Google Maps lets you measure straight-line distance between two or more points on a map. You can use the feature on a computer, Android phone or tablet, and iPhone or iPad.
The measurement does not follow roads. It calculates the combined direct distance between the points you select.
If you want a simple independent tool for measuring between two map points, use our Map Distance Calculator.
How to Measure Distance on Google Maps on a Computer
On desktop Google Maps, use the Measure distance option from the map.
Step 1: Open Google Maps
Open Google Maps in your web browser.
Navigate to the area where you want to begin measuring.
Step 2: Right-Click the Starting Point
Right-click the exact point where you want the measurement to begin.
A context menu appears.
Step 3: Select "Measure Distance"
Choose:
Measure distance
This creates the starting point for the measurement.
Step 4: Click the Second Point
Click another location on the map.
Google Maps draws a line between the points and shows the total distance.
The result is displayed in:
- miles;
- kilometers.
Step 5: Add More Points if Needed
You can continue clicking additional locations.
Google Maps adds each new segment to the total measurement.
For example:
Point A → Point B → Point C → Point D
The displayed distance is the combined length of those connected segments.
Step 6: Move or Remove Points
You can drag a measurement point to change its position.
You can also click a point to remove it.
This makes it possible to adjust the measurement after drawing the line.
How to Measure Distance on Google Maps on Android
On Android, the process begins by dropping a pin.
Step 1: Open the Google Maps App
Open Google Maps on your Android phone or tablet.
Step 2: Touch and Hold the Starting Location
Touch and hold a point on the map that is not already a place name or map icon.
A red pin appears.
Step 3: Select "Measure Distance"
Open the information for the dropped pin and choose:
Measure distance
Step 4: Move the Map to the Next Point
Move the map until the black targeting circle is positioned over the next location you want to measure.
Step 5: Tap "Add Point"
Tap:
Add point
Google Maps adds the new point to the measurement.
The total distance appears at the bottom of the screen in miles and kilometers.
Step 6: Add More Points if Needed
You can continue moving the map and tapping Add point.
This allows you to measure a path made from several straight-line segments.
Step 7: Undo or Clear the Measurement
To remove the most recently added point, use:
Undo
To remove all measurement points, open the menu and select:
Clear
How to Measure Distance on Google Maps on iPhone or iPad
The iPhone and iPad workflow is very similar to Android.
Step 1: Open Google Maps
Open the Google Maps app on your iPhone or iPad.
Step 2: Drop a Pin
Touch and hold a location on the map that is not a labeled place or map icon.
A red pin appears.
Step 3: Select "Measure Distance"
Choose:
Measure distance
Step 4: Move the Map
Move the map until the black circle sits over the next location.
Step 5: Tap "Add Point"
Tap:
Add point
The total measurement appears at the bottom of the screen.
Google Maps displays the result in miles and kilometers.
Step 6: Continue Adding Points
You can add additional measurement points to build a longer multi-segment path.
Use Undo to remove the last point or Clear to remove the full measurement.
What Does Google Maps Measure Distance Actually Calculate?
The Measure distance feature calculates the direct distance between the map points you select.
If you select only:
Point A
and:
Point B
the result represents the direct geographic separation between those two points.
If you add:
Point C
Google Maps calculates:
A → B + B → C
If you add more points, each segment contributes to the total.
This makes the tool useful for measuring an approximate line or manually traced path.
Does Google Maps Measure Driving Distance?
Not when you use the Measure distance feature.
The measurement tool does not automatically follow roads.
It connects the selected points directly.
Driving distance is a separate route-based calculation.
For road mileage, use the Driving Distance Calculator or Google Maps directions rather than the Measure distance tool.
What Is the Difference Between Google Maps Distance Measurement and Directions?
The two Google Maps features answer different questions.
Measure Distance
Measures direct line segments between manually selected points.
Directions
Calculates a route based on a transportation mode such as:
- driving;
- walking;
- cycling;
- public transportation where available.
For example:
Measure distance = direct geographic measurement
while:
Driving directions = road route
This is the same conceptual distinction explained in Driving Distance vs Straight-Line Distance.
Can Google Maps Measure Multiple Points?
Yes.
Google's current measurement feature allows two or more points.
Suppose you select:
A → B → C
The result is:
Distance(A,B) + Distance(B,C)
This can be useful for approximating a route or irregular path manually.
However, the result still follows the straight segments between the points you placed. Google Maps does not automatically snap those measurement segments to roads or trails.
Can You Measure a Curved Route?
Yes, approximately, by adding enough intermediate points.
Imagine a curved path:
A ~~~~~ B
A single direct segment from A to B may underestimate the actual length of the curve.
You can add points along the path:
A → P₁ → P₂ → P₃ → B
The more closely those points follow the shape of the route, the better the manual approximation.
For actual pedestrian routing, a dedicated walking-route tool is usually more appropriate.
See our Walking Route Distance Calculator guide for that use case.
Can Google Maps Measure Walking Distance?
There are two different meanings.
If you use Measure distance, Google Maps measures direct line segments between points.
If you use Directions with walking selected, Google Maps attempts to calculate a pedestrian route.
These values can be different.
For example:
Direct map measurement = 1.2 miles
Walking route = 1.6 miles
because the pedestrian path must follow available streets, sidewalks, paths, or crossings.
Can Google Maps Measure Distance Between Cities?
Yes.
For a direct measurement:
- select a point in the first city;
- select a point in the second city;
- read the displayed distance.
The exact result depends on the points you choose.
A city covers an area, so measuring:
city center → city center
will differ from:
airport → airport
or:
neighborhood → neighborhood
For more about city-distance interpretation, see Distance Between Two Locations.
Can Google Maps Measure Distance Between Addresses?
Yes, but there are different ways to approach it.
You can locate each address and manually measure between them.
However, if your goal is to compare both direct and road distance, use the Distance Between Addresses Calculator.
That tool is designed specifically around address input and provides:
- straight-line distance;
- driving distance;
- estimated drive time.
Does Google Maps Show Miles and Kilometers?
Yes.
Google's current Measure distance feature displays the total in:
miles (mi)
and:
kilometers (km)
This applies to the desktop and mobile measurement workflows documented by Google.
Can You Measure Distance Using Satellite View?
Yes.
Switching between standard map view and satellite imagery does not change the underlying geographic positions.
Satellite view can sometimes make it easier to identify exact physical features such as:
- buildings;
- fields;
- shorelines;
- roads;
- landmarks.
The selected coordinates remain the basis of the measurement.
Does Zooming Change the Distance?
No.
Zoom changes the visual scale of the map, not the actual position of the selected measurement points.
If the endpoints remain unchanged, the measured geographic distance remains unchanged.
Zooming in can, however, help you place the points more precisely.
Can You Measure Property Lines With Google Maps?
You can manually trace an approximate property boundary by adding several measurement points.
However, Google Maps should not be treated as a professional land-surveying tool.
A visual boundary on a consumer map may not match a legal parcel boundary.
For property transactions, construction, boundary disputes, or other high-precision uses, rely on official parcel information and qualified surveying where appropriate.
Can Google Maps Measure Area?
The standard Google Maps Measure distance feature focuses on distance.
Google My Maps provides broader drawing and measurement functionality, including measuring distances and areas on custom maps. Google's My Maps documentation describes measuring lines and areas by selecting multiple points and closing a shape.
This is a different product and workflow from the normal Google Maps distance tool.
Can You Measure a Radius on Google Maps?
The standard Measure distance tool does not automatically draw a fixed-radius circle around a location.
You could manually check individual points at approximately the same distance, but that is inefficient for visualizing an entire radius.
Use our Radius Calculator when your question is:
What lies within 5, 10, 25, or 50 miles of this point?
That tool is specifically designed around a center point and radius distance.
Can You Measure an "As the Crow Flies" Distance on Google Maps?
Yes.
The standard Measure distance feature is suitable for direct geographic comparisons because it connects the selected map points rather than calculating a road route.
This is commonly described as:
- straight-line distance;
- direct distance;
- as-the-crow-flies distance.
Read As the Crow Flies Distance for the geographic concept behind this type of measurement.
Google Maps Measurement vs CalculatingDistance.com
Both can measure direct map distance, but the tools serve slightly different workflows.
| Feature | Google Maps Measure Distance | CalculatingDistance.com Map Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Select points visually | Yes | Yes |
| Two points | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple points | Yes | No |
| Miles | Yes | Yes |
| Kilometers | Yes | Yes |
| Shows selected coordinates | Not the main measurement output | Yes |
| Independent of Google Maps | No | Yes |
| Uses OpenStreetMap/Leaflet | No | Yes |
Our Map Distance Calculator is intentionally simpler: select two points, calculate their direct distance, and view both coordinate pairs.
When Should You Use Google Maps Measure Distance?
Use it when you want to:
- measure direct distance between map points;
- trace a rough multi-segment line;
- compare landmarks;
- measure between cities;
- estimate the length of a manually traced path;
- check a direct geographic distance quickly.
It is especially convenient when you are already using Google Maps.
When Should You Use a Route Instead?
Use directions or another route calculator when the path traveled matters.
Examples include:
- driving mileage;
- walking distance;
- cycling distance;
- travel time;
- road-trip planning.
A straight-line measurement does not account for:
- roads;
- bridges;
- terrain;
- crossings;
- route restrictions.
When Should You Use the CalculatingDistance.com Map Tool?
Use the Map Distance Calculator when you want a focused two-point measurement without relying on Google Maps.
It is useful when you want to:
- click two points;
- see their latitude and longitude;
- get miles and kilometers;
- reset and measure another pair;
- understand the exact calculation method used.
The tool uses geographic coordinates and the Haversine formula rather than measuring screen pixels.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I measure distance on Google Maps on a computer?
Right-click the starting point, select Measure distance, then click the next location. Add more points if needed. Google Maps displays the total distance in miles and kilometers.
How do I measure distance on Google Maps on my phone?
Touch and hold the starting location to drop a pin, select Measure distance, move the map to the next point, and tap Add point.
Can Google Maps measure more than two points?
Yes. You can add multiple points, and Google Maps totals the distance across all connected segments.
Does Measure distance follow roads?
No. The measurement connects the points directly. Use Directions for road or walking routes.
Can I measure distance in miles?
Yes. Google Maps displays the total in both miles and kilometers.
Can I move a point after adding it?
On desktop, Google Maps allows measurement points or paths to be dragged. You can also remove points and adjust the measurement.
Can I measure distance on satellite view?
Yes. Satellite imagery changes the visual map layer, not the underlying geographic measurement.
Can Google Maps measure a radius?
The standard distance tool does not automatically draw a fixed-radius circle. Use a dedicated Radius Calculator for that purpose.
What is the alternative to Google Maps for simple two-point measurement?
Use the Map Distance Calculator to select two points on an OpenStreetMap-based map and calculate their direct distance in miles and kilometers.