How do I measure distance on Google Maps on iPhone?

Touch and hold the map to drop a red pin, tap the pin's info panel at the bottom, then tap “Measure distance.” Move the map so the crosshair sits on your next point and tap “Add point,” repeating for as many points as you need. It works well for one-off distances, but it can't save lines and never shows area — for that, use a dedicated measuring tool.

How do I measure walking distance on a map?

Trace the actual route with multiple points rather than a single straight line — add a point at every turn so the line follows the path you would walk. A multi-point path tool with a unit switcher makes this easy, and the difference matters: a route with switchbacks can be double the straight-line distance.

How accurate is Google Maps distance measurement?

The underlying math is very accurate — distances between points are computed on the Earth's ellipsoid, good to well under 1% for any practical span. Nearly all real-world error comes from where you place the points, so zoom fully in and drop each point precisely on the feature you're measuring.

Can I measure distance in feet instead of miles?

Google Maps switches between feet and miles automatically based on the length of your line, and you can't force a unit. Our tool lets you choose feet, meters, yards, or miles explicitly — useful when you need a fence run or setback distance in feet even though it's a long line.

How to Measure Distance on a Map

On Google Maps desktop, right-click your starting point and choose “Measure distance,” then click points along your route — 4 steps, accurate to well under 1% when your points are placed carefully. Phones use a drop-a-pin flow instead. Here are both, plus a satellite tool built for fence lines and property edges.

Measure distance on Google Maps (desktop)

Right-click your starting point. Open Google Maps in a desktop browser, find your starting point, and right-click it. Choose “Measure distance” from the context menu.
Click to add points along the route. Click each spot you want the line to pass through. The straight-line distance between all points shows at the bottom of the screen, in feet or miles depending on length.
Drag points to adjust. Drag any point to fine-tune its position, or click a point to remove it. Zoom in before placing points — placement error is the main source of inaccuracy.
Read the total, then close the shape for area. The running total updates with each point. On desktop, clicking back on your first point closes the shape and also displays the enclosed area — a feature the mobile app does not have.

Measure distance on Google Maps (iPhone & Android)

Drop a pin. Touch and hold your starting point until a red pin appears.
Open Measure distance.Tap the pin's panel at the bottom of the screen, then tap “Measure distance.”
Add points.Pan the map so the crosshair sits on the next spot and tap “Add point.” Repeat along your route; the running total shows at the bottom.

The mobile flow works, but it has real gaps: you can't save a measurement, you can't choose units, and — unlike desktop — closing the shape never shows area. If you're measuring land rather than a quick point-to-point distance, that area gap is usually the deal-breaker.

When Google Maps isn't enough

The tool below measures distance the same way — tap points, read per-segment and total lengths — but it's built for land: satellite-first imagery, forced units (feet, meters, yards, miles), and area plus perimeter together when you close a boundary. Trace a fence run, a driveway, or a property edge from the plat, and switch to area mode when you need acreage from the same trace.

Loading satellite map…

Tips for accurate distance measurements

Zoom fully in before placing points.At neighborhood zoom a single pixel can be several feet; at full zoom it's inches.
Put points on hard features. Fence posts, pavement edges, and building corners beat guessing at a spot in open grass.
Follow the route, not the crow. For walking or driving distance, add a point at every bend so the line matches the path actually traveled.
Check imagery age on changing sites. New construction may not appear yet — measure from features you know are current.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure distance on Google Maps on iPhone?: Touch and hold the map to drop a red pin, tap the pin's info panel at the bottom, then tap “Measure distance.” Move the map so the crosshair sits on your next point and tap “Add point,” repeating for as many points as you need. It works well for one-off distances, but it can't save lines and never shows area — for that, use a dedicated measuring tool.
How do I measure walking distance on a map?: Trace the actual route with multiple points rather than a single straight line — add a point at every turn so the line follows the path you would walk. A multi-point path tool with a unit switcher makes this easy, and the difference matters: a route with switchbacks can be double the straight-line distance.
How accurate is Google Maps distance measurement?: The underlying math is very accurate — distances between points are computed on the Earth's ellipsoid, good to well under 1% for any practical span. Nearly all real-world error comes from where you place the points, so zoom fully in and drop each point precisely on the feature you're measuring.
Can I measure distance in feet instead of miles?: Google Maps switches between feet and miles automatically based on the length of your line, and you can't force a unit. Our tool lets you choose feet, meters, yards, or miles explicitly — useful when you need a fence run or setback distance in feet even though it's a long line.