Free calculator

Outdoor Area Calculator

Draw rectangles, circles, triangles, or a custom polygon, subtract openings, and convert measured area across U.S. and metric units.

Enter your project

Change the starting values to match your site and the product you plan to buy.

Changing units converts your entered measurements.

1. Draw and measure your plan

Use a rectangle, triangle, circle, or custom polygon for each measured section. For a polygon, enter its corners in order or drag the numbered handles in the drawing. Move a whole section by dragging its fill. Excluded areas must stay within the included plan, and overlaps must be fixed before calculating.

Measuring outside? Open the guided field workflow →

Use the same measurements in another planner

Save a named project above, then choose it here or open it in another planner. Only the measured areas and display units carry over. Check the new tool’s product, depth, waste, and price settings before ordering.

Your project diagram

See the layout change

The measured 2D footprint is scaled; the layer or product view explains quantities separately.

Swipe the diagram sideways to see every label. The calculated quantities are listed below.

Your estimate appears here

Enter the measurements and select Calculate. You will see quantities, assumptions, and a shopping list.

Compare two options

Calculate with one set of inputs, save it as A, then change the design or supplier values and save B. Both options stay on this device.

How this calculation works

YardSetup keeps the measured amount separate from the quantity you may need to purchase. Enter product dimensions and supplier figures where they differ from the starting values.

Rectangle: length × width. Triangle: base × height ÷ 2. Circle: π × (diameter ÷ 2)². Custom polygon: half the absolute shoelace sum of ordered corners. Add included areas and subtract exclusions.

A quick example

A six-corner L outline with a 20 × 12 ft main portion and a 10 × 6 ft extension covers 300 sq ft. Subtract a 3 × 3 ft planter to get 291 sq ft.

This is a planning estimate. Review the inputs and confirm material specifications, local conditions, and delivery units before ordering.

Guides that help you use the result

How to measure an irregular outdoor areaBreak a complex shape into measurable sections without losing track of exclusions.Cubic yards and tons: what changes when you order material?Understand volume, weight, and why a supplier’s density matters.Bags or bulk delivery: how to compare themCompare total purchase quantities rather than package prices alone.

✓ Plan with confidence

Sketch and label every corner before entering a polygon.

✓ Plan with confidence

Use feet and decimal feet: 6 inches equals 0.5 feet.

✓ Plan with confidence

Measure exposed edges separately; a section outline can include shared edges.