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How to Add Measurements to a Floor Plan

Did you know that RoomSketcher offers seven different types of measurements? From displaying room area to measuring the distance between items, we’re here to guide you through each one step by step. 

Diagram showing how to add measurements to a floor plan, with total area, room sizes, scale in feet and meters, and GLA, GBA, GFA labels.
Trude Carlsen
By Trude Carlsen
Published February 25, 2025 Updated August 28, 2026

Quick Summary:

RoomSketcher offers seven ways to display measurements on a floor plan. Room Area shows the size of a room, Room Dimensions gives its length and width, Room Measurements labels each wall within a room, Outside Measurements covers the building exterior, Wall Measurements handles individual walls, Total Area reports figures such as Gross Floor Area per level or across the whole project, and Manual Measurements let you measure fixtures and the distances between items. The first six are automatic; manual takes more effort but goes anywhere the others cannot.

In this blog post, we’ll explore all the different types of measurements you can use in RoomSketcher. Watch the video below to see them all in action, or scroll down to find the exact measurement type you're looking for.

Table of contents:

1. Room Area

Floor plan showing a single room labeled with an area measurement of 298 square feet.

The first measurement type is Room Area, which displays the size of any room in your project. 

How to use:

  1. Switch to Walls Mode
  2. Click on the room you want to measure
  3. Enable "Show Zone Size" in the right-side settings

You can repeat this process for all the rooms in your project. If you’re working in feet but need to switch to meters (or vice versa), simply go to the orange menu and select your preferred unit.

2. Room Dimensions

Floor plan depicting a room with labeled dimensions, illustrating the length and width measurements.

Next up is Room Dimensions, which automatically displays the length and width of your rooms. This tool is incredibly user-friendly and helps ensure everything fits perfectly.

How to use:

  1. Navigate to Windows Etc. mode
  2. Open Measurement Wizards
  3. Select Room Dimensions and drag it into the room

ℹ️ The Measurement Wizard is available to Pro and Team subscribers.

Use it to automatically show Room Dimensions, Inside Wall Lengths, Individual Wall Length and Outside Measurements.

Want to use these measurements in your projects?

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3. Room Measurements

Floor plan illustrating the dimensions of each wall on a balcony.

You can use the Room Measurements tool to show the length of each wall in a room.

How to use:

  1. Go to Windows Etc. mode
  2. Open Measurements Wizard
  3. Select Room Measurements and drag it into the room

4. Outside Measurements

Floor plan displaying exterior dimensions for each side of the building, with labeled measurements indicating length.

Looking for exterior measurements? Simply use the Outside Measurements tool.

How to use:

  1. Open Measurements Wizard
  2. Select Outside Measurements
  3. Click and drag it onto the canvas (not into a room)

5. Wall Measurements

Floor plan showing the length measurement of one interior wall and one exterior wall, with labeled dimensions.

If you need precise measurements for individual walls, then the Wall Measurements tool is what you’re looking for.

How to use:

  1. Open Measurements Wizard
  2. Select Wall Measurements
  3. Click and drag the line, hovering over the specific wall before releasing it

You can repeat this process for both interior and exterior walls as needed.

6. Total Area Measurements

Floor plan indicating the total gross floor area measurement of 773 square feet, highlighted in blue for emphasis.

RoomSketcher offers several types of Total Area measurements, and they're super easy to work with!

How to use:

  1. Go to the orange menu and click on Total Area.
  2. Select your area type in the drop-down menu (e.g., Grand Total Area or Gross Floor Area)
  3. If your project has multiple levels, click on the Level Tab to view area sizes specific to each level of your design
  4. Click on the Project Tab to see an overview of all areas combined across different levels. This will provide a summary of total area sizes throughout your entire property

7. Manual Measurements

Manual Measurements are perfect for measuring fixed installations and fixtures or determining distances between items.

While these tools require a bit more effort than the automatic options, they provide unmatched flexibility and precision.

How to use:

  1. Go to Windows Etc. mode
  2. Open Symbols, Text, and Lines
  3. Use either the Measuring Tape tool (with arrowheads) or the Measure Line tool (with flat edges). Both are located near the bottom of this category

Measure fixtures (e.g., windows and doors)

Floor plan displaying the length measurements of a door and a window.

How to use:

  1. Drag the Measuring Tape onto your floor plan
  2. Adjust its position using the arrows or input the exact lengths in the settings on the right-hand side

Remember to leave some space between the text label and the object you're measuring so they don't overlap.

Measure the distance between items

Floor plan illustrating the distance measurement between a kitchen counter and a kitchen island.

You can also use the Measuring Tape to measure the distance between items.

How to use:

  1. Drag the Measuring Tape tool onto your floor plan
  2. Adjust its position until it spans both items accurately (e.g., kitchen island and cabinets)

🛋️Can't see the fixed installations?

If you've placed fixed installations in Furniture Mode but can't see them here, simply:

  1. Go to the orange menu
  2. Click on Always Furniture

Measure fixed installations (e.g., kitchen cabinets)

Floor plan displaying the total length measurements of kitchen cabinets.

The Measure Line is perfect for measuring items like fixed installations and furniture. Unlike the Measuring Tape, it doesn’t have arrowheads, which makes it easier to place.

How to use:

  1. Drag the Measure Line tool onto your floor plan
  2. Adjust its position until it spans the item you wish to measure

Instead of showing the measurement as a label in the middle of the floor plan, the Mesure Line displays it in the right-hand menu.

To display the measurement on the floor plan:

  1. Copy the measurement from the right-hand side menu.
  2. Click the + sign to return to the Symbols, Text, and Lines category.
  3. Select the Text tool at the bottom of the category.
  4. Drag the Text tool into the room.
  5. Paste the measurement into the Label text box in the right-hand side menu.
How many measurement types does RoomSketcher have?
Seven: Room Area, Room Dimensions, Room Measurements, Outside Measurements, Wall Measurements, Total Area Measurements and Manual Measurements.
How do I show the area of a room?
Switch to Walls Mode, click the room you want to measure, then enable "Show Zone Size" in the right-side settings. Repeat for each room in the project.
What is the difference between Room Dimensions and Room Measurements?
Room Dimensions automatically displays the overall length and width of a room. Room Measurements instead shows the length of each individual wall within that room, which is what you want on irregularly shaped spaces.
How do I measure an individual wall?
Open the Measurements Wizard, select Wall Measurements, then click and drag the line, hovering over the wall you want before releasing. It works on both interior and exterior walls.
How do I get the total area of a project?
Open the orange menu and click Total Area, then choose an area type from the drop-down, such as Grand Total Area or Gross Floor Area. On multi-level projects, the Level Tab shows figures for each level and the Project Tab gives a combined overview across the whole property.
When should I use Manual Measurements?
Use them for fixed installations and fixtures, or to record the distance between items. They take a little more effort than the automatic tools but cover the cases the automatic options do not reach — including measuring windows and doors.
Can I switch between feet and meters?
Yes. Open the orange menu and select your preferred unit to switch between feet and meters at any point.

Add Measurements to Your Floor Plans

Create clear, professional floor plans with room dimensions, wall measurements, total area, and more. With RoomSketcher, you can add the measurements you need and keep your layouts easy to read and understand.

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