How to Measure Your Yard

The classic approach. Grab a 100-foot tape measure and measure the length and width of each area of your yard. For a rectangular lawn, multiply length by width to get square feet.

For irregular shapes, break the yard into rectangles, triangles, and circles, measure each, and add them up. A triangle is ½ × base × height. A circle is π × radius².

A licensed surveyor uses GPS equipment and established markers to determine exact property boundaries and dimensions. This is the gold standard for accuracy and the only option for legal purposes like boundary disputes and new construction permits.

Enter your address on LotSite to see your property boundary overlaid on satellite imagery. Then paint different areas — grass, driveway, patio, garden beds — to get exact square footage for each. The entire process takes about 30 seconds.

This method uses county assessor parcel boundary data, which is accurate within a few feet for most residential properties. The satellite imagery lets you visually confirm that the boundary matches your actual property.

For most homeowners, the answer depends on why you need the measurement:

• Buying lawn products (fertilizer, seed, mulch) — Use LotSite. You need a good estimate, not legal precision.
• Planning a fence or landscaping project — Use LotSite to get dimensions and visualize your boundary. Follow up with a tape measure for exact placement.
• Building a structure or resolving a dispute — Hire a licensed surveyor. Only a professional survey provides the legal documentation you need.
• Selling or buying a home — The lot dimensions in the property listing come from county records, which is the same data LotSite uses.