Google Maps is an incredibly versatile tool, offering much more than just navigation. One of its most useful, yet often overlooked, features is its ability to measure distances and areas. Whether you’re planning a renovation, calculating travel routes, or mapping out a hiking trail, knowing how to accurately measure on Google Maps can be a game-changer. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, covering various scenarios and offering tips to ensure precise results.
Why Measure on Google Maps?
Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s briefly explore the ‘why.’ Measuring on Google Maps offers a multitude of benefits:
- Planning Renovations and Landscaping: Calculate the dimensions of your yard, the perimeter of your house, or the area of a proposed patio before you start any physical work. This can help you estimate material needs and costs.
- Travel Planning: Beyond simple point-to-point navigation, you can use measurements to plan multi-stop routes, calculating distances between various destinations and determining the total length of your journey.
- Real Estate and Property Assessment: Quickly estimate property sizes and boundaries, helpful when viewing potential new homes or evaluating land plots.
- Outdoor Activities: Plot the length of your running routes, hiking trails, or cycling paths. You can even get a sense of the total area of a park or natural reserve.
- DIY Projects: Whether you’re building a fence or setting up a garden, Google Maps measurements can give you the precise information needed to get started.
Methods for Measuring on Google Maps
Google Maps offers a straightforward method to measure distances and, subsequently, area. It involves using the right-click menu and defining points along a path or within a shape.
Measuring Distance on Google Maps: Step-by-Step Guide
The core function of Google Maps measurement is establishing distances. Here’s a complete walkthrough:
Open Google Maps: Start by opening Google Maps in your web browser or on your mobile app. Ensure you are logged into your Google account for potential syncing across devices. You can access the website version at google.com/maps.
Locate Your Starting Point: Navigate to the location where you want to start measuring. You can type an address or a place in the search box or simply zoom and pan on the map to find it. For instance, if you’re planning a running route, go to your doorstep on the map.
Right-Click for the Menu: Once you have identified your starting point, right-click on it with your mouse. A context menu will appear.
Select “Measure Distance”: From the menu that appears, select the option that reads “Measure distance”.
Click Your First Point: Your chosen starting point is now the first anchor point in your measurement. A small gray circle with a marker will appear at your chosen point.
Click Additional Points to Create a Path: To add another point for the path, click any other point on the map. A line will automatically connect the first point to the second point and show you the distance of the segment and the total distance. To change the path, click on the line, drag and drop at the new spot. Continue adding points along your desired path. Each click will add a segment and keep updating the total measurement.
Observe the Measurement: As you add points, Google Maps will dynamically display the total distance in the bottom left of the screen (on the Web browser) or at the bottom (on Mobile app). The length between any two points is displayed on the map when you hover your mouse or touch the line. This distance will be displayed in both metric (meters, kilometers) and imperial (feet, miles) units.
Modify Your Path: If you need to adjust the path, you can click on any point and drag it to a new location. The total distance will update automatically. If you need to add a new point within an existing line, hover your mouse near a point, click and drag it to a new location. You can also select a point and press backspace on your keyboard or the delete button to remove it.
Completing the Measurement: You can add as many points as needed. To clear the measurement, click the ‘x’ or arrow button located next to the total distance in the bottom left on the Web browser and the top left on the mobile app.
Measuring Area on Google Maps
Measuring area on Google Maps works by establishing a path that encloses a shape. The process is very similar to measuring distance, but with a few critical steps at the end. Here’s how to do it:
Open Google Maps and Locate the Area: Start by opening Google Maps and navigating to the area you want to measure, as described in the previous section.
Right-Click and Select “Measure Distance”: Right-click on one corner of the area you wish to measure and choose “Measure distance” from the context menu.
Create a Path Around the Area: Click along the boundary of the shape you want to measure, adding points as you go. This is especially crucial for complex shapes. For greater accuracy, try to click on each turn or corner of the shape you are trying to measure.
Close the Shape: To finalize the area measurement, click on the first point (the starting point of your measurement). This will close the path and form a shape, and Google Maps will display the total area inside the polygon in addition to the total distance. The area will be provided in both metric (square meters, hectares, square kilometers) and imperial (square feet, acres, square miles) units.
Review the Area: Google Maps will now display the total area and total perimeter of the shape you have created. Verify the values for accuracy. If you need to make adjustments, adjust the points as mentioned above.
Completing the Measurement: Just like with distance measurements, click the ‘x’ button to clear the measurement.
Tips for Accurate Measurements
While Google Maps is generally very precise, there are several things you can do to ensure the accuracy of your measurements:
Zoom In: The more you zoom in, the more accurate your clicks will be. This is especially true for small or intricate areas.
Use Satellite View: Satellite view gives you a real-life perspective and can help you pinpoint specific corners or points of interest with greater accuracy.
Be Precise When Clicking: Clicking at the right points will make a big difference. Pay extra attention when you’re defining the edges of your measurements.
Add Points at Key Turns: Especially with complex shapes, adding points at all corners and curves will help to create a more accurate path.
Check the Measurements Several Times: It can be beneficial to redo a measurement, especially for critical projects. Verify the final result to ensure that you have entered the points correctly.
Account for Terrain: Google Maps calculates the distance on a 2D plane. If the area you are measuring is hilly or uneven, the actual distance may be slightly longer.
Using Google Maps on Mobile Devices
The process of measuring distance and area is slightly different on mobile devices, but still straightforward:
Open the Google Maps App: Launch the Google Maps app on your smartphone or tablet.
Locate the Starting Point: Zoom in and pan to locate your first point on the map. Alternatively, use the search bar.
Long-Press the Starting Point: Long-press (tap and hold) on your chosen starting point. A red pin will appear on the screen.
Tap “Measure distance”: Tap the name of the place at the bottom of the screen to display its information. From the menu that appears, tap the option that says “Measure distance”.
Add Additional Points: Move your finger around the map to drag the starting point marker, a line will appear connecting it. Tap the “Add point” button at the bottom right to add more points to your path.
Read the Measurement: The total distance will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. To measure an area, close the shape by tapping the first point in the path. The measurement will include the total distance and the area within the shape.
Adjust Points: Tap any point in the path and drag to adjust. To remove, select it and tap the delete option.
Complete the measurement: To cancel and clear the measurement, click the arrow at the top left of the screen.
Limitations of Google Maps Measurements
While incredibly helpful, Google Maps measurements are not perfect and have certain limitations:
Accuracy Can Vary: The accuracy of measurements depends on the accuracy of the map data, which may have some discrepancies, especially in rapidly developing areas.
No Elevation Data: Google Maps measurements do not take elevation changes into account. The measured distance is always a flat, 2D measurement and will be less than if you followed the terrain in reality. If you are mapping a route with significant elevation changes, the total distance will be underestimated.
No Account for Buildings/Obstructions: Google Maps measures the line distance. This is the distance in a straight line. If you are planning a walking path through a city, the final distance will be greater since your walking path will have to take into account buildings and infrastructure.
Conclusion
Measuring distances and areas on Google Maps is a valuable skill that can help you in various aspects of your life, from home improvement to travel planning. By following the detailed instructions and tips provided in this guide, you can harness the power of Google Maps to accurately measure and plan your next project or adventure. Take advantage of its convenient interface, zoom for accuracy, and use satellite view to pinpoint critical landmarks. While Google Maps measurement is incredibly useful, always keep its limitations in mind and adjust your expectations where needed. With a little practice, you can confidently use Google Maps to measure everything you need for your personal and professional projects.