5 Of The Best Free Measurement Apps On Android

This article highlights five of the best measurement apps available for Android devices, catering to a range of users from DIY enthusiasts to seasoned professionals. The apps offer solutions for accurate measurements without the need for physical tools or assistance, often leveraging augmented reality (AR) and other smartphone technologies. The first app discussed is the AR Ruler App, which transforms a smartphone's camera into a precision ruler. It measures lengths in various units, including centimeters, meters, millimeters, inches, feet, and yards. Beyond simple lengths, it excels in 3D measurements, including distances between objects and their corners, making it suitable for room measurements and home renovations. The app also features a volume scanner for irregular shapes and allows tracing paths in photos for length assessment. It can gauge the height of objects relative to recognized surfaces, useful for door frames and ceiling heights. While free to download, premium subscriptions offer advanced tools, unlimited projects, and an ad-free experience, requiring Google Play Services for AR for optimal performance. Next is GPS Fields Area Measure, designed for accurately measuring land areas, distances, and perimeters. Its intuitive interface allows users to mark areas and distances on maps, a feature useful for evaluating plots of land or fields. The Smart Marker Mode ensures precise placement of measurement pins. Users can name, save, group, and edit measurements, and the app automatically measures distances using GPS data while walking or driving. It also facilitates sharing pinned areas or routes via auto-generated links, beneficial for collaborative projects, and includes a Point of Interest (POI) Feature to avoid obstacles. Various versions are available, including a PRO version for expanded functionality and an Ad-Free version, with compatibility for GARMIN GLO external GPS antennas. The Bubble Level app replicates traditional level meters, utilizing the smartphone's built-in sensors. It features a virtual tube to indicate surface angles and a bull's-eye level meter for aligning surfaces across a plane. This tool is versatile for tasks ranging from straightening home decor to setting up professional equipment, benefiting construction workers, carpenters, photographers, and campers. Calibration is simple, requiring the device to be placed on a level surface. The app is free with ads, and a Pro version is available for a fee. For best results, a phone cover that evens out the back or sides is recommended due to camera bumps. AR Plan 3D is a specialized measurement app for Android, employing augmented reality and LiDAR scanner technology for precise room measurements. It allows users to virtually place a tape measure on real-world surfaces, measuring perimeters and heights in both metric and imperial units. The app can measure doors, windows, and flooring, automatically calculating values like perimeter, floor square footage, and wall square footage using LiDAR and camera sensors. It generates 2D side view floor plan sketches and allows saving and viewing floor plan measurements. AR Plan 3D is free to use with core features available without in-app purchases, despite some ads and interface limitations. Finally, Quick Measure, developed by Samsung, leverages AR and camera technology for efficient measurement experiences. It has over 10 million downloads and integrates the DepthVision Camera for 3D measurement, human height measurement, and length measurement between specified points. Even without a specialized camera, it offers distance, area, and length measurement, utilizing trigonometry to calculate distances. The app boasts a user-friendly interface and is available for free on the Google Play Store, making it a practical and accessible choice for reliable measurements. #AndroidApps #MeasurementTools #AugmentedReality #DIYProjects #HomeRenovation #LandMeasurement #LevelingTools #RoomPlanning #SmartphoneUtilities

Carrying a full toolkit for quick measurements can be impractical, but a smartphone can be transformed into a versatile measuring device using various applications. This approach leverages the phone's built-in sensors and camera to perform a range of measurements, from physical dimensions to environmental conditions like light and sound levels. For measuring object sizes, the AR Ruler App utilizes the phone's camera to provide real-time measurements with accuracy. Users initiate a measurement by pointing the camera at one end of an object and pressing a button, then moving to the other end and pressing the button again. The app then displays the total measurement, with selectable units. This tool is particularly effective for flat objects and surfaces. While basic size measurement is free, advanced features like diameter measurement require a premium upgrade. Angles can be measured using the phone as a digital protractor through apps like Clinometer. This application employs the phone's accelerometer and gyroscope to display angles in degrees. By holding the phone vertically and tilting it, users can determine precise angles relative to gravity. The flat sides of most smartphones facilitate direct measurement against objects. Additionally, the app includes a bubble level function activated by placing the phone horizontally, which is useful for checking the levelness of surfaces, such as a cooktop. Both angle and level measurements are available in the free version, with in-app purchases unlocking relative angle tools and camera view integration. To measure distances, the Smart Measure app uses trigonometry, factoring in the user's height and the phone's angle, to calculate how far an object is. It offers reliable measurements up to 30 meters, making it suitable for indoor or garden use. The accuracy depends on correctly setting the phone's height in the app. For longer distances, up to 1 kilometer, a dedicated app called Smart Distance is offered by the same developer. Photography enthusiasts can use a light meter app, such as Lux Light Meter, to assess illuminance in a given area. This app utilizes the phone's light sensor to measure lux levels, crucial for achieving optimal lighting conditions in photos and avoiding high ISO settings that introduce noise. The app provides current illumination readings along with a history graph. For indoor photography, a target illuminance of at least 500lx, ideally 1000lx, is recommended. For those concerned with sound levels, the Sound Decibel Meter app measures sound in decibels using the phone's microphone. This is particularly useful for individuals needing to avoid noisy environments or for various day-to-day tasks, such as balancing speaker outputs or evaluating appliance noise. The app can reliably detect sound levels up to 100 dB and displays a history chart. It can also assist in identifying quiet zones for concentration. While these smartphone tools offer convenience and surprising accuracy, they are not intended to replace the precision of professional-grade measuring instruments. #AndroidApps #MeasuringTools #SmartphoneUtilities #ARMeasurement #AngleMeasurement #DistanceMeasurement #LightMeter #SoundMeter #MobileProductivity

The iOS 12 update introduces a new augmented-reality measuring tool, the Measure app, for iPhone users. This application allows users to calculate linear distances in inches and feet by utilizing the phone's camera. Unlike traditional analog tape measures, the Measure app offers the unique capability to measure along multiple vectors, enabling calculations for series of angled lines and perimeters. To use the app, users must first update their iPhone to iOS 12. Upon opening the Measure app, an initial calibration process is required, which involves moving the phone around its surroundings while pointing it at nearby surfaces, ideally within a two-foot range. Once calibrated, the app functions as an overlay on the camera view, displaying a large circular target in the center of the screen and a '+' symbol at the bottom. Measurements begin by tapping the '+' button. The phone then virtually anchors a starting point with the target. As the user moves the phone, a dotted yellow line tracks the distance from the initial point. Tapping the '+' button again marks the endpoint, and the measurement line remains visible as an augmented reality overlay, anchored to its virtual position. This allows users to move their phone and still see the measurement when viewing the relevant area. Measurements can be cleared using the 'clear' button. The app also supports measuring multiple vectors. After completing one line, the virtual target will attempt to lock onto one of the endpoints of the recently drawn line, allowing users to extend their measurements from that point by pressing the '+' button again to add subsequent lines. Additional features of the Measure app include the ability to take snapshots of measurements, which can be saved to the phone's photos. This is particularly useful for recording dimensions needed for purchasing materials like lumber, picture frames, or drywall. Furthermore, the app can automatically recognize and measure rectangles, providing the length of their sides and their interior area. This functionality is beneficial for tasks such as framing pictures or planning interior decor. To use this feature, the phone should be oriented vertically or horizontally to match the rectangle's orientation, and held steady until the app recognizes and frames the shape, displaying its dimensions. Preliminary tests indicate that the Measure app is generally accurate, typically within a half-inch, making it suitable for basic household tasks. However, its accuracy is dependent on the user's distance from the object being measured, with optimal results achieved when staying within the app's recommended operational distance. While not designed for highly precise engineering tasks, the Measure app is presented as a valuable and convenient tool for everyday measurements around the home, eliminating the need for physical measuring tools that can often be misplaced. #AppleMeasureApp #iOS12Update #AugmentedReality #MeasuringTool #HomeImprovement #Technology #MobileApp #DIYProjects #InteriorDecorating