Scale defines the relationship between distances on your plan and actual distances in the real world. Without correct scale, all measurements and area calculations will be wrong. Each page in a project maintains its own scale setting.

Exayard attempts to detect scale automatically during upload by reading scale notations, title blocks, and scale bars on the drawing. When detection succeeds, the scale appears in the sidebar. A blue hint recommends verifying AI-detected scale with Draw distance before taking critical measurements.

Click the scale button in the sidebar (it shows Set scale if no scale is set, or the current scale value). A drawer opens with Imperial and Metric tabs. Browse common presets organized by type:

Click a preset to apply it. Click the currently selected preset again to clear it.

For non-standard scales, use the custom entry fields at the bottom of the scale drawer. On the Imperial tab, enter drawing inches and real-world feet (for example, 1 inches = 25 feet). On the Metric tab, enter the ratio as two numbers (for example, 1:150). The scale saves automatically as you type.

The most accurate calibration method uses a known dimension from your plan. Click the scale button, then click Draw distance at the bottom of the drawer. Your cursor changes to a crosshair. Click the start of a marked dimension on your plan, then click the end.

A dialog titled Set scale from distance appears showing the current line length. Enter the actual distance under Actual distance using feet, inches, and fractions. Click Set scale to apply the calibration.

For best results, use the longest clearly-marked dimension available. Zoom in closely when clicking endpoints to minimize placement error.

When you capture aerial imagery through the Aerial survey feature, scale is calculated automatically based on the map's zoom level and geographic location. No manual calibration is needed.

After setting scale, measure a known dimension that you did not use for calibration. If your measurement matches the printed value within 1-2%, the scale is accurate. If it differs significantly, recalibrate using a different reference dimension.

Different pages often have different scales. Site plans commonly use engineering scales (1" = 20') while floor plans use architectural scales (1/4" = 1'). Always verify scale on each page before measuring.

If measurements seem too large or small, the scale is likely incorrect. Recalibrate using a known dimension. For plans scanned at non-standard resolutions, trust your calibration against known dimensions rather than graphic scale bars. Always calibrate before measuring to avoid redoing work.