How to measure an area on a map — hectares, acres and m²
To measure an area: open the ruler on the live map, tap the corners of the field or parcel, then tap Area. NomadTracks closes the shape and shows the area inside it — in m² or hectares, or in acres if you use imperial units. It is part of the free app.
It works on any basemap and on your own maps: import a cadastral sheet, a plot plan or a GeoPDF, and tap the corners right on it.
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Open the ruler
On the live map, tap the ruler button. An Area button appears with it, dimmed until you have placed three points.
Tap the corners
Tap each corner of the area in order around its edge. Every leg shows its length as you go, and the running total updates with each point.
Switch to Area
With three or more points, tap Area. NomadTracks closes the shape back to your first point and shows the enclosed area in the middle of it.
Read it in your units
Metric and nautical units show m², then hectares from one hectare up, then km² for very large areas. Imperial shows square feet, then acres, then square miles. Change units in Settings.
Start again
Reset asks before it clears the measurement, so a stray tap cannot wipe a shape you took time over.
FAQ
Is area measurement free?
Yes. The ruler and area measurement are part of the free app, with no account and no subscription. Only road-snapped measuring — distances along real roads and trails instead of straight lines — is a Pro feature.
How accurate is the area?
The area is computed on the curved surface of the Earth rather than on a flat map projection, so it stays correct for large areas too. In practice the limit is how precisely you place the corners, which is why zooming in helps.
Can I measure on a cadastral or plot map?
Yes. Import the map as a GeoPDF or a georeferenced image, turn it on as an overlay and tap the corners on it — the area is calculated from the positions you tap.
Which units can it show?
m², hectares and km² in metric; square feet, acres and square miles in imperial. The app picks the step that reads best for the size of the area.