# Blueprints

> Canonical source: [Blueprints](https://satisfactorybase.its-live.dev/guides/blueprints)
> Language: en

Version check pending: The designer dimensions and Auto-Connect behavior need a current-version check.

Blueprint Designer Mk.1–3 volumes (32/40/48 m cubes), what cannot go inside, snapping and Auto-Connect, and where blueprint files live.


Blueprints are reusable building groups designed inside a **Blueprint Designer** and then placed as a whole. Their size limit is the designer's build volume.

## Designers

| Designer | Build volume | Building size | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| :icon[Desc_BlueprintDesigner_C] Blueprint Designer Mk.1 | 32 × 32 × 32 m (4 × 4 × 4 foundations) | 40 × 40 × 34 m | Tier 4 – FICSIT Blueprints |
| :icon[Desc_BlueprintDesigner_MK2_C] Blueprint Designer Mk.2 | 40 × 40 × 40 m (5³) | 48 × 48 × 42 m | Tier 6 – FICSIT Blueprints Mk.2 |
| Blueprint Designer Mk.3 | 48 × 48 × 48 m (6³) | 56 × 56 × 50 m | Tier 9 – FICSIT Blueprints Mk.3 |

- **Not placeable in any designer:** HUB, Space Elevator, Miners, Water/Oil Extractors, Resource Well Pressurizer and Extractors, Geothermal Generator. **Mk.3 only:** Quantum Encoder, Nuclear Power Plant. **From Mk.2:** Particle Accelerator, Alien Power Augmenter (it expands), Train Station, Freight / Fluid Freight Platform, Empty Platform. Vehicle Paths (1.2) and Railways are allowed.
- A blueprint stays bound to its designer mark: a Mk.1 blueprint can be inserted into a Mk.2/3 designer, not the other way round; editing only in the same mark.
- Snapping: 1 m horizontally / 0.5 m vertically on loose foundations; blueprint mode snaps blueprint to blueprint (centre). **Auto-Connect** (R, since 1.1) joins belts, pipes, railways and vehicle paths up to 16 m (2 foundations) and prefers the best-aligned connection. The front is the Control Bench. To stay on the world grid, first place loose foundations on the grid, then snap blueprints to them.
- Dismantling: the blueprint dismantle mode selects the whole blueprint (linked IDs), not belts added later. The storage box at the Control Bench collects materials when dismantling inside the designer.

## Files

On PC a blueprint is an `.sbp` file (layout, shareable) plus `.sbpcfg` (description, icon) in the session folder `%LOCALAPPDATA%\FactoryGame\Saved\SaveGames\blueprints\{SESSION}` – not cloud-synced; reload the save after copying files in. Categories are stored in the save. Names sort alphabetically (use z001 instead of z1); no Windows special characters. Removing a blueprint deletes the file irrevocably. On consoles blueprints live inside the save.

## Designing good blueprints

- Design around the [belt capacity](/guides/belts-pipes) and the [classic ratios](/guides/ratios): a 4 × 4 foundation cube fits e.g. 8 Smelters + 8 Constructors for a full Mk.2 belt of ore, or 4 Foundries + 3 Steel Beam Constructors.
- Leave the input and output belts ending on the blueprint boundary so Auto-Connect can join adjacent copies.
- Keep manifolds inside the blueprint; feed several copies with one belt per row.

In this planner a **Module** plays the same role as a blueprint: a nested sub-graph with Input/Output ports that you can reuse – see [Using SatisfactoryBase](/guides/using-satisfactorybase#modules).


- [Building ratios & manifolds](/guides/ratios)

- [Belts & pipes](/guides/belts-pipes)

- [Modules in the planner](/guides/using-satisfactorybase)