What software do most kitchen designers use?

Kitchen designers commonly use specialized CAD and 3D design software rather than ordinary drawing programs. Popular choices include 2020 Design Live, Chief Architect, ProKitchen, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and various cabinet manufacturer design systems.

2020 Design Live is widely used by kitchen and bath professionals because it supports cabinet catalogs, detailed layouts, realistic renderings, pricing, and specifications. Chief Architect and its Home Designer products are popular with designers who need broader residential design and construction document capabilities. SketchUp is useful for flexible modeling and presentations, while AutoCAD remains common for precise drafting.

The best choice depends on cabinet library availability, rendering quality, estimating, manufacturer integration, learning curve, collaboration needs, and budget.