How to Measure Your Lot Size?

Measure My Lot Size

Introduction

If you’re looking to build or expand property, it is essential to keep in mind certain factors such as the size of the lot.

Lot size is a key consideration in many aspects of construction. It decides what kinds of construction projects you can undertake, helps you define property boundaries or build a fence, helps you determine the value of your land, and more.

Having an understanding of the square footage you are working with is an essential first step in many projects.

Also, as it pertains to this website, without a proper knowledge of your land area, you won’t be able to discover which metal building type would be best for you, or how big it can be.

Not getting accurate dimensions can sometimes cost a lot of money and time, as you might need to re-evaluate your plans.

In this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about lot sizes, including how you can work everything out. We will start with explaining lot size, why it’s important, and how you can measure out accurate dimensions for yourself. Then, we will explain different building procedures and project requirements. We will conclude by outlining 5 great measuring tools for you to use yourself.

Are you ready?

Let’s get going!

What’s in this guide?

What is lot size

Lot size, as the name suggests, refers to the size of the land that your property is on. Typically, it is expressed in square feet or in acres. Of course, it is a metric for understanding how large the property actually is.

Sometimes you might purchase the lot and receive all of the essential information regarding how big it is, or sometimes you might inherit land and may not be able to find this information immediately. In situations where you do not have access to the size of your lot, you might be wondering how you can find this information.

Luckily, there is still a solution.

Using specific technology available today, you can either ascertain the dimensions based on satellite images, or use a calculator to work out things like surface area.

Why is lot size important?

Knowing your lot size can save you a lot of time and money, as it can be an expensive mistake to purchase a metal building which is too big for your property.

Similarly, getting a metal building which is too small means that you can’t utilize it entirely for your needs, which can also end in frustration.

Knowing the size of your lot helps you understand which building projects are realistic to pursue on your property. Not only will you understand how much space you have for these projects, but you will know how much space will be left over. After all, you probably don’t want a project that is going to fill the majority of your available space, leaving you with no open landscape.

Lot size is also important for determining the value of your land. This is important if you are looking to sell, or even looking to purchase a lot. Lot size is a key metric in determining value. Of course, the bigger the lot, the more valuable the land, but it also depends where this land is located.

Size vs. Shape

Another aspect that is very important to understand is lot size vs. lot shape. While it is important to understand the overall size of your land, it is also quite valuable have an outline of the shape. While most lots tend to be rectangular, there are exceptions where land is in irregular shapes.

Any building project should consider size, shape, and any other relevant considerations such as terrain or elevation. Basically, you want a full picture of your property before undertaking any building projects.

How can I benefit from having accurate dimensions?

Having accurate dimensions can help your metal building supplier to both confirm that your building is suitable for space, but also create 3D CAD drawings to show you what your property will look like.

This can be very helpful when you are going through the approval phase of your purchase, so you can confirm that you are happy with the plans.

Plus, having this information means that when you are purchasing land, you can make sure it is the right size.

How can I measure my lot size?

There are several ways that you can effectively measure, or calculate, the area of your lot.

First option

Firstly, potentially the most time-consuming method is to manually measure your lot size by walking the perimeter of your lot.

Of course, you could do it the old fashioned way and walk around the property line with a measuring tape or measuring wheel. However, this method of measurement is very time consuming, and it is easy to make small errors which may throw off the math overall, leading you to incorrectly calculate the total square footage. If you’re intent on this method, be sure to do so very carefully and accurately.

Luckily, you can also do this using your smartphone.

Firstly, by using Google maps, you can utilize GPS, so while you walk the perimeter of your lot, your movements will be tracked and leave you with accurate dimensions. This is quite a bit easier than using a measuring tape, as the phone does the measurements for you as you walk.

Another option is to drop markers on your phone. However, it is unlikely that you will be accurate by using your finger to select these points, rather than using GPS.

Second option

The second option requires documentation or a deed which will traditionally include information regarding the size of your lot. Either with detail or with figures you can use.

Using some online calculators, sometimes you can input the dimension information including width and length, and calculate the total surface area of your lot.

This can help you come up with a single number which can help your metal building company find the best fit for you.

Of course, this is the preferable option if you have access to the information. Just be sure that the information is up to date, and there haven’t been changes or additions to the size of the lot since then. However, it is the case that sometimes this information is simply not available.

Third option

The third option is to utilize an online service such as ‘FindLotSize’ or ‘DaftLogic’, which use Google Maps to find the location of your lot.

Then, you can use this same imagery to work out how big your lot is.

They can do this using the same functionality as Google Maps uses to measure the distance between your location and your destination.

All you have to do is find your lot using the address, and then you will be able to find out the measurements using the pictures.

The Right Option For You?

So out of the above three options, which is the right method? As with any choice, it really depends on your own preferences. You might simply be more comfortable with tools such as a measuring wheel than with a smart phone.

At the end of the day, the right option is simply the one that you prefer. However, be sure not to sacrifice accuracy in making this decision. Measuring the lot precisely should remain your top priority.

What is the average lot size?

In cities, the average lot size has dropped below one-fifth of an acre, when only a few years ago the average was higher.

So, this means less space for each home or establishment in cities in America.

The average lot size is around 8,600 square feet.

Can I build multiple homes on one lot?

This depends entirely on your geographic location, as it hinges either on the size of your plot, or the rules and regulations of the area.

Sometimes, you might have a single 10-acre lot for example, but building multiple homes requires you to split your land into a couple of lots or more, depending on the building size.

It also depends how many separate buildings you want.

So, as with any building project, you need to fully examine your local rules and guidelines before you begin. Your municipality likely has a help-line or service centre to help with these types of inquiries.

How many buildings can I construct per acre?

Taking an acre of land, for instance, traditionally you can build around five homes on your this acre.

This gives you approximately 8,600 square feet per home.

How do I work out how many acres I have?

You can work out your lot size regarding acres by merely multiplying the length of your lot by the width.

This will give you the square ft of your lot.

Then, you divide this number by 43,560 to work out the full acreage of your property.

For instance, if your lot were 130,680 sqft, you would divide it by 43,560, and in the result, you would be left with a lot dimension of three acres.

Top 5 lot measuring tools

1. Find a Lot Size

Find Lot Size

Type: Distance measuring application

Price: Free

Rating: 3/5

Find a Lot Size utilizes Google Maps to give you an application which you can use to measure the size of a lot, based on either meters, kilometres, feet, yards, or miles.

This is a free version of the application, so it might not have all of the features you might need, but it can give you a general idea of your lot size.

Some reviewers have stated that they found the application to be accurate and easy to use.

2. Go iLawn

Go iLawn

Type: Lot measuring software

Price: $19.95 a month

Rating: 3.9/5

Go iLawn is a lot measuring software tool which can be used by professionals to search and measure any lot in the United States.

This can be an excellent time-saving tool as well as a cost-effective solution because according to the website, you can accurately search and edit property details and project data.

Tools like Go iLawn might be the best fit for business use rather than for an individual.

3. Sod Solutions

Sod Solutions

Type: Square footage calculator

Price: Free

Rating: 4/5

Another free solution, Sod Solutions offers a square footage calculator which you can either use by placing markers to calculate an area, or you can type an address into the easy to use a search bar.

You can email these specific maps, or you can save files to store this information for future use.

4. GPS Fields Area Measure

GPS Fields Area Measure

Type: Area calculator application

Price: Free

Rating: 4.5/5

GPS Fields Area Measure is a free application which has a very high score on Google Play, with many satisfied users stating that it’s easy to use, great for beginners, and user-friendly.

You can quickly measure any plots or buildings, group and edit measurements, and track via GPS.

5. Measure Map App

Measure Map App

Type: Measuring app

Price: Free

Rating: 4.2/5

The Measure Map App can be either a free or a paid application based on whether you want the ‘lite’ version or the advanced version with full functionality.

Some of the main features and benefits to using the Measure Map App is that you can have cloud support, use the online application through many browsers and collaborate with different users.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are three main choices for figuring out the size of your lot, including using handy items such as your smartphone or existing deeds. Above all, you just want to be sure that your measurement is accurate.

Have you learnt what you need to know about measuring your lot size?

Do you want to learn more about building with steel or steel products?

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