Measure the straight line distance between two places in Google Earth. Useful!
What can you measure?
Not only do you quickly measure the distance between two places with Google Earth; it is also possible to measure the length of a route by drawing lines over the maps. Learn how it works with a browser (Chrome, Edge, Safari), on an Android device, and on the iPad.
Measure distance in a browser
- Open the website in your browser earth.google.com/web
- Google Earth starts. Click the magnifying glass icon to search for a location.
- Type the name of the location.
- Click on the desired suggestion.
- Google Earth zooms in on the location. Click on the icon in the left menu Measure distance. That’s the picture of a ruler.
- Click on the desired spot on the map to measure the distance from that point.
- Then click another spot on the map to measure the distance between the starting point and the other point.
- You will immediately see the distance between the two points. Expand the route by clicking on a different spot on the map each time. Use the arrow keys to move the map a bit to the side to see other places.
- At the top right is a gray box with the total distance. There is also a twisted arrow. Click on the arrow to undo the last action.
- The measured distance is now shorter. Click Done to finish measuring.
A nice addition is the option to measure the area of ​​an area.
- click on Start new measurement.
- Click several times on the map to mark the outline of an area.
- You will now see the perimeter and area.
Measure distance on the iPad
Distances can also be measured on the iPad and iPhone. To do this, you must have the Google Earth app on your iOS device.
- Open the Google Earth app.
- Tap the magnifying glass icon.
- Type the name of the location.
- Tap the desired suggestion.
- Google Earth zooms in on the starting location. Tap the ruler icon in the white bar on the left.
- A crosshair appears in the center of the image
. Move the image with your finger on the screen until this sight is where the measurement should start. - Tap in the white area at the bottom + Add point. The visor will now turn completely white.
- Move your finger until the sight is at the end point of the distance to be measured. You now see the distance in the picture.
- Do you want to measure the length of a route? Then tap again + Add point and move the image to the next measuring point. By repeating these steps you build up your route. The measured distance from the starting point is shown in the yellow box. The distance between the last point indicated and the current location is shown at the bottom of the white area.
- To undo the last action, tap the rotated arrow at the top right. The measured distance becomes shorter.
- Is the route ready? Finish with one last tap on + Add point and tap the blue circle at the top right.
- The total distance is shown at the bottom of the screen. Tap the blue circle at the top right to start a new route.
A nice addition is the possibility to measure the surface of an area.
- Tap + Add point to determine the starting point.
- Add some points and make sure that the last point ends up at the starting point.
- Tap on Close shape.
You will now see the perimeter and area of ​​the area.
Measure distance on an Android device
Distances can also be measured on an Android device. You need the Google Earth app for this.
- Open the Google Earth app.
- Tap the magnifying glass icon.
- Type the name of the location.
- Tap the desired suggestion.
- Google Earth zooms in on the starting location. Tap the ruler icon at the top of the image.
- A crosshair appears in the center of the image
. Move the image with your finger on the screen until this sight is where the measurement should start. - Tap in the white area at the bottom + Add point. The visor will now turn completely white.
- Move your finger until the sight is at the end point of the distance to be measured. You now see the distance in the picture.
- Do you want to measure the length of a route? Then tap again + Add point and move the image to the next measuring point. By repeating these steps you build up your route. The measured distance from the starting point is shown in the yellow box. The distance between the last point indicated and the current location is shown at the bottom of the white area.
- To undo the last action, tap the rotated arrow at the top right. The measured distance becomes shorter.
- Is the route ready? Finish with one last tap on + Add point and tap the blue circle at the top right.
- The total distance is shown at the bottom of the screen. Tap the blue circle at the top right to start a new route.
A nice addition is the option to measure the area of ​​an area.
- Tap on + Add point to determine the starting point.
- Add some points and make sure that the last point ends up at the starting point.
- Tap on Close shape.
You will now see the perimeter and area of ​​the area.