Scale Factor & Drawing Calculator

The scale factor is the ratio between a distance on the map and the corresponding distance on the ground. It allows surveyors to convert real-world distances into scaled map distances accurately.

Map distance = Ground distance ÷ Drawing scale.
Example: If the ground distance is 500 meters and the drawing scale is 1:1000, then:
Map distance = 500 ÷ 1000 = 0.5 meters on the map.

Scale Factor = Map distance ÷ Ground distance.
Example: Map distance = 2 m, Ground distance = 200 m → Scale factor = 2 ÷ 200 = 0.01 (or 1:100 in ratio format).

You can view the scale as:
- Ratio 1:X: Traditional format like 1:1000.
- Decimal: Map/ground ratio as a decimal.
- Percentage: Map distance as a percentage of the ground distance.

Yes! Enter comma-separated map distances and corresponding ground distances. The calculator will display the scale factor and drawing distance for all points.

The drawing scale ensures that large areas or distances can be represented accurately on a smaller map. Choosing the correct scale is essential for precision in construction, planning, and GIS applications.

Given:
Ground distances: 100 m, 250 m, 400 m
Map distances: 0.1 m, 0.25 m, 0.4 m
Drawing Scale: 1:1000

Calculation:
Scale Factor for P1 = 0.1 ÷ 100 = 0.001 → 1:1000
Drawing Distance for P2 = Ground ÷ Scale = 250 ÷ 1000 = 0.25 m
Result: All points are scaled correctly on the drawing.

- Ensure map and ground distances match in number.
- Always use the same unit for all distances.
- Double-check the drawing scale selected to prevent misrepresentation.
- Use decimal or percentage formats if needed for precise engineering calculations.