Planning to transform your outdoor space? Whether you’re going for a full garden redesign or just adding a new patio or flower bed, it all starts with one essential step: accurate measurements. Knowing the exact dimensions of your garden helps you make the most of every inch and ensures your garden design project goes smoothly from the start.
Let’s walk you through how to measure your garden the easy way, with practical tips and a few optional tools to make things even easier.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Measuring tape (long enough to cover the longest part of your garden).
- Notepad and pencil for note-taking.
- Graph paper for creating a scale drawing.
- A long string or rope for measuring curved boundaries.
Optional extras: a spirit level or phone app for elevation changes, and a friend to help hold the tape!
Step-by-Step Guide to Measuring Your Garden
Start with a simple sketch
Draw a rough outline of your garden on graph paper. Don’t worry about perfection—this is just to help you visualise where things go. Mark out fixed features like fences, trees, patios, sheds, or lawn areas.
Measure the Main Dimensions
Begin with the basics—length and width. Use your measuring tape and note down each dimension clearly. It helps to work from corner to corner, especially if your garden is rectangular or square.
Measuring Curved Edges
For beds or borders with curves, lay string along the edge, then measure the string length. This gives you a close enough measurement to plan around. If the curves are particularly dramatic, sketch them freehand on your layout to show their position and scale.
Calculate the area
If you’re working out how much turf, gravel, or decking you’ll need:
- For rectangular areas, multiply length × width.
- For circular spaces, measure the diameter and use: Area = π × (radius²).
Account for Slopes or Elevation
If your garden isn’t flat, make a note of where the slope begins and ends. This will be helpful for things like drainage or retaining walls, and it helps your garden designer choose the right plants and materials.
Create a Scaled Drawing
Now, bring it all together. Using your sketch and measurements, draw your garden to scale on graph paper. A good starting point is 1 square = 1 foot (or 1 square = 0.5 metres depending on the size of your space). This gives you a bird’s-eye view to start visualising your dream garden.
Garden Measuring Tips
- Double-check your measurements—especially before buying materials.
- Measure at different times of the day, especially if shadows from trees or buildings might affect light.
- Ask someone to hold one end of the tape—it’s much easier with two!
Can You Use Google Maps to Measure Your Garden?
Absolutely—but only for rough measurements. Google Earth and Google Maps are great for getting a general idea of size and layout.
- Use the ‘Measure Distance’ tool in Google Maps for a basic overview.
- Google Earth’s ruler tool gives slightly more detail, especially for larger or oddly shaped plots.
That said, for any serious garden project, we still recommend measuring on-site for accuracy.
Professional Survey Service –Want a Professional to Handle It?
If you’re in London or the surrounding areas, we offer a full garden survey and measurement service for £250. Perfect for complex gardens or if you just want the peace of mind that it’s all accurate.
We also recommend checking out:
- Ordnance Survey Maps – ideal for boundary lines and property layouts.
- Stanfords Maps – specialists in UK mapping for detailed garden measurements.
Let’s Bring Your Garden Plans to Life
Once you’ve measured everything up, the fun part begins—planning and designing! Whether you’re dreaming of a lush planting scheme, a cosy seating area, or a complete redesign, our garden designers are here to help you make the most of your space.
Need help creating the perfect garden design? Get in touch and let’s turn those measurements into a space you’ll love spending time in.