Google Maps for iOS & Android: Measure distance with ease

January 21, 2021

1 1 minute read

Hans-Christian Dirscherl

“Measure distance” is a useful feature in the Google Maps app for Android and iOS. With this you can easily determine the distance between two or more points.

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Measure distance: This function for Google Maps is available on Android smartphones and iPhones. Here in the iOS version and with the satellite map activated.

Problem:

You want to quickly measure the distance between two points on a Google Maps map on an Android smartphone or iPhone.

Solution:

Google provides the “Measure distance” feature for the Google Maps app on Android and iOS (this function is also available for Google Maps in the browser on the desktop). How to use it to measure the distance between two points.

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Measure distance: you can always set a point where you can change direction.

Open Google Maps on your Android smartphone or iPhone. Press any point on the map to set a starting marker. Then tap on the menu “Set marker” that appears at the bottom of the screen and then on “Measure distance”. Now scroll with the map to the desired destination. The distance covered between the starting point and the destination point is constantly updated and displayed below first in meters and then in kilometers. With “Add point” you can always add new waypoints and thus describe a specific route with turning points.

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How to start “Measure distance”.

If you want to measure greater distances, then zoom out on the map.

Google Maps 4.36 also brought the function for iOS on September 7, 2017 "Measure distance". This function has been around for a long time for the Android version of Google Maps.

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On September 7, 2017, Google Maps 4.36 also brought the “Measure distance” function for iOS. This function has been around for a long time for the Android version of Google Maps.

Google Maps is a very powerful navigation app for Android and iOS with real-time traffic situation data. A detailed and constantly updated test of Google Maps with real-time traffic information can be found here. In another article we have compiled the best tips and tricks for Google Maps. You can set Google Maps so that selected friends can see your location. You can also view the altitude difference in Google Maps. A relatively new app feature is the display of the parking situation for the destination. This parking space preview is currently only available for a few German cities. In this article we will show you how to measure air lines, distances and areas on the desktop with Google Maps.