Free
AR tape measure for iPhone
The Measure tool turns your iPhone’s camera into a tape measure. Aim at one end of what you’re measuring, tap +, move to the other end and tap + again. The length appears on the line. It’s the free tool in The Measure App, and every reading is an estimate made by Apple’s ARKit from what the camera sees.
How to use it
- Open the app on the Measure tool and move your phone slowly so it can find the room.
- Aim the circle at one end of the thing you’re measuring and tap +.
- Move to the other end. The line follows you, then tap + to finish it.
- Tap + again to start another line, use undo to take back the last point, or tap the save button to keep it with an optional photo.
Good for
- Checking whether furniture will fit through a door or into an alcove
- Rough sizes of windows, rugs and walls before you shop
- Measuring several lines in a row, then saving them together
What it can’t do
- Readings are estimates. When the camera can’t find a surface, the app says “Estimated. No surface detected here.”
- Surfaces with little visible detail give the camera less to work with. The app warns you: “Not enough detail here. Readings may be less accurate.”
- Long distances are less reliable. If you are too far away the app tells you to move closer.
- For anything that has to be exact, such as cutting materials or ordering made-to-measure items, check with a real tape measure.
Measure: questions
Is the AR tape measure free?
Yes. Measure is the free tool in The Measure App. The other eight tools come with a Measure Pro subscription.
Does it need the internet or an account?
No. The app makes no network requests and has no account. Measurements you save are stored on your device only.
Does it use the LiDAR Scanner?
On iPhone and iPad models that have a LiDAR Scanner, the app also uses the depth information it provides. On other models it works from the camera alone.