Free Maths Calculator

Scale Calculator

Work with map and model scales in all three directions: turn a map measurement into a real distance, work out what a real distance looks like on the map, or find the scale itself from a matching pair. Units are converted sensibly at the end, from centimetres up to kilometres.

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    Worked Example

    A map has a scale of 1 : 25,000. How far in real life is 4 cm on the map?

    1. Every 1 cm on the map is 25,000 cm in real life, so multiply:4 × 25,000 = 100,000 cm
    2. Convert to metres:100,000 ÷ 100 = 1,000 m
    3. Convert to kilometres:1,000 ÷ 1,000 = 1 km

    Answer: 1 km

    Try These Yourself

    A model is built at 1 : 20. The model door is 10 cm tall. How tall is the real door?Show answerHide answer

    Answer: 2 m

    10 × 20 = 200 cm, which is 2 m.

    The real distance is 3 km and the scale is 1 : 50,000. How long is it on the map?Show answerHide answer

    Answer: 6 cm

    3 km = 300,000 cm, then 300,000 ÷ 50,000 = 6.

    5 cm on a map is 10 km in real life. What is the scale?Show answerHide answer

    Answer: 1 : 200,000

    10 km = 1,000,000 cm, then 1,000,000 ÷ 5 = 200,000.