Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (2024)

You can measure distances between locations and along paths. You can also measure the size of polygons that you draw in Google Earth.

Measurements of distances may not be 100% accurate, especially in areas with 3D terrain and buildings. For best results, measure using a top-down view.

Tips:

  1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
  2. Search for a place, or select a location on the globe.
  3. On the left, click MeasureMeasure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (1). Google Earth will switch to a top-down view.
  4. Click the map to set measurement points.
  5. To remove a point, on the right, click Undo Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (2).
  6. To complete your line measurement, double-click on your last point, or click Done Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (3).

On the right, you’ll findthe length.

Tips:

  • To measure the area of a location, connect to your first point to close the shape. You’ll find the area on the right.
  • To find these instructions and get more assistance, click Help Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (4).

Edit your measurement

  • When you finish adding points, to edit your line segments or shape, click and drag the points.
  • To measure again, on the right, click Start New Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (5).
  • To delete your measurement and go back to the map, on the right, click Close Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (6).

Change measurement units

After measuring a distance:

  1. At the top right, you can find the measured distance.
  2. Next to a unit of distance, click the dropdownMeasure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (7).
  3. Choose a unit of measurement.

To adjust overall settings:

  1. On the left, click Tools Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (8) Settings Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (9).
  2. In the “Format and Units” section, adjust to the desired units.

Measure the elevation of a point

  1. On the map, place your cursor to the point that you want to measure the elevation.
  2. At the bottom right, you can find the elevation at the rightmost part.

Tip: You can't measure the elevation difference between two points.

Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer (2024)

FAQs

Measure distances and areas in Google Earth - Computer? ›

On the question of accuracy they said that in most places, the imagery in Google Earth is located to within 100 - 200 meters of what you'd get with a GPS. In some remote places or places where there's not a good tie-point (eg. islands) it can be worse, but generally the misplacement is under 20 meters.

How to measure distance on Google Earth PC? ›

Tips:
  1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
  2. Search for a place, or select a location on the globe.
  3. On the left, click Measure. . ...
  4. Click the map to set measurement points.
  5. To remove a point, on the right, click Undo .
  6. To complete your line measurement, double-click on your last point, or click Done .

How do I measure distance and area on Google Maps? ›

Measure distance between points
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app .
  2. Touch and hold anywhere on the map that isn't a place's name or icon. ...
  3. Select Measure distance .
  4. Move the map so that the black circle is on the next point you want to add.
  5. At the bottom right, tap Add point .

How accurate are measurements on Google Earth? ›

On the question of accuracy they said that in most places, the imagery in Google Earth is located to within 100 - 200 meters of what you'd get with a GPS. In some remote places or places where there's not a good tie-point (eg. islands) it can be worse, but generally the misplacement is under 20 meters.

How do you Measure distance on a computer? ›

Measure distance between points
  1. On your computer, open Google Maps.
  2. Right-click on your starting point.
  3. Select Measure distance.
  4. To create a path to measure, click anywhere on the map. To add another point, click anywhere on the map. ...
  5. When finished, on the card at the bottom, click Close .

How to calculate area on a map? ›

Note: Zoom in, or enter the address of your target start point. Then click on your start point on the map, followed by all the subsequent points along the outside edge of the shape you want to calculate the area of. As you add points the area will be updated below and converted into several measurements.

Can I measure area on Google Earth? ›

Measure distances and areas in Google Earth
  • On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Earth app .
  • Search for a place, or select a location on the globe.
  • Tap Measure .
  • To add measurement points, move the map and tap Add point.
  • To remove a point, at the top, tap Undo .
  • When finished, at the top, tap Done. .

How do I find the distance between two places in Google Earth? ›

Click the tab for what you want to measure. On the map, hover over a spot and click a starting point for your measurement. Then, hover over another spot and click an end point. The measurement will show up in the "Ruler" window.

Does Google map show correct distance? ›

Google Maps distance calculator is generally accurate to within a few meters. The accuracy of the calculation depends on a number of factors, including the accuracy of the GPS data used to calculate the distance, the terrain between the two points, and the mode of transportation selected.

Is Google Earth 100% accurate? ›

Measurements of distances may not be 100% accurate, especially in areas with 3D terrain and buildings. For best results, measure using a top-down view. Tips: Measurements don't account for changes in elevation.

Is Google Earth more accurate than Maps? ›

Google Earth came up and revolutionized navigation (driving, commuting, travelling, etc.) because it eliminated the need for a physical map. Furthermore, because of its electronic nature, users are able to get more accurate information about getting to a certain place from Google Earth rather than a physical map.

Is Google Earth accurate for property lines? ›

It's crucial to acknowledge that property line data on Google Earth may only sometimes be up-to-date or entirely accurate. The information is derived from available sources and may not reflect recent survey data or property changes. Always verify critical information through official channels.

What is the difference between map length and ground length on Google Earth? ›

'Map Length' represents “as the crow flies” and does not take elevation into account. Instead, 'Ground Length' does and this measures the length along the surface of the earth.

How accurate is Google Earth elevation? ›

In terms of the vertical accuracy, GE elevation data had the highest RMSE of 6.213m followed by AW3D with an RMSE of 4.388m and SRTM with an RMSE of 3.682m. Although the vertical accuracy of SRTM and AW3D are superior, Google Earth still presents clear advantages in terms of its ease of use and contextual awareness.

How do I mark an area in Google Earth? ›

Mark map locations with placemarks
  1. On your computer, open Google Earth.
  2. Navigate to the place you want to save.
  3. Above the map, click Add Placemark .
  4. In the new window, next to "Name," enter a placemark name.
  5. To choose a different placemark icon, to the right of the "Name" field, click the button.

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