Ruler: how far is it, really?

Public beta

Available in the public beta version.

How far is that peak, really, and how much climbing? The ruler answers on the map: tap a point and read the distance, the bearing and the climb as the crow flies. Keep tapping to plan a loop, let the legs follow the roads and trails for how you travel, slide along the elevation profile, and keep the plan as a route book.

Open the ruler

The ruler works while the map stays where you move it. Tap the follow-me button and choose Switch to search, measure and plan, or simply drag the map.

Then tap the measure button and choose Ruler A→B. A sits on the red arrow in the middle of the map, and the bar asks you to tap the map for B.

The same menu draws areas ( Planimeter ), draws a route with the red arrow, and makes a route book .

Read the bar

The ruler’s bar replaces the collection’s bar at the top of the map while the ruler is open:

A→B: the points, from the first to the last. Tap it for the ruler’s menu;
the distance, the bearing from A to B (with T for true or M for magnetic north), and the climb ↑ and descent ↓ along the line;
↶ undoes the last change to the points: a point added, moved or removed. It shows while there’s one to undo;
the aim button opens Map focus ( below );
⚙ sets how the ruler shows its readings: units, degrees or mils, true or magnetic north;
× closes the ruler.

With ✓Elevation on (in the ruler’s menu or the Measure and plan menu), the elevation band under the map shows the line’s profile.

The ruler from Pantoll towards East Peak: 1.678 mi, 32.8°(T), ↑1304 ↓544 ft in the bar

Move a point and snap it

Drag a point by its grip, the lettered circle under it: the grip hangs below the point so your finger never hides the spot you aim at. Drop a point near a waypoint and it snaps exactly onto it, with a light tick. A waypoint you tap while the ruler is open does the same.

B dragged onto the East Peak waypoint: it sits exactly on it

Plan a loop

Every tap on the map adds the next point: C, D, and so on. Turn on Show leg lengths in the ruler’s menu to see each leg’s length and bearing on the map, and the bar adds up the whole way.

A loop from Pantoll to East Peak, Lake Lagunitas and back, with each leg’s length: 6.857 mi in a straight line

The ruler’s menu (tap A→D) holds everything else:

Along roads

You don’t travel as the crow flies. Turn on Along roads and choose how you travel in Route for: Walk, Cycle, Motorbike or Drive (Cycle at first). Each leg follows the roads and trails open to that activity, the bar reads the distance by road, and each leg shows its own length, climb and descent.

The activity matters. Around Mount Tamalpais the fire roads are open to bikes but closed to motor vehicles: for a motorbike the same loop goes all the way round the mountain.

For a motorbike: 38.349 mi by road, round the mountain

For a bike: 15.995 mi by road on the fire roads, ↑4684 ↓4677 ft

A leg with no road or trail for the activity is drawn dashed and straight, and the bar says how many legs have no road.

Slide along the profile

Slide a finger along the elevation band: it reads the height and the distance from the start, a dot follows on the map, and each point has its tick on the profile. Lift your finger and the reading stays for a moment.

Tap a point’s grip (a drag still moves it) for its own menu: its coordinates, its height, and the way to it from the point before.

Move B to… searches for a place, a waypoint or coordinates and moves the point there.
Distance and bearing from A… places the point at a distance and bearing you type.
Add a point before B adds one midway on the leg; drag it onto another trail to try another way.
Save B as a waypoint in the collection on the map, or Copy coordinates.
Navigate to B sets it as your navigation target. The map follows you again and the ruler steps aside; switch back to search, measure and plan and it’s there.
Remove point B. Points can go down to A alone.

A long press on a waypoint still opens the waypoint’s own menu.

See it all

Tap the aim button in the ruler’s bar (Map focus) and choose Ruler A→E to fit the whole plan on the screen, or Current location and A→E to see where you are in it.

Map focus with the ruler: Ruler A→E and Current location and A→E

Keep the plan

Open as route book (along roads): the route editor opens on the same points and legs, with the same activity. Tap ✓ and it’s saved to Books , to open and ride again.
Keep as route (straight lines): the ruler’s line becomes a route, not yet saved: add points with + and save it to a collection.

The route editor opened from the ruler: the same loop, 5 handles, 14.69 mi, with its climb profile

Good to know

The ruler stays where you left it when you switch between Apple and Google maps, and after a restart.
One thing at a time: while the ruler is open, the measure button opens the ruler’s menu and shows a red dot.
Lengths, bearings and heights follow your units and the compass settings (degrees or mils, true or magnetic north); ⚙ in the ruler’s bar changes them. Lengths switch from feet to miles (or metres to kilometres) above the length you set.
Along roads finds its roads with our own router on OpenStreetMap data, so it needs an internet connection.

Video

▶ Watch the 90-second video: How far is it, really?