Trimble released SketchUp 2027 for Windows and Mac on October 21, as version 27.0.264. The most important new feature is procedural functions (Procedures): copies along a path, shapes from Follow Me, and combined solids remain editable after creation instead of becoming fixed geometry. The version can only be installed on Windows 11 and on Macs with Apple Silicon, as the release notes state.
What can the procedural functions do?
Three tools sit in the new toolbar for procedural functions. Copy Along is new and distributes groups or components at an adjustable spacing along a path; the path, copies, and parameters can be edited at any time. Follow Me now processes several profiles within a group or component and retains materials and attributes. The Solid Tools combine several nested solids and, where possible, preserve tags, classifications, and metadata.
The result is called a procedural component and can be nested, reused, and edited like any other component. The settings are in the Entity Info window. A new context menu entry (Explode to Inputs) dissolves the component and leaves only the geometry. Trimble announces further procedural functions for later versions.
An example: for 24 identical windows along a curved facade, you would in future change the spacing in one place instead of repositioning all the copies. The trade magazine Digital Production nonetheless does not see SketchUp as a replacement for Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender. In the magazine's view, the program is strong at quick shapes with fixed dimensions that can still be changed later.
Who gets SketchUp 2027 and on which computers does the version run?
In the release notes, the procedural functions are listed under SketchUp for Desktop, and the desktop version belongs to the Pro and Studio subscriptions. The Go subscription includes SketchUp in the browser and on the iPad, but no desktop program, as the subscription overview shows. Subscribers download the new version via the German download page; Trimble does not mention any restriction by country.
Switch to SketchUp 2027 now?
Version 27.0.264, since October 21, 2026 for Windows and Mac
What do you work with?
- Intel Mac or Windows 10Stay with SketchUp 2026.2
- Go subscription in the browser or on the iPadProcedural functions are missing, they are only in the desktop version
- Pro or Studio with many extensionsFirst check whether your extensions support 2027
- Pro or Studio, Windows 11 or Apple SiliconInstall the update and test the new features
Sources: SketchUp release notes, SketchUp download page, SketchUp subscription overview
For Intel Macs and computers with Windows 10, Trimble points to SketchUp 2026.2, which is still available on the download page. A second change affects extensions: Trimble has updated the built-in Ruby interpreter from version 3.2.2 to 3.4.9, and developers of extensions with their own C code must recompile them. Trimble has technically rebuilt the Mac interface; it now matches the Windows version, with dockable toolbars and windows.
What else is new?
- You open several models in tabs or floating windows without starting SketchUp multiple times.
- AutoFit adapts a configurable live component to the size of a surface when you place it on it.
- Section cuts show hatching, managed in the new Hatch Patterns area.
- A new engine produces line drawings of complex models faster; the classic one can be selected again in the settings.
- LayOut gets image adjustments for embedded model views and a drawing mode at 1:1 scale without page boundaries.
What this means for you
If you work on an Intel Mac or under Windows 10, you stay with 2026.2. Changing your system just for SketchUp is only worthwhile once you need the procedural functions regularly.
Before updating, it is best to check whether the developers of your most important extensions already support SketchUp 2027. If this confirmation is missing, it is better to wait before switching.
If you build fences, shelves, or facades from many identical parts, feel free to try out Copy Along on a test model. A SketchUp model also works well as a scaffold for a matte painting in Photoshop; how to set up such a model is shown in the lesson on creating SketchUp models in the course on Digital Painting and Matte Painting.
Trimble released SketchUp 2027 on October 21, 2026. Digital Production published its assessment on November 2, 2026.
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