How to Measure Distance in Google Maps (Any Device)

There's a difference between how far something is as the crow flies and how far you'd drive, and Google Maps has a separate tool for each. This page is about the first: a straight-line measurement you build point by point. It's brilliant for checking a service radius, planning a walk or settling an argument about whether somewhere is really 'just down the road'.

Measure distance on a computer

1. Open Google Maps in your browser.
2. Right-click your starting point.
3. Select Measure distance.
4. Click anywhere on the map to create your path. Click again to add each extra point.
5. Read the total at the bottom. Google shows it in miles (mi) and kilometers (km) at the same time.
6. When you're finished, click Close on the card at the bottom.

To fix a point you put in the wrong place, click and drag it to a new spot. To remove a point, click it. Google's page describes measuring between two or more points, so you're not limited to a single straight line: you can follow a river, a road or the edge of a field one click at a time.

Measure distance on Android, iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Google Maps app.
2. Touch and hold anywhere on the map that isn't a place's name or icon. A red pin appears.
3. Tap Measure distance.
4. Move the map so the black circle sits on the next point you want, then tap Add point at the bottom right.
5. Keep going. The total distance shows at the bottom.

Made a mistake? Tap Undo to remove the last point, or tap More then Clear at the top right to start over. Tap the back arrow at the top left when you're done.

Straight line or road distance?

What you need	Use	What you get
As-the-crow-flies mileage	Measure distance	A straight-line total you build with points
Driving, walking or cycling distance	Directions	A route with estimated travel time on the map
Several stops in one route	Directions with extra destinations	A journey through each stop

The Directions tool shows each route with an estimated travel time on the map, with the best route in blue and the alternatives in gray. Measure distance gives you none of that, just geometry. If you want a trip with stops, use Directions and add destinations.

If Measure distance is missing

The most common cause is Lite mode. Google says you can't measure distance between points if you're using Maps in Lite mode, and the giveaway is a lightning bolt at the bottom of the screen. Use the standard Maps app or the website instead. Also check you pressed on an empty spot of the map: pressing on a place's name or icon won't give you the red pin you need.

Make the scale bar always visible

A scale bar helps you sanity-check what you're measuring. On a phone, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then App & display, then Show scale on map, and choose When zooming in and out or Always.

Practical ways people use it

• A service area: check whether a customer's address falls inside the distance you're willing to travel.
• A walk or run: click along the route to see the distance before you set out.
• Property boundaries: get a rough length of a fence or hedge line, then confirm with a professional survey for anything that matters.
• Local marketing: see how far your shop is from a competitor or a new estate, then use my near-me keyword map template to plan the search terms around it.

What you can't do with the measurement

Google is clear that you can't share a map that contains a distance measurement. If you need to show somebody, take a screenshot on your device and send that. For sending a location itself, you could use a dropped pin; my Google Maps ranking factors cheat sheet is worth a look if you're using Maps to bring in local customers.

Mistakes that give you the wrong number

• Zoomed out too far. If you're clicking points on a world-sized view, each click covers a huge area. Zoom in before you add points so the path follows the real shape.
• Pressing on a place's name. On a phone, the red pin only appears when you press an empty part of the map, not a business or a landmark.
• Forgetting the units. Google shows miles and kilometers together at the bottom, so make sure you're reading the right one for the person you're telling.
• Treating it as a route. A straight-line total ignores roads, rivers and one-way systems. It tells you how far apart two places are, not how long the journey takes.

Working out a service radius

If you serve customers within a set distance, here's a quick way to check an address. Right-click your base, choose Measure distance, then click the customer's address. The total at the bottom is the straight-line distance. It won't match the drive, so decide in advance which one your policy uses. Many local businesses quote by driving distance, and a customer who is close as the crow flies can be a long way by road.

My verdict

Right-click, Measure distance, click along the path. That's the whole trick on a computer, and a press-and-hold on a phone. Use Directions when you need road distance, and keep an eye out for Lite mode if the option never appears.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure distance in Google Maps?

On a computer, right-click your starting point, select Measure distance and click along the path. On a phone, touch and hold the map, tap Measure distance and tap Add point.

Does it measure road distance or a straight line?

Measure distance gives a straight-line total between the points you add. Use Directions for driving, walking or cycling distance.

What units does Google Maps use?

The total appears in miles (mi) and kilometers (km) at the bottom of the screen.

Why can't I see Measure distance?

You might be in Lite mode, which Google says doesn't support it. A lightning bolt at the bottom shows you're in Lite mode.

Can I share a map showing a distance measurement?

No. Google says you can't share a map with distance measurement, so take a screenshot instead.