RenderRoute › Modeling Techniques

How do you select similar in Blender?

Updated October 2026 · How we answer

Short answerIn Edit Mode, select one or more vertices, edges or faces, then press Shift+G or use Select > Select Similar. Choose a matching property, such as Material, Normal or Length, to add all matching elements.

Using Select Similar

Select Similar finds mesh elements that share a property with your current selection. Enter Edit Mode, pick one element of the type you want to match, then press Shift+G or open the Select menu and choose Select Similar. A pop-up menu lists the properties Blender can compare.

The available options depend on what you selected. Faces can match by material, area, normal or number of sides. Edges can match by length, direction or crease. Vertices can match by normal or by the number of connected faces or edges.

  • Faces: Material, Area, Normal, Side count
  • Edges: Length, Direction, Crease
  • Vertices: Normal, Connected faces, Vertex groups
  • Repeat the step to refine a broader selection

Practical uses

This is useful for cleaning up a model. You can select one bolt head and grab every other bolt with the same size, or select all faces with the same material before assigning a new one. It saves time compared with clicking each element.

Select Similar works best after you have chosen the right selection mode. If you select vertices in Face mode, you may get unexpected results, so check the mode in the header before you start.

Common setup tips

Turn on the statistics overlay to see how many elements are selected. That helps you check whether the match worked as intended. Hiding or isolating parts of a mesh can also keep the selection focused.

Option names and menu layout can change between Blender versions, so check the current manual if a label looks different on your screen.

Common mistakes

  • Trying to select similar elements without first choosing the matching selection mode.
  • Assuming a match by one property also matches others, such as material and normal together.
From our shopsCaseMorph: Type an idea, see a custom phone case in seconds, then print a one-of-one.

Related questions