Measure Land Area on Google Maps: Computer and Phone Steps

Published November 2, 2026

To measure land area on Google Maps, use a computer: right-click your first corner, choose Measure distance, click around the boundary, then click the first point again to close the shape. Maps then shows the enclosed area. The phone app measures distance only, so on a phone you need Google Earth or a dedicated measuring app.

Here are the exact steps for each option, a worked example from square metres to acres, and the errors that matter most on small plots.

How to measure area on Google Maps on a computer

1. Open Google Maps in a browser and search for the address or place.
2. Switch on the Satellite layer and zoom in until you can see the fence lines, tracks or field edges.
3. Right-click the first corner of the land and choose Measure distance.
4. Click each corner in order around the boundary. Add extra points wherever the edge bends. You can drag a point to move it, or click it to remove it.
5. Click your first point again to close the loop. The card at the bottom now shows the total distance around the shape and the area.

Before you close the card, write the numbers down or take a screenshot, because the measurement isn't stored as a named plot. The area often appears in square metres or square feet, so you may need the conversions further down to get acres or hectares.

Can you measure area in the Google Maps phone app?

Not at the time of writing. On iPhone and Android, the app has a distance tool: press and hold the start point, choose Measure distance, move the map, and tap the plus button to add points. It gives you a length, but no area when you return to the start.

That still helps with a simple rectangle. Measure the length and the width, then multiply them. A 100 × 60 m plot is 6,000 m², or about 1.48 acres. It won't work for an irregular shape, because a closed loop of side lengths doesn't fix the area. For those, see how to calculate the area of irregular land.

Menus change from time to time, so if your app looks different, check for a newer version.

Measuring area with Google Earth

Google Earth does measure area on the web and in its mobile app:

1. Open Google Earth and search for the location.
2. Choose Measure. In the browser, the view switches to top-down.
3. Place a point on each corner. In the mobile app, you move the map and tap Add point.
4. Connect back to the first point. In the mobile app, tap Close Shape.
5. Read the area and change the unit if you need to.

Google notes that these measurements don't account for changes in elevation, and that a top-down view works best.

Which tool fits the job

Measuring in the field on an iPhone or iPad

Map tools work well when you can see the boundary from above. If you're standing on the land, or the edge is hidden under trees, it's easier to walk it.

Field Maps with Area Measure does both on iPhone and iPad (iOS 17 or later). Tap corners on a satellite map with a magnifier loupe for precise placement, or walk, drive or fly the boundary with GPS and let the app close the shape. Area and perimeter can be shown in acres, hectares, square feet, square metres and more, and you can save each measurement under a name. GPS tracking and measuring work offline, though a brand-new map area needs a connection to load its imagery. There's no Android version yet. For more on both techniques, see how to measure land area by satellite or GPS.

Worked example: from the Maps reading to acres

Say you trace a field of roughly 200 × 243 m, and Maps reports 48,600 m² with a total distance of 886 m.

• Hectares: 48,600 ÷ 10,000 = 4.86 ha
• Acres: 48,600 ÷ 4,046.86 = 12.01 acres
• Square feet: 48,600 × 10.764 ≈ 523,130 ft²

If your reading comes in square feet instead, divide by 43,560 to get acres. For example, 522,720 ft² ÷ 43,560 = 12 acres exactly.

If the field sits on a steady 30% slope, the ground surface is about 4.4% larger than the map figure, so 12 acres on the map is about 12.5 acres of actual ground. That's relevant when you're ordering seed, fertilizer or sod.

What makes a map measurement wrong

• Small errors around the edge. Tracing every side 1 m inside the true line takes a 200 × 243 m field from 48,600 to 47,718 m², a 1.8% loss. The same 1 m error on a 20 × 30 m lot takes it from 600 to 504 m², a 16% loss. The smaller the plot, the more carefully you need to place each point.
• Too few points on curves. A straight line across a bend cuts off or adds land. Add a point wherever the edge visibly changes direction.
• Old or shifted imagery. Satellite photos can be years old, and a fence or track may have moved since. They can also sit slightly off from the real position.
• Tree cover. Canopy hides the real edge, and you end up tracing the trees. Walking the line is a better option here, although phone GPS also gets worse under trees. It's typically accurate to about 3–5 m under open sky.
• Slopes. Map tools measure the horizontal area, so hillsides have more ground than the number shows.

Quick area conversions

• 1 acre = 43,560 ft² = 4,046.86 m²
• 1 hectare = 10,000 m² = 2.471 acres
• 1 m² = 10.764 ft²
• 1 square mile = 640 acres

FAQ

How do I measure acres on Google Maps?

On a computer, trace the land with Measure distance and close the shape. Then divide the area by 4,046.86 if it's in square metres, or by 43,560 if it's in square feet.

How do I measure acres on Google Maps on an iPhone?

The Google Maps iPhone app measures distance, not area. Multiply length by width for a simple rectangle. For any other shape, use Google Earth or a measuring app such as Field Maps with Area Measure.

Does Google Maps show property lines?

Don't rely on it. A map doesn't reliably know where your boundary runs, so you need to place the corners yourself based on what you know about the land.

Is a Google Maps measurement accurate enough?

It's good for planning, budgeting and comparing plots when the edges are clearly visible. It's still an estimate, so for a sale, a dispute or anything legal, use a licensed surveyor and the official land records.