Using the Measure Tool in Navisworks: A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome back to our comprehensive Navisworks video series. In this tutorial, we'll master the Measure tool—one of Navisworks' most practical features for real-world project coordination. We'll continue working with the Meadowgate model from our previous sessions, which provides an excellent foundation for understanding measurement workflows in complex building information models. Before we begin, ensure your Saved Viewpoints panel is open and accessible.

If your interface resembles the current view but lacks the viewpoints tab, navigate to the Viewpoint tab and locate Save, Load, and Playback. Select the Dialog Launcher, then verify that Auto Height is disabled—this prevents unwanted view adjustments during our measurement process. The Measure tool functions as a sophisticated virtual tape measure, delivering precise dimensional data directly from your 3D model geometry. This capability proves invaluable for quantity takeoffs, clash resolution, and design verification. For today's demonstration, we'll focus on a door assembly, specifically measuring the glazing components within the door frame—a common task in architectural coordination.

Position yourself to achieve an optimal viewing angle where the door appears directly in front of your viewpoint. The positioning doesn't require mathematical precision, but should provide clear visual access to the door's key geometric features and measurement points. A well-composed view reduces measurement errors and improves workflow efficiency. Professional tip: spend time setting up proper views—it's an investment that pays dividends in accuracy and speed throughout your measurement session.

Once you've established the ideal perspective, right-click within the Saved Viewpoints panel and create a new saved viewpoint. Label this viewpoint "Door" for easy reference during future sessions. Alternatively, you can use the camera icon located in the Save Viewpoints section of the Save, Load, and Playback panel. This practice of saving viewpoints becomes essential in large, complex models where returning to specific measurement locations can otherwise consume significant time.

Now we'll configure the Measure tool for optimal performance. Navigate to the Review tab, where you'll find the Measure panel positioned as the first option. Begin by selecting the Dialog Launcher to access the comprehensive Measure Options dialog. If your interface shows this dialog as docked (as demonstrated here), consider undocking it by dragging it to a convenient location—I recommend positioning it in the bottom-left corner where it won't obstruct your primary work area.

Access the Options menu to establish consistent measurement parameters. In the Measure section, activate all four available checkboxes—these control essential measurement display and behavior options that enhance accuracy and usability. These settings ensure comprehensive measurement data appears in your interface, providing the detailed information required for professional documentation and coordination tasks.

Configure your Display Units by setting Linear Units to "Feet and Inches – Fractions" and establishing Fractional Display Precision at 1/8 inch. These settings align with standard North American construction documentation practices, though you should adjust them to match your project's specific requirements and regional standards. Navigate to the Snapping Selection section and enable Snap to Vertex, Snap to Edge, and Snap to Line Vertex. These snapping options are crucial for measurement accuracy, ensuring your selections lock onto precise geometric points rather than approximate screen locations. Apply these settings by clicking OK.

With our measurement environment properly configured, we can begin the actual measurement process. Locate the Measure Split button at the top-left of the Measure panel. This intelligent interface element displays your most recently used tool while providing access to the complete measurement toolkit through its dropdown menu—a design that balances efficiency with functionality.

We'll start with Point to Point measurement, the most fundamental and frequently used measurement tool. Thanks to our enabled snapping settings, moving your cursor over edges or vertices will trigger visual feedback through icon changes. When you see this icon transformation, you can confidently select, knowing you'll capture the exact geometric point you're targeting rather than an approximation. This precision is what separates professional-grade measurement from casual estimation.

Select one edge at the window's top and another at the bottom to capture the overall height dimension. Notice that I've created a diagonal measurement line—the direct distance between these two points isn't the true height we're seeking. However, the blue dimension line displays "Z = 7 feet 8 inches," which represents the true vertical height we need. This coordinate-based readout system allows you to extract orthogonal dimensions even when your measurement line runs diagonally through 3D space.

For alternative results, simply reverse your selection order—choose the bottom point first, then the top. This flexibility becomes particularly valuable when documenting measurements for reports or drawings where specific measurement orientations matter. We can significantly improve our efficiency by capturing multiple dimensions simultaneously. Select the bottom-left vertex of the window, then the top-right vertex to obtain both Z-axis (height) and Y-axis (width) dimensions in a single operation.

Let's verify our measurement accuracy by examining our selected points more closely. Navigate to the starting point to confirm we've captured the correct bottom vertex—precision verification is a hallmark of professional measurement practice. Then move to examine the second vertex location. This verification step, while seemingly time-consuming, prevents costly errors that can propagate throughout project documentation. Our measurement points appear correctly positioned, confirming our dimensional data's reliability.

Use the Clear button to remove dimensions from your view when transitioning between different measurement tasks. This maintains visual clarity and prevents confusion when working with multiple measurement sets. Now let's explore additional measurement tools that expand our capabilities beyond simple point-to-point operations.

Access the dropdown arrow on the Split button and select Point to Multiple Points. This tool revolutionizes efficiency when measuring multiple dimensions from a common reference point—a frequent requirement in construction documentation. Establish your base point by selecting the bottom-left corner of the window. From this single reference, you can now measure to multiple targets without reselecting your starting point.

Measure the window width by selecting the bottom-right corner for an immediate dimensional readout. Then, from that same base point, select the window's top edge to capture the height dimension. This workflow dramatically reduces the number of clicks required for comprehensive dimensional analysis while maintaining measurement accuracy. The ability to radiate multiple measurements from a single point proves especially valuable when documenting complex geometric relationships or creating comprehensive measurement schedules.

Clear your current measurements to prepare for the next tool demonstration. Select Point Line from the measurement toolkit—this powerful feature enables accumulated dimension calculations, essential for perimeter measurements, material quantity calculations, and sequential dimensional verification. When you need the window's complete perimeter (useful for glazing calculations or frame specifications), select each vertex in sequence.

The dynamic readout displays the accumulated total of all measured segments, providing real-time summation as you progress around the perimeter. This functionality eliminates manual calculation errors and speeds up quantity takeoff processes significantly. Professional users often employ this tool for complex measurement chains where individual segments and total distances both require documentation.