What to measure
| Item | Tool | Calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Patio, walkway pavers | Area | PaverCalc |
| Lawn / sod / seed | Area | GrassSeedCalc |
| Planting beds | Area | MulchCalc |
| Fence lines | Polyline | FenceCalc |
| Retaining walls | Polyline | RetainingWallCalc |
| French drains | Polyline | FrenchDrainCalc |
| Trees, lights, posts | Count | — |
Tips
Check the north arrow sheet for the scale bar and calibrate on it if the PDF was resized. Group each material as its own condition so the CSV export lines up with your estimate.
Volumes from areas
Many landscape materials are ordered by volume: mulch, topsoil, gravel base and sand. Measure the area here, then multiply by depth in the linked calculator — for example 3 inches of mulch over 400 square feet is about 3.7 cubic yards. Paver patios need base gravel and bedding sand as well as pavers, which PaverCalc works out from the same area. Measure fence lines once and let FenceCalc turn the length into posts, rails and pickets.
FAQ
What scale are site plans drawn at?
Often engineering scales like 1" = 10', 20' or 30', or metric 1:100 to 1:500. Use the scale bar to calibrate.
Can I count trees and fixtures?
Yes, with the Count tool.