How to measure on google maps

[Doug Wegener]

FYI,A useful tool. It works in Google classic maps which I like better anyway since it has the topographic tool.

 

[Rocky777]

useful in my area as many colonials have basement area included within the GLA, may be able to gain insight if this is the case with a comparable before having to drive by.

 

[Digger88]

freakin great! thanks

 

[MEL]

Good post. Thanks.

 

[sandpiperapp]

I had a comp I wanted to use in a report. Assessment showed a bit over 1700 sf. MLS said over 3000 sf. MLS in this area very rarely has GLA listed, and when they do it is usually a Realtors guess and may include basements and garages. When I took the picture, the comp appeared larger than 1700 sf. I used this tool and sure enough it was over 3000 sf.
Good for double checking

 

[NachoPerito]

My 'google maps' doesn't have it in labs. Instead I right click anywhere on the map and 'measure distance' is one of the options. Glad to see it measures the area also.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I smell SOW creep. Eww.

 

[spittman]

To take it a step further, Google Earth has even more options if you need... you can zoom in as close as 25 ft and you can change the seasons to winter or fall so that large trees won't be obstructing views. You also have several other options for measurements, even inches. I believe I have even used other tools to estimate the height of a water tower, changed the time of day so that it wasn't so cloudy and even went back in time to see any changes to the improvements.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I use the measuring stick in Google Earth a lot. But do be careful as aerial photos are often distorted. A windy day may cant the camera at a slight angle. And simply put if a building is not exactly beneath a camera, then the distortion is away from the nadir below the camera and everything is "falling away" from that center point. Mostly that is ever so slightly distorted and some compensation is made in the original images.

Further GE has a "3D" option which means they are blending pix to make a faux 3D appearance. It is very obvious in mountains where you zoom low and the mountains appear in stereo "3D".