Height from a shadow

Measure an object's shadow, and this works out roughly how tall the object is.

Uses your location and the time to find how high the sun is.

Where and when

Location not set yet.

Latitude

Longitude

Decimal degrees. Tap the letter to switch N/S or E/W. If your map app shows a minus sign, that means S or W.

Time you measured the shadow

Uses your phone's time zone.

Units

Object's shadow length (ft)

From the base of the object, directly below its highest point, to the tip of the shadow.

How precise is your shadow measurement? (± ft)

Pacing it off: about ±2 ft. Tape measure: about ±0.5 ft.

Enter the shadow length to see the object's height.

Pick a moment with a crisp shadow. Mid-morning or mid-afternoon usually works best.
Find the tip of the shadow cast by the object's highest point, not by some lower part that sticks out sideways.
Measure in a straight line from the point on the ground directly below that highest point to the shadow's tip.
Enter the length and time right away. The shadow keeps changing as the sun moves.