How to Measure the Length of a Parcel of Land

Being able to accurately measure land is important in determining how much property someone owns. By multiplying the length by the width of a parcel, you can calculate the area, or acreage, of the land. Measuring the length of land is also important in determining where construction or changes in the land can legally occur so as not to damage or infringe upon someone else's property.

Things You'll Need

• Surveying tape measure

Instructions

1. Plant a stake on one end of the property. Oftentimes, the length of a parcel of land runs from the street to the backyard; if this is true for the land in question, stake the beginning of the land closest to the road.

2. Plant a stake on the opposite end of the land. If the length is from the road to the backyard, place this stake at the end of the property in the backyard.

3. Run a surveying tape measure from one stake to the other stake. Any kind of tape measure can be used for this purpose, but a surveying tape measure is longer than other varieties, making it ideal for land measurement.

References

• Chest of Books: No 57a Rules For Measuring Land
• UNC: Units of Measurement