Top 10 Best Steel Detailing Software of 2026

Tekla Structures is a premier Building Information Modeling (BIM) software developed by Trimble, specializing in detailed 3D modeling for steel, concrete, and timber structures. It excels in creating fabrication-ready models, generating automated drawings, CNC files, material takeoffs, and erection plans with clash detection. Widely regarded as the industry standard for complex steel detailing projects in construction and fabrication.

Advance Steel, developed by Autodesk, is a comprehensive 3D modeling software specialized for steel detailing and fabrication. It allows users to create intelligent 3D models of steel structures, automate connection designs from a vast parametric library, and generate production-ready fabrication drawings, BOMs, and CNC files. Seamlessly integrated with AutoCAD and Revit, it supports end-to-end workflows from conceptual design to shop floor fabrication.

SDS/2 is a powerful 3D steel detailing software from Design Data, specialized in modeling, detailing, and preparing steel structures for fabrication. It supports comprehensive 3D modeling of beams, columns, bracing, and connections, with automatic generation of shop drawings, bills of material, and CNC files for direct use in fabrication shops. Renowned for handling complex industrial and commercial projects, it combines parametric automation with manual editing for precision and flexibility.

ProSteel from Bentley Systems is a robust 3D steel detailing software that allows users to model complex steel structures, automate the production of fabrication drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and CNC files. It excels in integrating with Bentley's MicroStation platform, enabling a unified workflow from conceptual design to detailed fabrication outputs. Primarily used for industrial, commercial, and infrastructure projects, it supports parametric connections, clash detection, and code-compliant detailing.

AVEVA E3D Design is an advanced 3D modeling and design software suite tailored for complex engineering projects in industries like oil & gas, power, and marine. It supports comprehensive steel detailing through specialized modules for structural steel modeling, automatic drawing generation, and fabrication outputs. While powerful for large-scale multidisciplinary designs, it integrates steelwork seamlessly with piping, equipment, and civil structures for clash-free models.

SCIA Engineer is a powerful structural analysis and design software primarily used for engineering steel, concrete, and timber structures. It excels in finite element modeling (FEM), code-compliant design of steel members and connections, and generating engineering drawings and reports. While it offers some steel detailing capabilities like connection detailing and basic fabrication outputs, it is more focused on analysis and design rather than advanced shop drawing production or CNC file generation typical of dedicated detailing software.

AxisVM is a versatile structural engineering software that supports modeling, analysis, and design of steel structures, including member sizing, stability checks, and basic connection design per international codes. It offers automated generation of drawings and reports for steel fabrication, bridging analysis and detailing workflows. While powerful for integrated structural tasks, its detailing capabilities are more suited to preliminary design rather than full shop drawing production.

RFEM and RSTAB from Dlubal Software are finite element analysis (FEA) programs primarily designed for structural engineering, offering modeling, analysis, and design of steel frames, trusses, and general structures. They include steel design modules for member verification, buckling, and stability checks per international codes like AISC, Eurocode, and others. However, as a steel detailing solution, they provide limited tools for generating fabrication drawings, 3D connection modeling, or CNC outputs, focusing instead on upstream analysis and preliminary design.

FEM-Design by StruSoft is a finite element analysis (FEA) software primarily used for structural engineering, offering modeling, analysis, and design for buildings and structures across materials like steel, concrete, and timber. For steel, it provides member design, buckling checks, and basic connection design compliant with international codes such as Eurocode and AISC. However, it focuses more on analysis and preliminary design rather than advanced steel detailing for fabrication, such as detailed shop drawings or full BIM modeling.

Graitec Advance Design is a BIM-based structural engineering software focused on analysis, modeling, and design for steel, concrete, and timber structures. It enables finite element analysis (FEA), automated design checks compliant with international codes, and basic connection detailing for steel members. While it integrates well with detailing tools like Advance Steel, it is not a dedicated steel detailing solution and prioritizes engineering over fabrication drawings or CNC outputs.