Measuring Tree Height using a Clinometer

The following article was authored by Mike Steiner and Jason Baker.

Tree heights are measured using a principle called triangulation and with a device called a clinometer. The clinometers can be purchased from many US suppliers and are easy to use, very practical and can be mastered easily. Probably the most important step in the process of triangulation is correctly measuring the distance from the tree.

Yellow handheld device with a dial — *Figure 1: A common clinometer.*

Clinometers may be purchased from many vendor sources. There are a variety of clinometers available today so check your instrument to see which side of the scale is for topo and which is for %.

Three images of a man outside using the clinometer — Figure 2: The tree height measurement process (Pecan tree in this illustration was 34.5’ measured at 100’).

Illustration of clinometer scale — Figure 3: The clinometer scale with % scale on the left and topo scale on the right.

There are a variety of clinometers available today so check your instrument to see which side of
the scale is for topo and which is for %. Figure 3 above illustrates a typical clinometer with the
% scale on the left and the topo scale on the right. Verify the scales by leveling the clinometer
parallel with the height of your eyes until the scale reads “0” and the scale indicators will be
visible.

Using the Topo Scale (right)

If tree height is greater than 50’, follow the section below on use of the left or the % scale.

Height can be measured with this scale at 66 feet from the center of the base of the tree. Measure or pace out from the center of the tree base perpendicular to the slope for the best and easiest readings.
Read the right scale directly with both eyes open (Figure 4). The height measurement is in feet.
Height is measured from the base of tree at ground level to top of crown, peak of terminal leader (dendritic tree forms) or the average of the tree crown (Figure 5). Read the right scale for measurement of height.
Figure 6 and Figure 7 illustrate the effects of slope on tree height measurement.

Using the Percent Scale (left)

Height can be measured with this scale at 100 feet from the center of the base of the tree. Measure or pace out from the center of the tree base perpendicular to the slope for the best and easiest readings.
Read the right scale directly with both eyes open (Figure 4). The height measurement is in feet.
Height is measured from the base of tree at ground level to top of crown or peak of terminal leader (Figure 5). Read the left scale for measurement of height.
Figure 6 and Figure 7 illustrate the effects of slope on tree height measurement.
Follow the rules as stated
If tree height is greater than 100’, the distance from the base of the tree should be doubled to 200’, read the % scale on the left side of the clinometer and multiply by 2 to get tree height in feet.

Man using clinometer outside — Figure 4. View of data collector using clinometer to measure tree height.

Illustration of a tree with a line measuring the crown — **Figure 5.** Top of Tree Crown. This example is a Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum), a dendritic tree form in middle age.

Illustrated diagram of the angles used for traingulation — **Figure 6.** Example of height measurement with the tree base below eye level. Base of tree reading is -8.5 ft and top of tree reading is 27.8 ft; Total height is 35.5 ft.

Another illustration of measuring the height — **Figure 7.** Example of height measurement with the tree base above eye level. Base of tree reading is 9 ft and top of tree reading is 42 ft. If, as in this example, your eye is below the base of the tree subtract 9 ft from 42 ft to get total height of 33 ft.