One of the new features in iOS 12 is an augmented reality app called Measure, which Apple has designed to make it easier for you to measure various real-world objects using 3D spatial detection techniques.

measureappinaction

  1. Open up the Measure app.
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions and move your iPhone around the room so that it can get the dimensions of various objects. measureappsetup
  3. Once it's calibrated, denoted by a white dot in a circle, you're ready to start measuring.
  4. To take a measurement, line the white dot up with the corner of an object and then press the "+ button to create an anchor point.
  5. From the anchor point, pan the iPhone over to the other edge of the object. measureappmanual
  6. Press the "+" button again to get the final measurement of the line.

You can continue using this method to get the full dimensions of different objects in your room, with the ability to set multiple anchor points if desired.

Haptic feedback is included in the Measure app, so you'll feel little haptic taps whenever you set an anchor point, for physical feedback. Haptic taps are also included whenever the app detects an obvious stopping point for a measurement, such as the end of a wall.

To clear your anchor points and start over at any time, tap the "Clear" button.

measurementappicons
Once all of your measurements are in place, tap the white camera button to take a photo that displays all of the measurements overlaid on the object you're measuring.

measureappsharebutton
You can also tap on the arrow of one of the measurements to get a pop up with the current readings that you can copy and paste into another app like Messages or Notes.

Measurement Automatic Detection

For certain square-shaped objects that the Measure app detects, the detection of the dimensions will be automatic. To get an automatic measurement, choose a square or rectangular object and hold the iPhone in front of it.

measureappautomaticdetection
If it's going to take an automatic measurement, you'll see a yellow square appear, which you can then tap to get dimensions. If it's not going to do automatic detection, you're going to need to use the tap method to draw individual lines.

Accuracy

The accuracy of the Measure app depends heavily on the precision of where the end points are placed, so there's room for error.

It's great for quick measurements to get an idea of size, but where precise measurements are required, it's probably best to double check with a physical measuring method.

Level Feature

In iOS 12, the Measure app is also home to the Level feature that lets you use the iPhone to detect whether a surface is level. Prior to iOS 12, the Level feature was in the Compass app, so it's not new, just relocated.

measureapplevel
To use it, tap over to the level portion of the app, which is located at the bottom. Hold the iPhone in either portrait or landscape orientation with no case and balance it on an object such as a picture frame to get a reading.

If you tap the screen when using the level app, you can set a 0 degree reference angle to make measurements from, and laying the iPhone flat allows it to be used as a bubble level.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

nerfjames Avatar
75 months ago
It keeps saying 4.5 inches, but I swear it’s 8.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xflashx Avatar
75 months ago
Apparently someone at Macrumors really loves to make tutorials :D
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
happygodavid Avatar
75 months ago
This is one of those features that won’t work perfectly at first. We will complain. Then, in 10 to 20 years when it’s the only scientifically accurate way to measure things, we will take it for granted and wonder how we ever knew the size of anything. This is huge. (No pun intended.)
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
carlfleming Avatar
75 months ago
The ability to modify your anchor points is very snazzy. Just hold and drag a point and while you’re doing that your device will zoom in a little to give you a little more precision.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jedwards87 Avatar
75 months ago
Measurements seem very off, like ~20-30% off (running iPhone SE)
I have been quite impressed with the measurements I get on my iPhone X. I haven't used it a lot but I have probably tested it with about 10 or so things. Seems accurate enough to be useful for general measurements.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Swampthing Avatar
75 months ago
I realize MacRumors is trying to stay relevant and talk about everything Mac. But I have a problem with constantly explaining how to use beta features.

New features need to be intuitive. That’s part of Apple’s whole philosophy. But if we have a website constantly jumping in to say look look this is how you use it, that defeats the purpose. Testers will be less likely to notify Apple that they couldn’t figure out a feature on their own.

This needs to be part of the beta testing process. When it’s deployed, that will ensure the feature is much more intuitive for the user. There is a reason why Apple never includes instruction manuals.

Apart from that, constant detailed articles about things that aren’t even released yet and which might change significantly before release seem pointless.

Yes, people want to know about beta features. But there’s a line between being informational and providing fully detailed instructional tutorials, and I think it’s crossed waaaay too often here. How about waiting until we have a released product to provide that information?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

reset password request iphone

Warning: Apple Users Targeted in Phishing Attack Involving Rapid Password Reset Requests

Tuesday March 26, 2024 4:34 pm PDT by
Phishing attacks taking advantage of Apple's password reset feature have become increasingly common, according to a report from KrebsOnSecurity. Multiple Apple users have been targeted in an attack that bombards them with an endless stream of notifications or multi-factor authentication (MFA) messages in an attempt to cause panic so they'll respond favorably to social engineering. An...
maxresdefault

Apple to Launch New iPad Pro and iPad Air Models in May

Thursday March 28, 2024 11:07 am PDT by
Apple will introduce new iPad Pro and iPad Air models in early May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman previously suggested the new iPads would come out in March, and then April, but the timeline has been pushed back once again. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple is working on updates to both the iPad Pro and iPad Air models. The iPad Pro models will...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Purple

iOS 18: What to Expect From 'Biggest' Update in iPhone's History

Wednesday March 27, 2024 11:10 am PDT by
At least some Apple software engineers continue to believe that iOS 18 will be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. "The iOS 18 update is expected to be the most ambitious overhaul of the iPhone's software in its history, according to people working on the upgrade," wrote Gurman, in a r...
maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14

Tuesday March 26, 2024 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 35th annual Worldwide Developers Conference is set to take place from Monday, June 10 to Friday, June 14. As with WWDC events since 2020, WWDC 2024 will be an online event that is open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. WWDC 2024 will include online sessions and labs so that developers can learn about new...
apple maps 3d feature

Apple Maps May Gain Custom Routes With iOS 18

Tuesday March 26, 2024 3:10 pm PDT by
Apple may be planning to add support for "custom routes" in Apple Maps in iOS 18, according to code reviewed by MacRumors. Apple Maps does not currently offer a way to input self-selected routes, with Maps users limited to Apple's pre-selected options, but that may change in iOS 18. Apple has pushed an iOS 18 file to its maps backend labeled "CustomRouteCreation." While not much is revealed...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

Apple Releases Revised Versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 With Updated Build Number

Wednesday March 27, 2024 5:59 am PDT by
Apple on late Tuesday released revised versions of iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 with an updated build number of 21E237, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. The updates previously had a build number of 21E236. The revised updates are available for all iPhone and iPad models that are compatible with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but they can only be installed via the Finder app on macOS...
applephilschiller

Apple's Phil Schiller Works 80 Hours a Week Overseeing App Store

Wednesday March 27, 2024 2:03 pm PDT by
With the App Store and app ecosystem undergoing major changes in the European Union, The Wall Street Journal today shared a profile on App Store chief Phil Schiller, who is responsible for the App Store. Though Schiller transitioned from marketing chief to "Apple Fellow" in 2020 to take a step back from Apple and spend more time on personal projects and friends, he is reportedly working...