How to measure on Google Maps

Would you like to know the distance that separates two locations but, trying to measure it on Google Maps, you couldn’t find the right option to do it? Do you need to know the surface of a specific geographical area on Google Maps but you don’t know how to get this information? If the answer to at least one of these questions is yes, don’t worry, if you’ve come to the right place at the right time!

With today’s guide, in fact, I will explain how to measure on Google Maps, providing you with all the information you need to get the information of your interest. In addition to the detailed procedure for measuring the distance that separates two specific points and that of an entire more complex route, you will also find instructions for calculating the surface of a geographical area.

How do you say? Is that exactly what you wanted to know? So let’s not dwell further and see how to proceed. Make yourself comfortable, set aside five minutes of free time and dedicate yourself to reading the next paragraphs. By carefully following my directions and trying to put them into practice, I am sure you will be able to use Google Maps to get all the measurements of your interest. Enjoy the reading!

Index

• How to measure distances on Google Maps
  • From computer
  • From smartphones and tablets
• How to measure an area on Google Maps
  • From computer
  • From smartphones and tablets
• How to measure altitude on Google Maps

How to measure distances on Google Maps

If your intention is to measure the distance between two different locations on Google Maps, all you have to do is activate the Measure distance function which, in fact, allows you to know the distance between two or more points of interest. How to do? I’ll explain it to you right away!

From computer

If you want to know the distance between two points on Google Maps and prefer to proceed from a computer, connected to the main page of the service, type the name of the location of your interest in the Search field on Google Maps (if you do not see the search box, press on the arrow icon pointing to the right located at the top left) and click on the magnifying glass icon, to view the place in question on the map.

At this point, right-click on the exact point on the map from which you want to start measuring the distance and select the Measure distance option from the menu that appears: by doing so, a white placeholder will appear on the map , indicating the point from which to start the measurement.

Pressing again on the map, at the exact point in which to end the measurement, a second white placeholder will be created and, automatically, the distance (expressed in kilometers) between the two points just indicated will be shown on the screen. Alternatively, you can also right-click on the “arrival” point and select the item Distance to here from the menu that opens.

If you wish, you can also measure a route on Google Maps consisting of multiple points. In this case, where you have entered the first two placeholders on the map as I have just indicated, all you have to do is add the subsequent points of your interest by simply clicking on the map. By doing this, you will be able to see the total distance between the first and last pin and an intermediate measurement of the route.

At any time, you can change the route simply by dragging any previously entered placeholder or adding a new point between one placeholder and another. To delete your last measurement, instead, right-click anywhere on the map and select the Delete measurement option from the context menu. To find out more, you can take a look at my guide on how to find the distance between two points on Google Maps.

From smartphones and tablets

If you prefer to measure the distance between two or more points on Google Maps from a smartphone or tablet, start the official Maps app for Android or iPhone / iPad and, first, specify the exact point from which to start the measurement.

To do this, enter the address or the name of the place you are interested in in the Search field at the top and, among the search results shown on the screen, click on the one you are interested in. At this point, make a long tap at the exact point in which to start the measurement, press on the red pin that appeared on the map and, in the new screen displayed, select the Measure distance option.

If you have done everything correctly, you should see a dashed blue line and a black crosshair on the screen: move, then, on the map and position yourself in the exact point where you want to end the measurement, in order to visualize (bottom left) the distance total between the two points.

If you wish, you can also create a route made up of several points and measure the total distance between the first and last placeholder entered. In this case, position yourself in the point of your interest, press the + button, at the bottom right, and repeat the procedure for all the points you intend to add.

If you make a mistake, press the left arrow icon located in the top menu to undo the last change. By pressing, instead, on the three dots icon and selecting the Delete option from the menu that opens, you can delete the last measurement and make a new one.

How to measure an area on Google Maps

If you are wondering if it is possible to measure an area on Google Maps, you will be happy to know that the answer is positive and that the procedure is almost identical to what I indicated above to measure a distance. Find everything explained in detail right below.

From computer

To measure an area on Google Maps using a PC, connected to the main page of the service, enter the name of the location or the exact address of the geographical area to be measured in the Search field on Google Maps and press the magnifying glass icon (or on the Enter key on the keyboard), to “move” to the point on the map of your interest.

At this point, all you have to do is activate the Measure distance option, as I indicated in the previous paragraphs of this guide, and outline the perimeter of the surface to be measured by adding two new points for each side of the area of ​​your interest.

For example, if your intention is to measure a terrain on Google Maps, all you have to do is position yourself with the mouse pointer on the corner of the first side of the terrain to be measured and, by right clicking on the point in question, select the item Measure distance from the opened menu.

Once this is done, click on the next corner of the terrain, to add a new placeholder and create the first side and repeat the procedure for all the area that delimits the terrain. At this point, you should have created the complete perimeter of the area to be measured and, in the Measure distance box located at the bottom, you can view the surface of the ground near the Total area item.

To get a measurement as precise as possible, especially in the case of particularly complex areas, I suggest you create more points for each side, so as to “cover” the entire area to be measured. To do this, position the mouse pointer between two single points, make a long click and, without releasing, move the line connecting the two points. By doing so, you can add an intermediate point, create two new sides and more precisely outline the area to be measured.

From smartphones and tablets

If you do not have a computer available and would like to measure the area of ​​a specific surface from a smartphone or tablet, I am sorry to tell you that it is not possible to do this using Google Maps.

However, you can do it through Google Earth, another free service offered by Google, also available as an application for Android and iOS / iPadOS, which allows you to make “virtual” trips around the world.

If you think this is a valid solution to get the information you are looking for, start the app in question, press the magnifying glass icon and search for the point of interest by entering its name in the Search field in Google Earth.

Once this is done, activate the Distance mode by tapping on the ruler icon, located in the menu at the top, position the crosshair that appeared on the screen at the exact point from which you want to start calculating the surface and press the Add point button , at the bottom right.

Then repeat the procedure I just indicated to outline the perimeter of the area of ​​your interest and, when connecting the first and last point, press the Close shape button, to automatically calculate the perimeter and surface of the area in question.

How to measure altitude on Google Maps

How do you say? Would you like to measure the altitude on Google Maps? Also in this case, I am sorry to tell you that the famous application of Google online maps does not have a specific function that allows this type of measurement and it is necessary to use Google Earth.

All you have to do to measure the altitude (and also the longitude and latitude) on Google Earth, is to connect to the main page of the service or launch the app for Android or iPhone / iPad, select the Search option (the magnifying glass icon ) and search for the place of your interest: once this is done, you can view the latitude (expressed in meters), longitude and latitude (the latter expressed in degrees) at the bottom right. Simple, right?