How to 3D Scan Your Home

A complete guide to capturing your space. No experience needed — just your phone, a free app, and 10–15 minutes per room.

Average scan time: 10–15 minutes per room

What You'll Need

Three things to get started — you probably already have two of them.

A Compatible Smartphone or Tablet

iPhone 12 Pro or newer (with LiDAR) gives the best results. iPhone 8+ and ARCore-compatible Android devices (most 2019+ phones) work in photo/photogrammetry mode. Check the app links below for specific device compatibility.

A Free Scanning App

We recommend Polycam, Scaniverse, or the Matterport app. All are free to download and easy to use. See our app comparison below.

10–15 Minutes Per Room

Walk slowly through each room you want renovated. The app guides you in real time. Most people nail it on their first try.

Recommended Scanning Apps

Most are free to download, with free trials or low-cost scans. Click any app name to check compatibility with your device.

Polycam →

Our Top Pick

The most versatile scanning app. LiDAR mode for supported devices, plus photo mode for most others. Easy export in multiple formats.

iPhone 8+ / Android 8.0+
LiDAR on iPhone Pro / iPad Pro
Exports .ply, .obj, .glb
Some exports require paid plan

Scaniverse →

Best Free Option

Built by Niantic. Excellent LiDAR scans with a clean, beginner-friendly interface. Great color accuracy. Truly free with no watermarks.

iPhone 8+ / Android 8.0+ w/ ARCore
LiDAR on Pro iPhones/iPads
Exports .ply, .obj, .glb, .fbx
100% free

Industry-standard for virtual tours. Creates shareable 3D walkthroughs. Just share your Matterport link and we'll extract what we need.

iPhone 8+ (iOS 15+) / Android 10+
LiDAR + Matterport 360 cameras
Shareable link (no file export needed)
Free tier limited to 1 space

Not sure if your device is compatible? Check the LiDAR-equipped iPhones & iPads list or the ARCore-supported Android devices list.

Step-by-Step Scanning Guide

Follow these steps for a scan our designers can work with.

1

Download Your Scanning App

Install Polycam, Scaniverse, or Matterport from your app store. Open the app and create a free account if prompted. Familiarize yourself with the interface by doing a quick test scan of a small area like a desk or countertop.

2

Prepare the Space

Turn on all the lights in the rooms you want to scan. Open blinds and curtains for extra natural light. Clear any major clutter from floors and surfaces — the scan captures everything it sees, so a tidy room means cleaner data for our designers.

Pro Tip: You don't need to empty the room. Furniture and fixtures help our designers understand the space. Just remove things like laundry baskets, pet toys, and shoes.
3

Start Scanning

Open the app and select "Room Scan" or "LiDAR Scan" mode. Hold your device at chest height and slowly walk through the room, sweeping your phone side to side in smooth, overlapping passes. Move at a steady walking pace — like you're giving someone a video tour.

Pro Tip: Walk in a slow loop around the room's perimeter first, then make a pass through the center. Overlap your coverage by at least 30% for the best results.
4

Capture Key Details

Pause at windows, doors, outlets, and built-in features to let the scanner capture them clearly. Get close to countertops, cabinets, and any areas you specifically want renovated. For kitchens and bathrooms, make sure to scan inside corners and behind fixtures where possible.

Pro Tip: If you're planning a structural change (wall removal, addition), scan the rooms on both sides of the wall, plus the exterior if accessible.
5

Review Your Scan

When you're done, the app will process your scan into a 3D model. Rotate it around and check for any missing walls, large holes, or areas that look warped or incomplete. If you spot gaps, you can usually re-scan just that area and the app will merge the data.

6

Export & Upload

Export your scan as a .ply, .obj, or .glb file (Polycam and Scaniverse both support these). If you used Matterport, just copy the share link. Head to our upload page and drop in your file or paste the link — we'll take it from there.

Pro Tip: If your export file is very large, zip it first. We accept .zip files up to 500MB.

Scanning Tips

Quick do's and don'ts for a great scan.

Turn on all the lights

Bright, even lighting produces the best scans. Open blinds and turn on overhead lights.

Don't rush

Moving too fast causes blur and gaps. Walk slowly and steadily — think "museum pace."

Overlap your passes

Cover each area from multiple angles. 30% overlap between passes eliminates blind spots.

Don't scan mirrors or glass

Reflective surfaces confuse LiDAR. Cover large mirrors with a towel if they're in the scan area.

Scan adjacent rooms

Walk through doorways into connecting rooms so our designers understand the full layout.

Don't point at the ceiling the whole time

Keep the phone at chest height angled slightly down. The sensor captures above and below your aim point.

Take reference photos

Snap a few regular photos of details you care about — finishes, fixtures, problem areas.

Don't scan with pets or people moving

Movement creates ghost artifacts. Keep pets and family out of the scanning zone.

Accepted File Formats

We work with all major 3D scan formats.

Format
Description
Status
.ply
Point cloud format — best for LiDAR scans
Preferred
.obj
Mesh format with texture — universally supported
Preferred
.glb
Compact 3D format — great for mobile exports
Preferred
.e57
Professional scan format — for pro-grade scanners
Accepted
.zip
Compressed archive — for large files up to 500MB
Accepted
Link
Matterport share link — no file export needed
Preferred

Troubleshooting

Having issues? Here are the most common fixes.

This usually means you moved too fast or didn't cover that area from enough angles. Re-scan the missing section slowly, holding your phone steady. Most apps let you merge additional scans with your existing model. Make sure you overlap with areas that were already captured so the app can stitch them together.
Warping happens when the scanner loses tracking — usually due to fast movement, low light, or featureless surfaces (plain white walls). Try rescanning with better lighting and move more slowly. If your room has very plain walls, placing a few objects on the floor can give the scanner reference points to track.
No problem! Polycam and Scaniverse both have photogrammetry (photo-based) modes that work on iPhone 8 and newer and most Android phones from 2019 onward (anything with ARCore support). You'll take a series of overlapping photos instead of a continuous scan. The results are slightly less precise than LiDAR but still very usable for renovation design. If you're unsure whether your specific device is supported, click the app links above — each site lists exact compatibility. You can also use Matterport with a 360 camera accessory.
Compress your scan file into a .zip archive before uploading. We accept files up to 500MB. If your scan is still larger than that, try exporting at a lower resolution setting in your scanning app — medium resolution is usually more than enough for renovation design purposes. You can also email us at hello@remodpod.com and we'll set up an alternative transfer.
Upload it anyway! We review every scan before starting work. If it needs improvement, we'll tell you exactly what to rescan and give you tips specific to your space — no charge. You won't be billed until we confirm we have usable data to work with.

Ready to Scan & Upload?

You've got the guide. Now grab your phone, scan your space, and let us handle the design.