What does 1/4" = 1'-0" mean on a plan?
1/4" = 1'-0" is an architect scale: every quarter inch on the sheet equals one foot on the building, a ratio of 48 to 1. It is the usual scale for US floor plans. Larger buildings often use 1/8" = 1'-0" (96 to 1), and details use bigger scales like 1/2" or 3/4".
Formula
Real feet = paper inches x scale ratio / 12 (ratio 48 at 1/4", 96 at 1/8")
Worked example
A wall that measures 4 in on a 1/4" = 1'-0" sheet.
- 1.4 x 48 = 192 inches
- 2.192 / 12 = 16 ft
The wall is 16 ft long.
Measure it in MetreMate
Let Auto Scale read the scale from the sheet, or use Manual Scale: click both ends of a known dimension and type its length.
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