Lawn Mowing Gizmo

[charles meyer]

My talented (and fellow lawn mowing geeks),

Where tech meets blades of grass .... have you used a device like the
laser general contractors use to measure a deck or house's square
footage for how much much lawn you have to mow?

I visited a couple of Lawn Mowing Calculator sites and they either
wanted my personal info or had some drawing tools which are about as
user-friendly as the drawing tool in GIMP.

I asked a guy who was determining metes and bounds for a house sale
and he said they can't measure something like how much lawn there is
to cut.

So, how do landscapes determine this accurately?

Thank you!

Charles.

[Brett Hay]

Hi,

I myself haven't ever tried to calculate or measure my lawn square footage, but I was curious about your question, and I asked ChatGPT, and here's what it came up with:

"When landscaping companies or lawn-care professionals need to estimate the size of a grassed area—whether in square feet or acres—they typically rely on three main methods. Here's a breakdown of the most common approaches, based on current industry practices:

---

1. Satellite-Based Mapping Tools (Most Common & Efficient)

Professionals frequently use online satellite or aerial imagery tools—like Google Maps, Measure My Lawn, or various lawn-size calculators. These tools allow users to:

Outline the lawn perimeter on a satellite image

Automatically compute area in square feet or acres

Subtract non-grassy areas (e.g., buildings, driveways) if needed

This method is fast, efficient, and accurate—generally within 2–5% error margin, which is more than sufficient for most landscaping needs. 

Landscape professionals often prefer this approach because it speeds up quoting and planning. It allows them to quickly and remotely assess a property before visiting in person. 

---

2. Manual Measurement with Simple Tools (Tapes, Wheels, Ropes)

For properties with easy-to-access or straightforward layouts, many landscapers still use:

Measuring tapes

Surveyor’s wheels

Even marked ropes

The process often involves dividing the lawn into basic geometric shapes—rectangles, triangles, circles—measuring dimensions for each, then applying area formulas like:

Rectangle: length × width

Triangle: (base × height) ÷ 2

And then summing up the individual areas. 

This method remains popular for its simplicity and directness, especially when tech tools aren’t convenient to use.

---

3. Advanced Tech: Laser Measuring Devices, GPS, and Apps

More high-tech landscaping teams use:

Laser distance meters for precise length measurements

GPS-enabled apps and mobile mapping software—like Planimeter or GPS Fields Area Measure—to plot lawn boundaries, even from a smartphone 

These methods combine accuracy with mobility, ideal for irregular, large, or hard-to-reach areas.

---

Why These Methods Are Preferred

Method Advantages

Satellite mapping tools Fast, remotely accessible, accurate (within ~5%)

Manual measurement (tape/wheel) Low-tech, reliable, no special gear required

Laser/GPS/mobile tools Highly precise, mobile-friendly, ideal for complex layouts

---

Summary: Most Common Method?

Using satellite-based mapping tools with online area calculators is the most widespread method today—especially among contractors giving quick quotes or remotely planning work. Manual measurement remains a solid alternative for projects needing on-site confirmation or in cases where remote tools aren't practical."

I'm curious if what it's suggested for tools, are just the same as what you had previously tried, which wasn't user friendly.

- Brett

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[charles meyer]

Yes, I found those tools on chatgpt, too.

Some want you to sign up and others were very inaccurate.

I don't have the tools from Home Depot or Lowe's to use and the lawn
is not a square or rectangle as it's very irregular but call
landscapers they all want to know how much acreage there is to mow
BEFORE they visit for an estimate.

The laser tool contractors use is very accurate and easy to use but
they're not sold at box retailers.

It's a challenge.

Thank you,

Charles.

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[Anthony Canino]

For an easy-to-use free solution, does the polygon tool on Google Earth work for you? You can just draw out the bounds of where your lawn is, example below:

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