Swipe the diagram sideways to see every label. The full calculation is written below it.
Start with a sketch
Draw the outline on paper and mark straight edges, curves, and spaces that will not receive material. Give each measured part a letter. A rough sketch is enough; its purpose is to prevent counting the same space twice.
Use simple shapes or a polygon
Split a project into rectangles, triangles, and circles when those dimensions are easy to check. For an irregular outline, the area planner also accepts a custom polygon: enter its corner coordinates in order around the boundary, then review the scaled drawing. Measure in feet and inches, converting inches to decimal feet before entering U.S. values; 12 ft 6 in is 12.5 ft. The tool can also accept meters. A polygon should follow one simple outline without crossing itself.
Subtract and cross-check
Add planting beds or structures as separate excluded sections within the included outline. The planner asks you to fix overlaps and out-of-plan exclusions before calculating. It shows each polygon’s outline length as a reference; shared edges, planter edges, and exposed edges may need different materials, so measure actual edging separately. Recheck the longest dimensions on site: a one-foot error across a long edge can materially change the order.
Hypothetical worked measurement
Suppose an L-shaped yard has a 20 × 12 ft main portion and a 10 × 6 ft extension, with a 3 × 3 ft planter left uncovered. The six-corner polygon covers 240 + 60 = 300 sq ft; subtract the planter’s 9 sq ft to get 291 sq ft. Its drawn outer outline is 76 ft, before deciding which edges need material.
Check before you order
Walk the actual boundary to verify every corner and long dimension. Keep the polygon simple, place the planter within it, and measure exposed edges separately from shared or excluded edges.
Apply the result to your project
- Choose one consistent origin and record each corner in walking order. A crossed outline is a measurement problem, not a negative area.
- Write exclusions as separate shapes within the main boundary. If two included pieces overlap, measure the overlap once.
- Use the net area for material volume; measure exposed edging on site because polygon and section outlines can include edges that need no restraint.
Measuring at the site? The guided field workflow records outlines and cutouts, checks their placement, and makes a printable sheet before you choose materials.
YardSetup prepared this guide from the stated geometry and the linked references where provided. The adjustable example runs in your browser. See our formulas and limits or report an error.