Getting a driving route when you want the distance between two points? Google Maps has separate tools for straight-line measurements and travel routes. Here’s how to pick the right one and measure your distance on a phone or computer.
Measure distance on your phone
The map ruler measures straight lines and paths you trace on Android, iPhone, and iPad.
Open the Google Maps app.
Touch and hold an unlabeled spot on the map to drop a pin, away from any place name or icon.
Select Measure distance.
Move the map until the black circle sits over your next location.
Tap Add point.
For each additional segment, move the map to position the black circle over the next location.
Tap Add point again.
Read the total distance at the bottom of the screen.
Use the ruler on your computer
In Google Maps on your computer, right-click your starting location.
Select Measure distance. Each pair of points creates a straight segment.
Click the endpoint on the map. The card at the bottom shows the distance in both miles and kilometers.
For a longer path, click successive points along it, including its bends. The bottom card shows the combined distance.
Find a missing Measure distance option
On mobile, selecting a place name or icon instead of an unlabeled spot prevents you from starting the ruler this way.
Touch and hold an unlabeled map location to drop a pin.
Select Measure distance.
If you’re using Google Maps Go, switch to the full Google Maps app. Maps Go supports directions, but it does not support distance measurement.
On computers, the ruler is unavailable in Lite mode. Use the full Google Maps website or the full mobile app.
Get the distance you’ll actually travel
For a driving, walking, or cycling trip, use Directions. It calculates a travel route; the ruler adds up the straight segments you place manually.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, search for your destination.
Tap Directions.
Change Your location if your trip starts somewhere else.
Select a transportation mode, such as Driving, Walking, or Cycle, to see the route and its distance. Available modes vary by region.
Tap an alternative route to compare it.
For intermediate destinations, open More.
Select Edit stops.
Enter your stops.
Tap Done. You can include up to nine stops, counting the final destination. Multiple destinations are unavailable for transit and flight searches.
On a computer, click Directions in Google Maps.
Enter your origin.
Enter your destination.
Select your transportation mode to review the route.
Click a gray alternative to compare routes.
Use Add destination to include intermediate stops, with the same nine-stop limit.
If the driving route doesn’t follow your intended path, try dragging part of it to another location on desktop. For a manually traced distance, use Measure distance with points along your intended path instead.
Adjust or clear your measurement
On a phone or tablet, tap Undo to remove the most recent point.
To reset the measurement, open More.
Select Clear.
Tap the back arrow when you’re finished measuring.
On desktop, drag a point or segment to adjust the path.
Click a point to remove it.
Click Close on the measurement card when you’re done.
Tip: Correct a misplaced point before adding more segments.
Choose your units and show the map scale
You can set your preferred distance units in the mobile app. The desktop ruler card already displays both miles and kilometers.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, tap your profile picture or initial.
Open Settings.
Select Navigation.
Under Distance units, choose Automatic, Kilometers, or Miles.
On desktop, sign in to Google Maps.
Click the map scale at the bottom right to switch between miles and kilometers.
For a visible scale on mobile, tap your profile picture or initial.
Open Settings.
Select App & display.
Open Show scale on map.
Choose Always to keep the scale visible, or When zooming in and out.
If the scale doesn’t give you a precise enough estimate, use Measure distance for a calculated total.
Measure an area with Google My Maps
Need to measure a shape as well as a line? Google My Maps is a separate custom-map tool with distance and area measurements on its computer website.
Sign in to My Maps on a computer.
Open an existing map or create a new one.
Click Measure distances and areas.
Click your starting point.
Place another point at each bend or corner.
For a line measurement, double-click the final point.
For an area measurement, close the shape. The results appear in blue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share a Google Maps distance measurement?
Google Maps does not support sharing a map containing a distance measurement through its standard map-sharing feature.
Can Google Maps show travel I’ve already recorded?
Yes. Timeline in the mobile app lets you review recorded travel when you’ve opted into Timeline, on supported devices: Google Maps 11.106 or later on Android (not Android Go), or 6.93 or later on iPhone and iPad. It does not measure an arbitrary proposed path, and Timeline is unavailable on computers.
Can I save a custom travel route in Google My Maps?
Yes. Google My Maps supports saving driving, bicycling, and walking routes on a computer. Its directions feature is separate from its distance-and-area ruler.