Have you ever found yourself wondering how to measure area on Google Maps? Some good news: Google Maps and Google Earth include tools that will automatically measure both distance and area for you.
You don't need to guess distances based on the map scale. Rather, you can measure precise distances of travel, exact property plot sizes, and even the land area of entire states or provinces.
The good news is that accomplishing this isn't complicated or time-consuming. You just need to know the process. Here's how to calculate distance and measure area on Google Maps or Google Earth.
How the Google Maps Scale Works
You've probably noticed the scale on Google Maps at the bottom of the screen. This scale appears in the lower-right corner of the screen.
Sure, you could stick a ruler on your screen and measure the equivalent of a mile. You could also mark off the distance on a slip of paper and use that to measure the roads or trails you want to travel, but you don't have to. Google Maps includes easy-to-use tools to precisely measure both distances and areas on the map that you're viewing.
How to Measure Distance in Google Maps
You can easily measure distance in Google Maps using these built-in tools. Choosing two points on the map will yield the shortest possible route between them. You can also add multiple points to track a specific path more accurately.
First, right-click on the starting point and select Measure distance on the menu that pops up.
Click on your second destination on the map. Once this point is selected, Maps will automatically show the distance between both points.
If you want to add more points to your measurement, simply click additional points on the map.
If you want to trace a path instead of a straight line, you can add multiple points along a route to get an accurate measure of the distance you would need to travel. This is especially useful when it comes to measuring the distance of a hiking trail, for example. You can also adjust points already on the map by dragging them to a new location with your mouse.
As you trace the path, the distance will keep updating in the popup at the bottom of the map. Once you're done tracing the trail or road as best as you can, you'll have a precise measurement of the total distance.
When finished, clear out your traced waypoints and measurements by right-clicking on the map and selecting Clear measurement from the menu.
How to Calculate Area on Google Maps
Can you measure area on Google Maps? Yes, you're certainly able to measure area in Google Maps just as easily as you can measure distance.
If you want to calculate area in Google Maps, you will need to zoom into the property that you're interested in. Once close enough, Google will show the property boundaries if they are available. You can also switch between map and satellite view if this makes delineating property walls easier.
To calculate area on Google Maps, you'll start with the same process as you did for measuring distance.
To measure a building on Google Maps, right-click on the map at your starting point and choose the Measure distance option.
Add points around the location's boundary. Once you close the shape by clicking on the starting point, the Google Maps area calculator will automatically process the area of your shape.
You'll see the total area in square footage and square meters, and the total distance in feet and meters at the bottom of the screen.
Related: How to Set Your Location on Google Maps
How Distance Works in Google Earth
Google Maps is good enough, so why bother using Google Earth to measure distance or area? Google Earth is actually a little bit more powerful than Google Maps when it comes to doing measurements, so that may be one possible selling point.
Measuring area on Google Earth is pretty much the same as measuring area on Google Maps. It also offers some interesting tools that let you:
- See the altitude
- Save all of your measurements
- Measure 3D objects' height and area, such as the height or width of a building
Let's take a look at how you can do all of this with Google Earth.
Related: How to View a Live Weather Radar on Google Earth
How to Measure Distance in Google Earth
Google Earth is more detailed than Google Maps, but measuring distance with Google Earth works in a similar way.
You will first need to launch Google Earth in your Chrome browser and select the location that you want to see. To start measuring, select the ruler icon in the bottom of the left-hand sidebar.
Once you click this icon, Google Earth will switch to a top-down view and ask you to select your starting point. A small popup will also appear on the top-right of the window, showing distance.
As you select more than one point, this popup will update with the total distance measured.
When you select Done, you can start a new measurement if you want to. You can also change the measurement units, converting them to kilometers, yards, nautical miles, or any other unit available.
If you want to measure the distance for something like a mountain trail, you can switch to the Google Earth 3D view after selecting the ruler icon. This lets you measure large objects such as mountains, or to accurately trace a path along an incline.
How to Measure Area in Google Earth
Google Earth also lets you measure the area of large plots or locations.
For a large enough area, you'll want to outline the perimeter of the location that you want to measure. You will start off in the same way as when measuring distance, with the ruler icon.
Once you select multiple points and close the outline by selecting your starting point again, Google Earth will automatically calculate the area contained.
Again, you can drag points to change the outline or to switch between units of measurement.
How to Measure 3D Objects and Buildings With Google Earth
In Google Earth, you can measure Lady Liberty from her toes to the tip of her torch using the same technique described above.
If you want to adjust your points of reference, you can drag them with your mouse. Adding additional points will result in an area calculation, but if you want the area of the statue itself to be calculated, you'll need to take things one step further.
Related: Virtual Tours on Google Earth You Need to Check Out
How to Measure Area of 3D Object in Google Earth Pro
To measure the area of a 3D object in Google Earth, you first need to download Google Earth Pro. Fire it up and find the building that you want to measure with the search bar. Google will then center itself to this location. You can adjust your view by tilting the world while holding your center scroll wheel, or with any of the on-screen controls.
To measure the area of the Statue of Liberty, you will need to add more than two points. At three points, Google Earth Pro automatically connects all your points and calculates the area within them. Adding a fourth point creates a four-sided polygon; additional points can be added from there.
Add as many points as needed to trace the outline of the object you are measuring. You can drag these points to adjust the size of your shape for a more accurate reading. The area calculation automatically updates as you change the positions of points.
If you make an error, you can select the Clear option or hit Esc to restart your measurement. These measurements can also be saved in Google Earth for later.
Related: Tips and Tricks for Using Google Maps Like a Pro
Do More With Google Maps
To get a feel for the lay of your own land, it's almost as easy as saying “Measure my garden, Google Maps” right into your smartphone. Google has updated its suite of tools significantly over the years to add even more functionality and convenience.
To check out all that they have to offer, we invite you to check out the rest of our Google Maps tricks in our archives. The world is a big place. You should see every bit of it.
