What is the RFT file format?
An .rft file is a Revit Family Template, a starting-point file used in Autodesk Revit to author new parametric BIM families. A family in Revit is a reusable building component - a door, window, structural column, lighting fixture, annotation symbol, or any other element - and every family starts from a template that pre-defines its category, host behavior, and reference geometry.
.rft files use the OLE2 Compound File Binary Format (the same container as .rvt project files and .rfa compiled family files). The container holds internal streams for BasicFileInfo (Revit version and edition), family geometry and parameters, reference planes, category constraints, and a RevitPreview4.0 thumbnail image.
Autodesk ships a complete library of .rft templates with each annual Revit release, organized by discipline and element category, stored in C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT <year>\Family Templates\. Selecting the correct template is critical: the template encodes the family category, which determines how Revit handles hosting, visibility, scheduling, and parameter inheritance.
.rft files are version-locked - a template created by Revit 2025 cannot be opened in Revit 2024 or earlier. The format is proprietary with no public specification, and files cannot be opened outside of Revit.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWRFT files are BIM template data, not executables. However, Revit families and templates can in principle carry malicious Dynamo scripts or embedded automation; only use templates from Autodesk's shipped library or trusted internal/official sources.
Format details
in a nutshell- Rich Text Format (RTF) - alternative extension - Some systems incorrectly use .rft for Rich Text Format files; true RTF uses .rtf, not .rft.
Programs that open RFT files
Windows1 app
Autodesk Revit
Paid File > New > Family, browse to the .rft template - Revit opens it in the Family Editor so you can build a new family from it. Subscription required.
Autodesk Viewer
Free Upload to view the template geometry - read-only, no editing. Primarily useful for inspecting a template's reference planes. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Autodesk (originated at Revit Technology Corp., acquired 2002) |
| Container format | OLE2 Compound File Binary Format (CFBF / Microsoft Structured Storage) |
| Magic bytes | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 (OLE2 header, offset 0) - shared with .rvt and .rfa |
| Internal streams | BasicFileInfo, family geometry and parameters, reference planes, RevitPreview4.0 thumbnail |
| Version locking | File is tied to the Revit release year; newer files cannot be opened in older Revit versions |
| Template library location | C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\RVT <year>\Family Templates\ (shipped with each annual Revit release) |
| Purpose | Starting point for authoring parametric Revit families (doors, windows, structural columns, etc.) |
| Category definition | Encodes Revit family category, controlling hosting, scheduling, and visibility behavior |
| Typical file size | 50 KB - 5 MB |
| Encoding | Binary, little-endian |
| Operating system | Windows only |
| Compiled output | Completed family authoring produces a .rfa file; .rfa is then loaded into .rvt project files |
| Released | 2000 (Revit; Autodesk acquired Revit Technology Corp. 2002) |
| Latest version | Revit 2025 family templates (annual release cadence) |
| Specification | www.autodesk.com |
RFT conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about RFT files.
