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How to read floor plan measurements?

To read floor plan measurements, find the drawing scale first, then read the dimension strings and written labels. Common residential scales are 1/4 inch = 1 foot or 1/8 inch = 1 foot. A label of 10'-6" means ten feet, six inches, and 3'-0" means exactly three feet.

Do not assume a room is square just because it looks square on the page.

Dimension lines usually sit outside the walls. The nearest line may show openings or wall segments, the next line room or wall-to-wall measurements, and the outermost line the overall building dimensions. Arrowheads or ticks mark the exact points being measured.

A label such as 12' × 15' means a room roughly 12 feet by 15 feet. Confirm whether the measurement runs to interior finished walls, framing, or exterior walls. Notes, scale, and door swings tell you how much of that space is actually usable.