You can measure the approximate acreage of a plot of land using Google Earth. Once you find the land or location you want to measure, you can bring out the built-in ruler and measure a portion of it. This only works on the Google Earth program on your computer, as the mobile app doesn’t have this feature.
Steps
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Open the Google Earth program installed on your computer. Once launched, you will see a beautiful 3D rendition of our world. -
Search for the plot of land. Use the search box on the upper left corner and enter the location of the land you want to measure. Click the Search button beside the search field to continue.The map will move to your new location.Advertisement -
Locate the navigation bar. At first glance, you may not see the navigation area on the right of the map. Hover over it and it will appear clearly. You will see some navigation buttons to help you move around the map. -
Focus on the area you want to measure. Make sure it fits on the screen. Use the navigation buttons and arrows to move around the map and to zoom in or out. Stop when you reach the map view where you can measure properly. Wait a few moments for the rendering to be completed for the location. -
Bring out the ruler. Click “Tools” from the header menu bar, then select “Ruler.” A small window will appear for the Ruler functionality. -
Select the mode of measuring. The ruler can measure distance between two points on the ground and distance between multiple points on the ground. Since you want to measure area, you want the latter. Click on the Path tab to measure distance between multiple points on the ground. -
Identify unit of measure. Click the drop-down list for the options for the different units of measure. You can choose from Centimeters, Meters, Kilometers, Inches, Feet, Yards, Miles, Nautical Miles, and Smoots. Select Feet from the list, or any other unit of measurement for which you can find the conversion to acreage. -
Draw the area to be measured. Enclose the area you want to measure by plotting points on the ground. You can plot as many as you need to make it as accurate as possible. Each point you add will be connected to the previous point by a yellow line. Connect the final point to the first point to close the area. -
Get acreage. The total area will be displayed in the Ruler window. There are 43,560 sq feet in an acre or 4,047 sq meters. Divide the area shown by the appropriate conversion factor to determine the acreage of the land.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionIs measuring acreage using google earth accurate?Arun Ghosh is a Real Estate Expert and Licensee with over five years of experience, specializing in commercial real estate. He recently received a certification in Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investment from the MIT School of Architecture and Planning. As the founder of Hutfin.com, Arun created an online marketplace designed to streamline the selling and buying of commercial property. Previously, he worked as a certified Cloud Architect and DevOps Engineer and is a member of prestigious organizations such as REIN, ISACA, EC-Council, and PMI. He has also served as a U.S. Army Officer. He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Kerala and a Master's Degree from the Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida.Measuring acreage using Google Earth can be a helpful tool for general estimates, but it’s not precise enough for critical decisions, like buying property. The platform uses satellite imagery and mapping tools to calculate area, which can give you a good sense of a property’s size. Factors like zoning, utility access (water, sewage, electricity), and legal boundaries are not accounted for in these measurements. These details are crucial because they determine how the land can be used and whether it meets your needs. For example, a property might look large on Google Earth, but zoning restrictions or lack of utilities could limit its potential. Most buyers focus solely on the size of the land without asking the right questions about its actual use. This can lead to surprises later, such as buying land that’s unsuitable for their intended purposes or that comes with high taxes for unused portions. If you’re considering buying land, it’s always best to consult a licensed real estate broker or land expert.
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QuestionHow do I get the coordinates of land?Thomas MCommunity AnswerOn Google Earth, you can drop a pin on the land. Click on it to see the address. There, you will see the coordinates.
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