Did you know you can measure garden size on Google maps??

[OUB1974]

I have been quite obsessed with garden size since we started looking for a house...especially as the photos make them look so much bigger than they really are, and they don't tend to have measurements on them.

Anyway, in case anyone else is similarly obsessed, I've just discovered that you can take measurements on google maps! You drop a pin, click on the location and then there's a button to take a measurement. I've had great fun comparing all of the houses we looked at! I'm not sure if it's 100% accurate but it's close enough to get an idea.

That's handy to know. I do like a good nosey using Google earth/street view but you can still sometimes arrive at a property and it's got a postage stamp size garden when the pics have made it look huge.

I discovered this a few monthd ago too, it has helped me a ton too! still do it now and compare other houses gardens to the one im buying xD

Woah and you can do it on the app!

Didn't know that. V useful for people scoping out buying a new house as they never give garden size. Thanks for sharing!

You drop a pin, click on the location and then there's a button to take a measurement.

I must be dumb, but where on the screen and which button takes the measurement?

@Lottle

Didn't know that. V useful for people scoping out buying a new house as they never give garden size. Thanks for sharing!

Was about to ask the same.

@Elouera

You drop a pin, click on the location and then there's a button to take a measurement.

I must be dumb, but where on the screen and which button takes the measurement?

oops wrong quote

Wow this is great OP! Thanks!

@Elouera . It wasn't easy to work out!

So you click and hold at the edge of the garden, which creates the pin.

Then towards the bottom there is a description where it says something like "dropped pin - near 1 High Street". Click on this.

Down the page it says "measure distance". Click on this.

Then you move the map (not the pin) until there is a straight line and the measurement is below.

Our new garden is 25 yards long and 8 yards wide! I have been happily comparing to all of the houses we rejected, which is great fun.

Most councils have planning maps on their website which go down to a very detailed level with measuring tools. So you can see plot and house outline and also figure out all the neighbouring properties.

Google Maps is great for house buying! You can use the same method to measure distances from the centre of a school to the front door 'as the crow flies' if that is the method used by the school to allocate places.
Also, if you download the desktop version you can do a hyper speed time lapse - running from day and night throughout the year - to see how the garden receives sunlight during the different seasons

I've been doing that using the map scale measurement (comparing same scale pics to my own garden) but this seems easier!

I did it by right clicking where I wanted to start the measurement and choosing the" distance to here" option from the pop up menu. Then click where you want to measure to. Can't seem to manage it any way with a left click?
Very useful.

@mama4321- Your right click option worked great. Thankyou.

Ah, I'm on my phone so maybe that's why.

I will have a look at that @Teatoweltable thank you!

It works differently on the laptop/desktop version of google maps. On there the process is:-

1. Right click on one corner of the garden
2. Choose "Measure Distance" which is the bottom option
3. Left click on the next corner of the garden (or anywhere else that you want) and it will show the distance in metres and feet
4. Keep on clicking as much as you like for extra waypoints.
5. You can also drag the points to different places like you can when doing a map search on Rightmove

Well according to google maps my garden is 6ft wide😱

Great thanks! I am similarly obsessed by garden size!