Measure distances and areas on PDF plans.
Calibrate a PDF drawing from a known dimension, then check lengths and enclosed areas in your browser. KresCAD combines free PDF measurement tools with notes, scaled drawing and watermark-free PDF export.
Start with a dimension you can check
A PDF's page size is not enough to establish its drawing scale. Printing, scanning or resizing can change the relationship between the drawing and its real dimensions. Use a clearly marked, known length on the actual page and check a second dimension before relying on measurements.
How to measure a PDF drawing
Open the plan
Launch KresCAD on a desktop or laptop and choose Open. Select your PDF and the page you want to measure. To practise, use Try a calibrated sample on the start screen.
Set the units and scale
In Measure, choose Set scale. Click both ends of a known dimension and enter its real length. Use the units shown on the drawing. Check a second known length, preferably in another direction.
Measure a distance
Choose Distance and click the points defining the length. Read the measurement label and check that the units and result make sense. Zoom in to place points carefully.
Measure an area
Choose Area and mark the boundary of the enclosed region. Check the boundary and units before using the result. Ordinary drawing shapes are markup; use the measurement tools for measurement labels.
Save and review the drawing
Choose Save project to keep an editable .krescad file. Use Export PDF to download a drawing for review or sharing. Open the exported PDF and inspect its dimensions and notes.
Each page may need a different scale
A drawing set can contain a site plan, floor plans and details at different scales. Select the page and calibrate it separately where needed. A printed “1:100” label is a useful reference, but it is not a substitute for checking a known dimension in the PDF.
When measurements look wrong
- Check units. A dimension written in millimetres must be entered using the corresponding page units.
- Check point placement. Measure the intended dimension endpoints, not nearby line edges or text.
- Check a second dimension. If one direction matches and another does not, the scan may be distorted. A single scale cannot correct that distortion.
- Check the page. Moving to another page or a detail with a different scale calls for another calibration check.
Useful for plan reviews and early quantity checks
Use measured lengths and areas to compare layouts, check room sizes or review an early design. Add notes and geometry alongside measurements so the exported PDF explains what you checked. KresCAD is experimental; independently verify dimensions before ordering materials, costing or construction.
Scanned plans and original PDF text
You can measure over a scanned plan after calibration. Local English OCR can make printed notes searchable, but recognising text does not set the drawing scale or verify dimension values.
Keep an editable project as well as the PDF
PDF processing happens in your browser. Save files to your own drive: a project lets you continue editing, while an exported PDF is the copy to inspect and share. Browser recovery copies are useful, but saving a project is the dependable way to keep your work.