If you’re already taking job site photos with your iPhone, you now have a better way to measure. With LiDAR Mode in CompanyCam, you can capture accurate site dimensions directly from a photo.
There’s no need to grab a tape measure or switch to another measuring app. LiDAR Mode is a faster way to document, estimate, and communicate, using the iPhone measuring tool you already have in your pocket.
What is LiDAR?
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It’s a laser-based sensor built into recent iPhone Pro and iPad Pro models. This iPhone LiDAR technology reads the distance between your camera and the objects around it, creating a live 3D depth map of your environment.
When paired with CompanyCam, this sensor transforms your phone into a LiDAR measuring tool. You can take a photo, then draw a line on the image to measure real distances. The system calculates those lines based on the depth data captured by your LiDAR camera.
Why LiDAR Is Better Inside CompanyCam
Standalone apps like Canvas, Polycam, and Magicplan offer 3D scans or floor plans — but they live outside your core job system. You have to export images, re-measure, or recreate your notes.
LiDAR in CompanyCam gives you:
- Measurements tied to job-specific photos
- Instant usability with no app switching
- Team-wide access to depth-enabled images
- Documentation and measurements in one place
Your field team takes the photo. Your back office can measure. No extra steps.
Note: While these LiDAR measurements are estimates, they’re accurate enough for job planning, proposals, and field documentation, and they’re saved with every photo.
How to Measure on iPhone Using CompanyCam’s LiDAR Mode
LiDAR Mode is built right into the iPhone camera you already use. Inside a project in CompanyCam, open the camera and tap the ruler icon to activate LiDAR Mode.
Stand between 3 and 15 feet from what you want to measure. That range produces the most accurate site survey data. Take the photo, then open it and tap the ruler icon. Draw a line between any two points. CompanyCam calculates the distance using the photo’s embedded depth data.
Step-by-Step
- Open the camera in CompanyCam from any project.
- Turn on LiDAR Mode (visible only on supported devices with an Elite plan).
- Stand 3 to 15 feet away from what you want to measure.
- Take the photo.
- Open the photo, tap the 📏 icon, and draw a line between two points.
- View the site dimensions calculated using depth data.
Only iPhone Pro and iPad Pro models can capture LiDAR depth, but once the photo is taken, any user on your team—on Android, iPhone, or the web — can view or add measurements.
For more in-depth instructions, check out our guide for using LiDAR to Measure Photos.
Best Practices for Using LiDAR Mode
LiDAR readings aren’t meant to replace survey gear or laser distance meters on structural work. These are visual estimates with high accuracy — ideal for field notes, quoting, and job planning.
Clean, flat surfaces yield the best data. Avoid trying to measure through reflections, shiny materials, or cluttered backgrounds.
Also keep in mind that depth readings work in three dimensions. If your measurement line jumps into the background, it could give you a longer distance than you expect. Try to shoot from a steady angle with a clear view of the area you want to measure.
Tips for Getting the Best LiDAR Measurements
To get accurate results, follow these tips:
- Stay 3 – 15 feet from what you’re measuring
- Shoot in good lighting
- Avoid shiny surfaces or glass
- Keep backgrounds clean — avoid clutter behind your subject
- Watch your ruler line — it may pull into the background if not placed carefully
Using LiDAR to Cut Down Time in the Field
Measuring with your iPhone LiDAR saves time in the field and keeps everyone on the same page. Instead of juggling a notebook, tape measure, and camera, you take one photo — and everything is recorded in one place.
This is especially helpful for window installers, remodelers, landscapers, and restoration crews. If you’re already taking photos to document a space, you can now use those same images to measure framing, square footage, opening sizes, and more.
Estimators, back office teams, and crew members can all access the same site survey data, right from their phones or browsers.
Get the Most Out of LiDAR in CompanyCam
LiDAR Mode works seamlessly with the CompanyCam tools your team already uses:
- Photo Reports: Drop LiDAR photos into reports to show measurements directly on job documentation. Give customers and adjusters clear, visual proof of the work area.
- Walkthrough Notes: Capture measurements during a walkthrough and instantly pair them with voice notes, annotations, or tags. It gives context and dimensions in one step.
- Checklists: Attach measured photos to checklist items to confirm exact sizing, spacing, or work area conditions.
- Project Feed: Measurements taken in the field are automatically added to the project feed. Your office team can pull them into estimates or reference them before sending proposals.
- Team Collaboration: No matter who took the photo, anyone on the team can view or add measurements. This reduces confusion and speeds up approvals, purchasing, or installation prep.
No Switching Apps. No Extra Tools.
Using LiDAR inside CompanyCam gives your business a measurable edge. Most measuring apps don’t integrate directly with your job documentation. This does. And your team doesn’t need to learn new tools or bounce between platforms.
Every LiDAR measurement lives on the photo. Every photo lives in the project. And every team member, regardless of their device, can access it.
You’re not just improving your process. You’re making your business more efficient, more consistent, and easier to scale.
Take Photos That Do More for Your Team
You need to move quickly without missing key details. LiDAR Mode helps you:
- Measure while you document. No extra steps, just one photo that serves two purposes: record and measure.
- Capture details you’ll need later. Didn’t get a window width? You probably already took the photo. Now you can measure it.
- Avoid return visits. If a detail is missing from the notes, your team can measure the image remotely.
- Build accurate estimates on the fly. Take a photo, add a measurement, and send it to the estimator — all from the field.
- Keep everyone aligned. Measurements stored on photos make it clear what was seen, discussed, and agreed on.
Elite Level Documentation
If you use an iPhone Pro or iPad Pro and you’re on CompanyCam’s Elite plan, you’re ready to start measuring smarter. Open your project, turn on LiDAR Mode, and capture photos that double as measuring tools.
If you’re not on the Elite plan yet, upgrade now to unlock LiDAR measurements and other advanced tools.
New to CompanyCam? Book a demo and see how it works on a real job site.
