Step-by-step guides on measuring floor plans, calculating GLA, and getting accurate square footage from any image or PDF.
Comparing measuring from a digital floor plan image vs physical field measurement. When each is appropriate and how accurate each method is.
Step-by-step guide to calculating square footage from a floor plan image. What inputs you need, how scale works, and how to get accurate results.
Export instructions for CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, Apex Sketch, and Magicplan in the best format for accurate square footage measurement.
Measuring rental property square footage for leasing, insurance, and records. What dimensions matter and how to document the measurement.
Accurate square footage is essential for homeowners insurance replacement cost. How to measure your floor plan for policy documentation, claims, and coverage reviews.
Split-level homes have staggered floors that require measuring each level separately. Includes what counts as above-grade GLA vs. below-grade finished area.
Finished basements are measured separately from above-grade space. Learn when basement square footage counts as GLA and how to document it correctly.
Manufactured homes use exterior dimensions and have different appraisal rules than site-built construction. How to measure single-wide, double-wide, and multi-section homes.
What does this guide library cover?
Step-by-step guides on measuring floor plans, calculating square footage, and getting accurate GLA from any image or PDF. Topics include CubiCasa, Matterport, iGUIDE, Apex Sketch, ANSI Z765, condo and townhouse measurement, multi-story homes, and accuracy tips.
Where should I start?
Start with "Measure Floor Plan Online" for the basic 4-step process. Then read "What Is GLA?" for the appraisal context, and "ANSI Z765 Measurement Guide" for the official standard. Topic-specific guides cover specialized cases (condos, basements, irregular shapes, etc).
Do the guides apply to commercial floor plans?
Most guides focus on residential floor plan measurement (homes, condos, townhouses, manufactured homes). The general principles (perimeter tracing, scale calibration) apply to commercial floor plans, but commercial uses BOMA standards rather than ANSI Z765 for square footage.
Are these guides for appraisers only?
No. The guides are written for anyone who needs to measure a floor plan: appraisers, agents, homebuyers, homeowners, landlords, investors, contractors, and renovation planners. Each guide identifies its target use case at the top.
How accurate is online floor plan measurement?
For a clean to-scale floor plan, results are typically within 1 to 2 percent of a field measurement. Hand sketches and angled phone photos vary more (3 to 10 percent). The "Floor Plan Measurement Accuracy Tips" guide covers how to maximize accuracy.