The mobile phone has become a true multifunction tool And thanks to the huge number of applications, you can solve everyday or professional problems quickly and accurately. In the field of measurement, your smartphone can act as a ruler, digital tape measure, or distance, area, and volume calculator, as there are specialized apps that take advantage of everything from the screen to the camera and augmented reality. Whether you need to measure a piece of furniture, a room, or even small objects, there are apps for Android and iOS that transform your phone into an extremely versatile and precise measuring tool.
In this comprehensive guide we show you The best apps for using your phone as a ruler or measuring tool, with detailed explanations of their functions, differences, advantages, and usage tips so you can choose the option that best suits your everyday or professional needs. It also includes a section with exclusive iPhone apps and a comparison of which solution is the most recommended in each case.
Why measure with your mobile phone? Advantages of using digital ruler apps
Using your phone as a measuring tool isn't just a matter of convenience. These apps offer precision, versatility and immediate access without having to carry physical rulers or other instruments. Some of the main benefits are:
- Always available: All you need is your phone, which is ideal for unexpected events, outdoor work, or small home repairs.
- Advanced measurementMany apps allow you to calculate distances, areas, perimeters, angles, and even volumes, providing data that is difficult to obtain with conventional tools.
- Digital results: You can save, share, and organize your measurements, create floor plans, insert referenced photos, and easily convert units.
- Professional and domestic use: Perfect for DIY tasks, moving, decorating, architecture, design, engineering or even for students and teachers.
ARuler: Precision Augmented Reality Measurements
ARuler is one of the most powerful applications for measuring distances, objects, areas and volumes using the camera and augmented reality.By eliminating the need for a conventional tape measure and using ARCore technology, you simply mark the points to be measured in the real-world environment on the screen, and the app automatically calculates lengths, angles, areas, and volumes.
- Allows you to easily measure objects, surfaces, heights or entire spaces.
- Compatible with mobiles that support ARCore, a technology that guarantees highly accurate results on flat surfaces and stationary objects.
- It includes data export functions, save the measurement as an image, copy the results and share them via email or note apps.
- The app includes a getting started tutorial essential for understanding how to mark points and calibrate the system. While it's not the most intuitive app for beginners, its accuracy is outstanding.
- Ideal for professional measurements in architecture, DIY, engineering and decoration.
- Available for free with ads.
Ruler – Measuring Centimeters and Inches: Accuracy and Storage
This tool turns your mobile screen into a precise digital ruler, allowing you to measure objects directly on the display. Its main advantages are:
- Measures in centimeters and inches, making it perfect for international users or those who need both units.
- Save all measurements made in your database, which facilitates historical consultation and the organization of multiple projects.
- It is very easy to use: just place the object on the screen, adjust the limits and confirm to obtain the result.
- Includes tools for measuring circumferences, height, width and thickness of small objects, such as coins, cards or electronic components.
- Available on Android and also on iOS.
- Downloaded by millions of users, it is one of the most reliable and lightweight apps.
Rangefinder: Smart Measure – Measuring distances and heights with trigonometry
La app Smart Measure (Rangefinder) uses basic principles of trigonometry to help you measure distances and heights of objects in a simple way. It's ideal for outdoors and situations where measuring by hand would be difficult.
- You just need to point the camera at the object and after a few seconds, it will show you the estimated distance and height.
- Perfect for measuring from a wall, the height of a tree, or the distance to a building, making it very useful for architects, engineers, and outdoor enthusiasts.
- It includes advanced options in the paid version, such as professional calibration, filters and results export.
- Calibration and hand stability significantly influence accuracy, so it's a good idea to follow the initial tutorial.
- Allows save and organize all measurements.
Measure and Align – 3D Plumb Bob: Beyond the Classic Ruler
This app combines two essential tools:
- The main function is the measurement of distances, heights and angles using the smartphone cameraSimply select reference points and the app automatically calculates the dimensions.
- 3D Plumb Bob, incorporated in the same suite, is used to check the verticality or horizontality of an object., similar to a spirit level, and measure exact dimensions in three dimensions.
- Ideal for DIY, hanging pictures, installing shelves and all kinds of jobs where the alignment accuracy is fundamental.
- Allows you to differentiate dimensions using colors and customize reference points for more accurate results.
- It's completely free and available on Android.
CamToPlan: AR Measuring Tape – Plans, Areas, and Surfaces
CamToPlan is a reference tool for DIY, architecture and decoration professionals.. Uses augmented reality to measure lengths and surfaces both horizontally and vertically.
- Allows you to create plans and save measurements as PNG or DFX images, facilitating project documentation and budget creation.
- You don't need to move furniture, as it can measure the distance between walls, the surface area of a room, and the height of ceilings or unobstructed objects.
- Supports exporting and storing results for later queries or sharing with other users.
- Its operation is very simple and intuitive, perfect for both professionals and home users.
- With millions of downloads and excellent ratings in app stores, it's one of the most comprehensive options.
- Requires Android 7.0 or higher and ARCore-compatible devices.
ImageMeter – Measure in hard-to-reach places and generate plans
ImageMeter stands out for its ability to measure objects, surfaces and spaces that are difficult to access using the camera and generating digital plans on the photograph.
- Allows you to work on saved images: ideal if you cannot bring your phone closer to the object to be measured in real time.
- You can tag, save, print, and share plans for carpentry, renovations, or choosing furniture and curtains.
- Includes lighting and calibration tools for working in low-light areas.
- The app is also used professionally in the architecture, engineering, and interior design sectors.
Ruler – The simple, fast, and accurate digital ruler
La app Ruler stands out for its ease of use, precision and functionality for measuring small objects directly on the screen.
- Offers very simple calibration using objects such as coins or cards, guaranteeing exact measurements on any phone.
- Admits readings up to 4-5 meters in digital tape measure mode, expanding its uses also to larger surfaces.
- It includes Night Mode to measure in low light situations and save battery.
- It makes it easy to save, name, and share all your measurements, even through messaging apps.
- Supports multiple units: centimeters, millimeters, inches, meters, and automatic conversions.
- Includes options to switch between linear, area, point, and level measurement.
- Completely free and translated into several languages.
Prime Ruler: Professional Precision and Advanced Features (iOS and Android)
Prime Ruler is one of the most versatile and complete apps, combining on-screen ruler and measurement technologies with augmented reality (AR). It's ideal for both professional and home use and is available for Android and iOS.
- Measure lengths, areas, angles and volumes using the camera and AR technology.
- Offer flexible tape measure mode, spirit level function, tilt measurement and angle lock for assembly or DIY tasks.
- Allows you to create, save, edit and manage measurement projects organized into folders.
- Includes on-screen ruler tools (1D/2D), photo ruler (measurements on images) and plan mode for planning renovations and designs.
- The interface is modern, customizable, and easy to use, perfect for demanding users.
- Available in a basic free version and a premium version with advanced features.
Other notable applications for measuring with your mobile phone
- My Measures – AR Measure (iOS): Ideal for documenting, organizing, and adding annotations to your measurements on photos of objects or spaces, very useful in design and decoration projects.
- EasyMeasure: Use the camera to quickly estimate distances and heights of objects. Perfect for outdoor and remodeling projects.
- Pro Ruler – Measuring Tape: Combines rulers, tape measures, and tools to measure angles and degrees, allowing you to switch between units at any time.
- AR Ruler – 3D Tape Measure: Takes measurement to the next level by allowing you to measure length, width and height in 3D simultaneously.
- Tape Measure – AR Ruler: A particularly effective iOS app for measuring objects and spaces in real time using augmented reality, with the option to record and organize measurements by project.
- Tape Measure Ruler: Ruler App: To measure linear sizes in centimeters, meters, millimeters or inches with high precision.
- Tape measure: RA camera measure: iOS app that allows you to take a variety of measurements, including room areas and dimensions, thanks to ARKit.
Measuring Small Objects: On-Screen Ruler Apps and Tips for Use
If what you need is measure small objects quickly and easily, the best option is the apps of digital rulers on screenThese apps turn your display into a complete, calibrated ruler, ideal for:
- Measure coins, cards, screws, electronic parts, and objects that you can place on the screen.
- By tapping and dragging the edges of the digital ruler, the app calculates the precise length or diameter.
- Recommendation: Calibrate the app with a physical ruler or bank card to ensure maximum accuracy, as screen size varies between mobile and tablet models.
- Some apps offer dual-axis measurement (X and Y) and the ability to measure areas (flat surfaces).
- They allow you to switch between centimeters, millimeters and inches.
Which app should you choose according to your needs?
- For professional measurement, large surfaces and complex projects: ARuler, Prime Ruler, CamToPlan, Smart Measure, ImageMeter.
- For DIY, decoration or home renovations: Measure and align – 3D Plumb, CamToPlan, Prime Ruler.
- To measure small objects: Ruler, Ruler – Measuring centimeters and inches, Ruler Tape Measure.
- For iphone: Tape Measure – AR Ruler, EasyMeasure, CamToPlan, Pro Ruler – Measuring Tape, My Measures – AR Measure.
Measuring with your phone is no longer a secondary function: thanks to the variety of augmented reality apps and technologies, you can obtain precise results both professionally and at home, saving space, time, and money. Getting the most out of these tools depends on choosing the right app for each task and properly calibrating your device. The next time you need to measure any object, surface, or space, you now have the knowledge and resources to do it quickly, intuitively, and reliably with your phone.