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Randozi
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Map Scale Calculator

Use a map scale such as 1:25,000 to turn centimetres on paper into distance on the ground, or the other way round.

Real distance

1,000 m

Metres

1,000

Kilometres

1

Feet

3,280.8

Miles

0.621

How it works

  1. Pick what you want: ground distance from the map, map length from a ground distance, or the scale itself.
  2. Enter the scale denominator (25000 or 25,000 for 1:25,000) and the known distance.
  3. Read the result in metres, kilometres, feet and miles.
  4. For a scale bar, choose the real distance it should represent and draw the length shown in centimetres.

What people use it for

  • Hiking and orienteering

    Measure a leg on a 1:25,000 map with a ruler and get the real distance.

  • Drawing a scale bar

    Find how long a 500 m bar must be on a printed map.

  • Unknown scale

    Measure two known points on a map to find its scale.

Questions

How is the distance calculated?
Real distance = map distance × scale denominator. At 1:25,000, one centimetre on the map is 25,000 cm, or 250 m, on the ground.
Is it accurate on a screen or a print?
Only if the map is shown at its true size. Printing at “fit to page” or zooming on a screen changes the scale, so measure a known distance first and use the scale-from-measurement mode.
Does it account for slopes?
No. A map shows horizontal distance; the path on a steep slope is longer than the map distance suggests.