---
title: Solidify
order: 2
---

Solidify hollows a shape into a shell. The outer surface stays where it is and the wall grows inward, so the shape keeps its size. From outside, a closed shell looks the same as a solid. A [Bisect](bisect.md) or a [Difference](../joins/boolean.md) placed below the Solidify in the stack cuts it open and shows the wall.

![a sphere hollowed into a shell and cut open with a Bisect](../assets/solidify.webp)

## Settings

![the Solidify modifier in the panel](../assets/modifier-settings-solidify.webp)

| Setting | Default | Range | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Thickness** | `0.1` m | `0.001` and up (soft `1`) | Wall thickness, measured inward from the surface. The redo panel (`F9`) of a new Solidify has it too |

## Gizmo

![dragging the thickness dot of an open tray: the walls thicken inward](../assets/solidify-gizmo.webp)

| Handle | Looks like | Drag or click | Keys while dragging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thickness dot | Blue dot a little off the top or bottom face, whichever faces you. Looking almost straight down, it moves to the side face nearest you | Drag away from the surface to thicken the wall, toward it to thin it. The thickness shows beside the cursor | `Ctrl` snap `0.01`, `Ctrl + Shift` `0.001`, `Shift` precision |
| Wall marker | Grey line from the surface to the inner wall | Display only: the real depth, even on a stretched shape | |

On a Box, Oblong, Sphere, Cylinder, Capsule, Torus or Cone the dot sits on the true surface; on any other shape it sits on the bounding box. The dot is placed from the shape alone: booleans and deformers on the shape do not move it.

Switch the handle with **Solidify** in the tool header's [gizmo drop-down](../interface/gizmos.md#tool-bar-switches), or *Render Properties ▸ Gizmos ▸ Modifiers ▸ Solidify*.

## Pie menu

The pie's East wedge has a Solidify row with the thickness. Click the value and move the mouse: the farther the cursor from the shape's origin, the thicker the wall. `Shift` is precision, `Ctrl` snaps to `0.1`, `Ctrl + Shift` to `0.01`; a click confirms.

## See also

- [Bisect](bisect.md) and [Boolean](../joins/boolean.md): cut a shell open
- [Gizmos](../interface/gizmos.md#using-handles): how every handle picks, snaps and shows its value