Staking Calculator
Compute bearing and distance from a reference control point to a target point for total station or GNSS setout.
Reference point
Target point
Setout data
About construction staking
Construction staking is the process of transferring design point coordinates to physical marks on the ground. Given a known reference point (control monument or previously staked point) and target coordinates from a design plan, the surveyor sets up the total station at the reference, sights in the bearing, and measures out the distance. Alternatively with GNSS RTK, the rover is navigated directly to the target coordinates.
This calculator gives the azimuth (0-360° from north) and horizontal distance between two known points. Use it to prepare setout sheets, check GNSS navigation, or double-check total station output. The result is pure geometry: for optical instruments, add corrections for scale factor and curvature if the distance is long.
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Common use cases
Preparing setout sheets for a total station operator based on design coordinates.
Planning GNSS rover navigation: expected bearing and distance for each target.
Quality control: comparing staked vs design coordinates to catch errors.
As-built verification: measuring constructed elements against design.
Frequently asked questions
What coordinate system should I use?
Both points must be in the same system (same UTM zone, same local grid). Don't mix global (WGS84 Lat/Lon) with projected (UTM) coordinates.
How do I handle elevation in staking?
This tool computes 2D horizontal staking. For 3D setout, the elevation difference Δz is added separately via the total station vertical circle or RTK tilt pole.
What if the bearing is negative?
This tool normalizes bearings to 0-360°. A computed negative value (e.g. -45°) becomes 315°.
How do I deal with scale factor?
Between grid coordinates (e.g. UTM) and ground distances, apply a scale factor correction. Typical grid-to-ground factor is 0.9996 to 1.0004. For short stakeouts (<500 m), the effect is <50 mm and often ignored.
Related tools
Use with our coordinate converter for datum changes and distance calculator for long baselines.