How to measure a lawn or outdoor area online
- Open the satellite measurer and search for the property address.
- Zoom in until the edges of the project area are easy to distinguish.
- Click around the outside edge of the first section and select Finish area.
- Add separate sections instead of drawing across buildings, pavement, pools, or other excluded spaces.
- Drag the white editing handles to refine the outline, then copy the combined square footage.
Project ideas
What can you measure on the satellite map?
Use the map for visible, roughly horizontal outdoor areas. Outline separate sections when a project wraps around buildings, pavement, pools, or planting beds.
Lawns and sod
Estimate turf area before planning sod, seed, fertilizer, irrigation coverage, or a layer of new soil.
Calculate topsoil →Garden beds
Trace beds and landscaped islands before estimating mulch, topsoil, gravel, or ground cover.
Calculate mulch →Driveways and gravel
Outline driveways, paths, parking areas, and other spaces that need a gravel quantity estimate.
Calculate gravel →Patios and hardscaping
Measure a patio, walkway, concrete pad, pool surround, or other planned hardscape footprint.
Property planning
Estimate visible lot sections, yards, play areas, pool footprints, decks, and other outdoor project zones.
Planning estimate—not a surveyFormula
How the area is calculated
Each point becomes a geographic coordinate. The closed polygon is measured on the Earth’s surface in square meters, then converted using 1 square meter = 10.7639 square feet, 9 square feet = 1 square yard, and 43,560 square feet = 1 acre.
Improve the measurement
Use more points along curves and irregular boundaries, but avoid placing unnecessary points along straight edges. Measure distinct project sections separately and exclude buildings, pavement, planting beds, pools, or other surfaces that are not part of the area you need.
Satellite imagery is a planning aid rather than a survey. Roof overhangs, shadows, tree canopy, slopes, image age, and map alignment can all introduce error.
Turn the measured area into a material estimate
The square-foot result is a starting point for planning topsoil, mulch, gravel, pavers, concrete, and other outdoor materials. Copy the result, open the appropriate YardMeasure calculator, and enter the material depth and waste allowance required for the project.
Privacy and map data
The map does not load until you choose to open it. Opening it connects your browser to Google Maps, and an address is sent to Google only when you perform a search. YardMeasure does not intentionally store the address or polygon coordinates. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Questions
Satellite Area Calculator FAQ
How do I measure my lawn with the satellite map?
Search for the property, zoom in, and click around the outside edge of each grassy section. Finish each polygon separately so buildings, driveways, patios, and garden beds are not included.
Can I measure more than one lawn section?
Yes. Finish the first area, select Add another area, and outline the next section. YardMeasure adds all finished areas into one total.
How accurate is a satellite lawn measurement?
It is a practical planning estimate. Accuracy depends on image alignment, tree cover, roof overhangs, slopes, image age, and where each point is placed. Verify important dimensions on site before ordering materials.
What projects can I measure with the satellite area calculator?
You can estimate visible outdoor areas for lawns, sod, seed, garden beds, mulch, topsoil, gravel, driveways, patios, pavers, concrete pads, pools, decks, and general property planning. Slopes, tree cover, roof overhangs, and hidden boundaries can affect the result, so verify important measurements on site.
Does YardMeasure save my address?
YardMeasure does not intentionally store the address. When you search, the address is sent to Google Maps to locate the property. The drawn measurements remain in the current browser page.