Measure with your phone's camera

The camera measures one part at a time against something of known size in the shot. It's quick, and honest about how far to trust each number; a tape is still more accurate.

Before you start

Take a measurement

1. Start

   Press Measure with your camera. Under What are you using for scale?, choose your reference, then Start measuring.

2. Pick the part

   Under What do you want to measure?, tap a part. A circumference says · two shots: one face on, one from the side.

3. Read the guide

   The guide shows where to stand and the steps. Keep the card at the same distance from the camera as the part — flat against your body is best. Press Open the camera.

4. Take the shot

   Press Take the shot. The camera switches off at once.

5. Mark the card

   The room tries to find the card: Found the bank card — check the outline sits on it. Drag any corner that's off. If it can't, drag the four handles onto its corners — tap a corner and the nearest handle jumps there. Press Next — mark the measurement.

6. Mark the measurement

   Drag the two markers across the part as the guide says. Press Next — side shot for a circumference's second photo, or Use this.

7. Check it

   The result shows with how far to trust it and the usual range. Press Keep it, or Take it again, or Type what my tape says.

Measure by turning

On a circumference's first shot, Measure by turning → replaces the two photos. Take one shot and mark the card, drag the line across the part, press Start the turn, and twist the part slowly through a half-turn. It finishes on its own, or press Done turning. It measures the real shape, so it's the only way to be right about a flat-sided section; it's saved as turn sweep.

On your own

1. Tick solo

   On the guide, tick I'm on my own — the phone is propped up.

2. Prop the phone

   Stand it at about the height of the part, a step or two away, with the part and the card both in frame.

3. Use the timer

   Press Start the 10-second timer. The count shows on screen, and a phone with a flashlight blinks it too. A turn waits 5 seconds for you to get into place.

For head and arm measurements you can choose Front camera and watch yourself. The torso and legs use the rear camera: the front camera's wider lens hasn't been checked there yet.

If something's off

“Camera access was declined.”

Allow the camera for this site in your browser's settings, or type measurements in by hand.

“Your browser won't allow camera access here…”

The page needs a secure (https) connection. Open Waypoint Realms from its normal address.

“Those four handles don't make a rectangle…”

One handle is inside the other three. Drag it back out to a corner.

“The bank card is small in this shot.”

Retake with the card closer to the camera — a small reference makes everything less accurate.

“That sits outside the range this measurement usually falls in.”

Usually a corner on the wrong edge of the card. Retake, or type what your tape says.

“That turn did not go all the way round.”

Turn until the shape looks as it did at the start — a little further is better than less.