Is a Revit ʼInstance Parameterʼ specific to only one selected object?

Short Answer

Yes — in Autodesk Revit, an Instance Parameter is specific to each individual selected object, not the entire family type. The fastest professional way to verify or edit it is in the Properties palette after selecting the element. Limitation: some families may not contain the instance parameter you expect.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: changing an Instance Parameter affects only that one placed element, which can create inconsistent model data if similar objects should match. A common failure is confusing instance values with type values and accidentally editing the wrong level of control.

How to Check or Edit an Instance Parameter

• Command: Properties

• Shortcut: PP

• Quick Steps:

  1. Select the object in the drawing area, then open the Properties palette if needed from the Ribbon: View tab > user interface panel > Properties.
  2. In the Properties palette, review the editable fields for that selected element and look for the required instance parameter.
  3. Change the value directly, then click Apply or press Enter; if needed, confirm you are editing the element and not clicking Edit Type.

Variables & Settings

• Key Setting: Edit Type button in the Properties palette

• Expert Setting: if you click Edit Type, you are no longer editing an instance-specific value; you are modifying type parameters that can affect every object of that same type in the project.

Why it Fails

• Cause 1 (Geometry): the selected object may be part of a system family or nested family where the visible parameter is controlled elsewhere, so the expected instance field does not appear.
• Cause 2 (layers/Locks): the element may be pinned, workshared ownership may be held by another user, or the family parameter may be formula-driven and therefore not editable.
• Cause 3 (Command/Logic): the parameter was created as a Type Parameter, not an Instance Parameter, so changing one object actually requires a type edit or a family definition change.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

• Quick Fix: select the element, press PP, and confirm the value is in the main Properties palette rather than under Edit Type; if missing, open the family in family editor and check whether the parameter is set as Instance.
• Manager’s Verdict: use Instance Parameters for object-by-object control like mark values, comments, or installation-specific data; avoid overusing them when standardization is more important than flexibility.

FAQ

Can an Instance Parameter be different for two identical family objects?
Yes, each placed instance can have its own value.

How do I know if a parameter is instance or type in Revit?
If it edits directly in the selected element’s Properties palette, it is typically an instance parameter.

Can I convert a type parameter to an instance parameter in a project?
No, you usually need to edit the family and redefine the parameter there.

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