In this ArcGIS tutorial, I show you my full workflow for generating a clean, high-quality DEM from point elevation data. I start from the basics—getting your point dataset ready—because if your points are messy (wrong fields, duplicates, bad Z values, wrong projection), your DEM will also be messy. From there, I walk through how I choose an interpolation method depending on the terrain and point density, and how I set important environment settings like cell size, processing extent, and snap raster so the output raster behaves the way you expect. After the interpolation, I also cover the post-processing steps I normally do to make the DEM more usable for real projects—terrain analysis, hydrology, and visualization. I share practical tips for handling larger datasets, avoiding common parameter mistakes, and validating the DEM so you’re not just “creating a raster,” but actually producing a terrain model you can trust. If you follow along with your own data and pause where needed, you’ll be able to generate a reliable DEM in ArcGIS and take it further into hillshade, contours, slope, and other analysis.