Home / Map Area Tool

Interactive property planner

Measure the property, then test the whole project space

Trace an irregular property boundary, subtract occupied areas, then place a real-size project footprint with an optional clearance envelope around it.

1. Load & find the property

The map is loaded only when you need it. This keeps the page fast and avoids unnecessary map/API usage.

Address search activates after a Mapbox token is added. Map measuring works without it.

2. Draw your boundary

Click Draw property, mark each visible corner, then close the shape. Edit points later if needed.

Square feet—

Acres—

Square metres—

Perimeter ft—

Occupied / excluded—

Usable open area—

3. Mark occupied areas

Draw the house, driveway, pool or other areas you want to subtract from the lot. The tool will show your remaining usable land.

For planning estimates, draw occupied shapes inside the property boundary.

4. Test a project envelope

Preset

Width (ft)

Length (ft)

Planning clearance around project (ft)Optional buffer on every side. Enter your own planning value; this is not an automatic zoning setback.

Rotation 0°

Place a project to check its footprint and optional clearance envelope against the drawn property.

Project footprintPlanning envelope

Footprint—

Planning envelope—

Clearance—

Continue to Space Budget

After placement, click anywhere on the map to move the project. Rotation and planning clearance are adjustable above.

Project controls

A share link contains the project geometry in the URL. Create one only when you intend to share those coordinates.

Interactive map is paused

Load it only when you are ready to measure a property.

Ready. Use the polygon tool on the right side of the map to trace your property.

How to measure a property on the map

Answer first: zoom to the property, select the polygon drawing tool, click each visible corner of the boundary, and close the polygon. The tool estimates area in square feet, acres, square metres and hectares, plus the perimeter in feet.

How usable land is calculated

After the property boundary is measured, you can draw occupied areas such as a house footprint, driveway or pool. The tool subtracts the portions that fall inside the property and reports the remaining open area. This is a planning estimate, not a zoning or legal buildable-area determination.

Why map measurements are estimates

Satellite or street-map imagery can be offset from legal parcel lines, and visible fences do not always match deed boundaries. Use this tool for planning, screening and material estimates. For a legal boundary, use a recorded survey or a licensed surveyor.

How the “Will it fit?” check works

The footprint is created at the width and length you enter. If you add a planning clearance, the tool also draws a larger project envelope around that footprint and checks both shapes against the property. This can reveal cases where the structure itself fits but the space you want around it does not. It still does not determine legal setbacks, easements, access requirements, drainage or permit compliance.

Footprint vs project envelope

Footprint is the physical width and length of the object you are testing. The project envelope is the footprint plus a user-defined clearance on every side.

Example footprint30 × 40 ft garage

Physical footprint: 1,200 sq ft.

With a 5 ft planning clearance40 × 50 ft envelope

Screening area becomes 2,000 sq ft before any local-rule verification.

The clearance field is deliberately manual. AcreSketch does not guess your zoning setback. Use a value that reflects the space you want to reserve, then verify actual legal requirements locally.

Common property questions this tool can help answer

How big is my backyard?

Trace the full lot, then mark the house, driveway, pool or other occupied areas to estimate the remaining usable backyard or open space.

How many feet of fence do I need?

Use the measured perimeter as a starting point, then subtract gates and open sections in the fence calculator.

Will a garage fit?

Place a custom-size rectangle over the lot before you spend time on a detailed concept plan.

Important accuracy note

This site is designed for preliminary estimates and project planning. It is not a cadastral map, legal survey, title record, zoning determination or permit approval. Always verify critical dimensions and property rights with the appropriate local authority or licensed professional.