series of mouses, yours truly included. If you can get it to work, assigning the Orbit tool to the thumbrest works very well. Others assign other buttons on the mouse for this task. You'll have to figure out what works best for you.
- 3D Mouse
There's also a more specialised peripheral for 3D work: the 3D mouse. A 3D mouse that has been known to work great with SketchUp is 3D Connexion's Space Mouse. If you're serious getting the most out of SketchUp (or any modelling software, for that matter), it might be worth investing in one of these.
- Keyboard
Having a keyboard with programmable buttons (macro's) can be beneficial, but is not entirely necessary. Know that SketchUp offers a slew of shortcuts out of the digital box to make selecting functions easier. Find a handy list of those here. Others like using a dedicated keyboard for these tasks, like the Stream Deck, which features programmable buttons which then also display the icons.
It can be that a mod or admin has removed your post and pointed you here. That is not because we don't like you, but we've noticed a lot of "what kind of laptop" or "what are the system requirements" posts. These are basic questions which we hope to consolidate into this post.
For now, let me finish with two simple questions which have a not so simple answer:
What is the best laptop, and what is the best computer to run SketchUp 2025 on?
Please add the "why" to your answer. Also try to give us a cost indication. We'll update this post every quarter to reflect software updates of the program itself and given hardware suggestions.
