Measure Tool
Press K to activate the Measure tool. Click points on the canvas to measure distances and angles.
Measure ToolThe Measure tool gives you a live read-out of distance and angle as you click points on the canvas. It supports multi-segment paths so you can accumulate a total length around corners, check clearances between elements, or verify that a path is wide enough for two people to pass. All values follow your project's unit system (metric or imperial). The tool is purely informational — it never adds marks or annotations to the plan; use the Dimension tools when you need a labeled dimension that stays on the drawing.
Ortho lock
Hold Shift while drawing a segment to constrain it to 45° angle increments. This makes it easy to measure along horizontal, vertical, or diagonal axes.
Set the first point
Click anywhere on the canvas to place Point A. The Point A coordinate fields in the sidebar populate instantly. You can also type coordinates directly into the Point A fields if you know the exact position — the canvas preview updates to match.
Read the live distance and angle
Move your cursor toward the target point. The Distance and Angle fields update in real time with every cursor movement. The angle is measured from the positive X-axis, so 0° is horizontal-right and 90° is straight up. Snap indicators light up when the cursor locks to a nearby entity or grid intersection.
Constrain to a clean axis
Hold Shift while moving the cursor to lock the segment to the nearest 45° increment — horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. This is useful when checking that a path runs perfectly parallel to a fence line or that a patio edge is square. Release Shift to return to free movement.
Finish a single-segment measurement
Click to place Point B. The sidebar shows the final Distance and Angle as a confirmed read-out. The values remain visible in the panel so you can note them down. Press Escape or click the Measure tool button again to clear the measurement and start fresh.
Measure a multi-segment path
Instead of pressing Escape after the first segment, keep clicking to add more points. Each new click extends the path and the Distance field accumulates the running total across all segments. This is ideal for measuring the perimeter of an irregular bed, the total run of a winding path, or the combined clearance through a series of spaces. Double-click or press Escape to finish.
Enter coordinates manually
You can type directly into the Point A or Point B coordinate fields instead of clicking on the canvas. Enter the X and Y values in your project's unit system and press Tab or Enter to confirm. The canvas preview snaps to the typed position and the Distance and Angle recalculate automatically.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| K | Activate Measure tool |
| Shift | Constrain angle to 45° increments |
| Cmd+L | Lock to orthogonal axis (X/Y) |
| Escape | Finish measurement / cancel |
The Measure tool never adds anything to the canvas — values appear only in the tool panel and clear when you cancel. If you need a labeled dimension that stays on the plan and prints in the PDF, use a Dimension tool instead.
Use the multi-segment mode to check garden path widths before committing to a layout. Main garden paths should be at least 1.2 m (4 ft) wide to allow two people to walk side by side. Dining seating areas need at least 75 cm (30 in) clear behind chairs so people can push back comfortably.
When measuring along an existing entity edge, hover close to it until the snap indicator appears, then click. The measurement point locks precisely to the endpoint or midpoint of the entity rather than a nearby grid cell, giving you an exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
My measurement disappeared — where did it go?
The Measure tool is a live read-out only and does not keep anything on the canvas. The values clear when you press Escape, switch tools, or start a new measurement. If you need the dimension to stay visible on the plan, use a Dimension tool to place a permanent labeled annotation.
How do I measure the total length of a path with several bends?
After clicking the first segment end point, keep clicking at each bend instead of pressing Escape. The Distance field accumulates the running total across all segments. Finish with a double-click or Escape — the last value shown is the full path length.
Are the readings in meters or feet?
The Measure tool always follows your project's unit system. If the project is set to imperial, readings display in feet and inches; if metric, in meters. Change the unit system in Project Settings and all measurements update immediately.
Can I type coordinates instead of clicking?
Yes. Click into the Point A or Point B coordinate fields in the sidebar and type the X and Y values directly. Press Tab or Enter to confirm, and the canvas preview and Distance/Angle read-outs update to match.
What is the angle measured from?
The Angle field reports the bearing from Point A to Point B measured counter-clockwise from the positive X-axis (horizontal right = 0°, straight up = 90°). Hold Shift while placing a point to snap to exact 45° increments if you only need to confirm horizontal, vertical, or diagonal alignment.