Estimate tree height with a phone clinometer, two sighting angles and distance
A tree height meter helps you estimate the height of a tree, pole or building from a known horizontal distance and your phone's inclination. Use the phone as a clinometer, sight the target and read an approximate result in meters or feet. It is a practical way to explore tree height and trigonometry during a garden visit, outdoor lesson or preliminary field check.
CHOOSE YOUR MEASURING METHOD
The two-point method combines the angles to the top and base with the horizontal distance you enter. Take both sightings from the same position. A base below eye level contributes to the calculation, so the method can account for different ground levels when the distance is horizontal.
The eye-height method uses the top angle, your entered eye height and horizontal distance. Use it when the tree base is at the same ground level as your feet. The assumption matters: a slope can change the result.
PREPARE, SIGHT AND CHECK
Hold the phone upright and sight across its top edge. Zero against a level horizon before capturing angles. The live elevation readout follows the phone's accelerometer; keep your hand steady and choose a place with a clear view of the top and base. Measure the horizontal distance carefully rather than using the length along a slope.
KEEP FIELD RESULTS TOGETHER
Save height measurements, review a history of up to 100 records, delete unwanted entries and share the history as CSV. Metres and feet let you work in the unit that suits your notes. The built-in guide and method reference explain the inputs and formulas.
RELATED FIELD CALCULATIONS
Estimate distance from a known object height and sighting angles. Calculate plot area from rectangle sides or four sides and a diagonal; a helper converts a manually entered step count and stride into length. Estimate standing-tree and log volume from entered dimensions, with conifer or broadleaf factors and Doyle, Scribner or International log rules.
LIMITS AND QUESTIONS
Does the phone scan the tree? No: the calculation uses sensor angles and dimensions you supply, rather than a camera or laser scan. Why can readings differ? Distance error, an unsteady phone, poor sighting and the device sensor affect the estimate. Area and volume also depend on the entered dimensions and their assumptions. Confirm measurements used for safety, surveying or timber sales with suitable calibrated equipment.
The app contains advertisements and uses Firebase Analytics and network services for ads and configuration. Measurement results are estimates, not certified survey measurements.
Novidades
“CAPTURE TOP” and “CAPTURE BASE” (the second one only in “Two-point” mode) have moved out of the scrolling page on “Height” into a strip pinned at the bottom of the screen. After your first capture, a line below them shows either “Enter the horizontal distance to the tree.” (tap it to jump to the “Distance” field at the top) or “Estimated height” with the value from the result card, a dash when no height can be calculated. Nothing about the calculation was changed.