LiDAR scanners, from your phone to survey grade.
LiDAR scanners range from the sensor in a Pro iPhone to survey-grade terrestrial scanners. Prices span from the phone you already own to equipment priced like a vehicle. Pick by accuracy needed, area and deliverable.
On the App Store · iPhone & iPad · iOS/iPadOS 17.6 or later · No account needed for local work.
- Phone vs. handheld vs. terrestrial
- Accuracy and deliverables
- When a phone is enough
Three tiers of LiDAR scanning.
| Category | Typical use | Deliverable | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone / tablet LiDAR | Room measurement, estimates, quick as-builts | Floor plans, room models, CSV | Device you may own; apps often free |
| Handheld / SLAM scanners | Building interiors, faster large-area capture | Point clouds, meshes | Dedicated hardware + software |
| Terrestrial laser scanners | Survey, BIM, high-accuracy as-builts | Registered point clouds | Highest; often rented or outsourced |
Manufacturers include major surveying and scanning brands; compare current models and pricing directly with vendors.
Measure the room. Hand off a measured plan.
On the App Store for iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 17.6 or later). Local capture, editing, notes and reports work on the device without an account.
- Capture on site. Scan with LiDAR on supported devices, tap to capture corners without LiDAR where supported, or trace linear runs for pipe and conduit work.
- Correct what changes the job. Adjust wall geometry and heights; add or edit doors, windows, openings and pillars; enter notches and bump-outs; undo and redo.
- Read dimensions in context. Move between a dimensioned 2D floor plan and a 3D room, in feet and inches or metric.
- Keep the evidence. Site photos, room notes, installation instructions and approximate finish references stay with the room.
- Export the handoff. PDF report, CSV quantities, JSON data or a USDZ model.
Questions estimators ask
How much does a LiDAR scanner cost?
From the cost of a LiDAR-equipped iPhone or iPad to professional scanners priced in the tens of thousands of dollars or more. Rental and scanning services are common for survey-grade work.
Which LiDAR scanner companies are there?
Established surveying and scanning manufacturers make handheld and terrestrial scanners; Apple includes LiDAR in Pro iPhone and iPad models.
Is iPhone LiDAR enough for estimating?
For room-scale measurement and estimates, often yes; for survey-grade as-builts, no.
What app uses iPhone LiDAR for rooms?
MeasurePro by RenderDraw, on the App Store.
Start with a room. Plan the work that follows.
Download MeasurePro for local work. When you want measurements to flow into takeoff review, pricing and proposals, evaluate the connected RenderDraw Platform workflow.
- Download MeasurePro from the App Store.
- Measure and correct one representative room.
- Bring it to RenderDraw to walk one quantity through review, pricing and output.