Modeling · Beginner

Inset

A tool that makes a smaller copy of faces inside their own outline, with a border

Also called Inset faces

What is inset in Blender?

Inset is a modeling tool that makes a smaller copy of the selected faces inside their own outline, joined to the old border by a ring of thin faces. The surface stays flat; it gains a frame. To inset faces in Blender, select them in Edit Mode, press I, then move the mouse.

Think of it like this

Like a picture mount: a smaller window sits inside the frame, with a flat border running all the way round it.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How the inset tool works

  1. 01Select one or more faces in face select mode.
  2. 02Press I and move the mouse toward the center to size the inner faces.
  3. 03Click to confirm; a ring of new faces now borders the selection.
  4. 04Extrude or scale the inner faces to make a panel, button or recess.

Inset vs extrude

PropertyInsetExtrude
New faces goInward, flat on the surfaceOutward, away from the surface
Changes the silhouetteNoYes
Blender shortcutIE
Usual orderFirst, to make a borderNext, to push or pull it

Inset first to frame an area, then extrude the inner faces in or out; together they make most panels, buttons and windows.

Where the inset tool is used

  • Framing windows, screens and panels on hard-surface models
  • Adding a border before pushing in a recess or vent
  • Holding edges sharp under subdivision with an extra ring

Beginner tip

With several faces selected, Blender insets them as one region by default. Tick Individual in the panel at the bottom left to give each face its own border.

Terms related to the inset tool

Inset FAQ

How do you inset in Blender?
In Edit Mode, press 3 for face select, select the faces, press I and move the mouse. Click to confirm. Thickness and depth settings appear in the panel at the bottom left, so you can fine-tune them afterward.
How do I inset individual faces?
Press I, then press I again before you click, or tick Individual in the panel after the operation. Each face then gets its own small border, rather than one shared ring around the whole selection.
Why does my inset look uneven?
Usually the object has unapplied scale. A stretched object gives a thin border on one side and a thick one on the other. Apply the scale with Ctrl+A in Object Mode, then inset again.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms