Map scale calculator: paper ↔ ground and which scale fits the sheet
How much is 1 cm at a scale of 1:2,000? What is the scale of this map? Which scale fits the site on an A3 sheet? Convert distances and areas from paper to ground (and back) at any scale.
With the scale, type the paper or the ground value and the other one follows. Without the scale, fill in both measurements (paper and ground) and the calculator finds the scale.
Width and length = the rectangle that encloses the site (and anything else that must appear). The margin is subtracted on all four sides.
Result
Fill in the fields to see the result.
How map scale works
At a scale of 1:x, each unit on paper equals x units on the ground. At 1:2,000, 1 cm on paper = 2,000 cm = 20 m. For areas the factor is squared: 1 cm² at 1:2,000 = 2,000² cm² = 400 m². A large scale (1:500) shows a small area in detail; a small scale (1:100,000) shows a large area with little detail.
The plotting accuracy (the smallest thing you can draw or measure on paper) is about 0.2 mm × x: 20 cm at 1:1,000; 10 m at 1:50,000. In practice, the survey must be more accurate than that at the chosen scale.
| Scale | 1 cm on paper | 1 cm² on paper | Plotting accuracy | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:100 | 1 m | 1 m² | 2 cm | Architecture, details |
| 1:500 | 5 m | 25 m² | 10 cm | Urban lot, cadastral plan |
| 1:1,000 | 10 m | 100 m² | 20 cm | Subdivision, topographic survey |
| 1:2,000 | 20 m | 400 m² | 40 cm | Town plans |
| 1:5,000 | 50 m | 0.25 ha | 1 m | Small rural property |
| 1:10,000 | 100 m | 1 ha | 2 m | Rural property |
| 1:50,000 | 500 m | 25 ha | 10 m | National topographic map series |
FAQ
How do I find the scale of a map?
Measure on the map the distance between two points whose ground distance you know, and divide: scale = ground distance ÷ paper distance (in the same units). E.g. 150 m on the ground and 7.5 cm on paper → 15,000 cm ÷ 7.5 cm = 1:2,000.
How much is 1 cm at a scale of 1:50,000?
1 cm = 50,000 cm = 500 m. And 1 cm² = 250,000 m² = 25 hectares.
How do I convert an area from paper to ground?
Multiply by the scale factor squared. At 1:1,000, 1 cm² on paper = 1,000² cm² = 100 m². That is why area does not “scale” like distance: double the scale and the area changes 4 times.
Which scale should I use for a property plan?
It depends on the size: the scale has to make the property fit on the sheet (with margins and title block). Use the “Which scale to use” mode: enter the site rectangle and the sheet, and the calculator suggests the standard scale.