Finding the elevation of a location can be useful for GIS analysis, route planning, terrain studies, engineering work, and understanding the landscape. Google Earth provides a simple way to check the elevation of a point and, in Google Earth Pro, examine how elevation changes along a path.
This guide explains how to find elevation on Google Earth, create an elevation profile, and, when more detailed data is needed, extract elevation information from a KML path.
What Is Elevation in Google Earth?
Elevation refers to the height of a location relative to the reference surface used by the mapping data. In Google Earth, elevation can be viewed while exploring the terrain.
The displayed value should be treated as mapping information rather than a substitute for a professional ground survey. Google Earth itself describes its measurement tools as estimates.
If you also need to create elevation profile, see our guide on How to Create an Elevation Profile in Google Earth Pro, where we explain how to do it step by step.
How to Find Elevation on Google Earth Pro
The easiest method is to move your cursor over the location you want to check.
Step 1: Open Google Earth Pro
Open Google Earth Pro on your computer and navigate to your area of interest.
You can search for a town, road, mountain, project area, or other location using the search box.
Step 2: Turn On Terrain
Make sure the Terrain option is enabled. Terrain is important when working with elevation because it allows Google Earth to display the shape and height of the landscape.
Google also provides controls for adjusting how terrain is displayed in the 3D viewer.
Step 3: Move the Mouse Over the Location
Move your cursor over the point you want to investigate.
Google Earth Pro displays the elevation information in the lower part of the application. The exact value changes as you move across different terrain.
For example, moving the cursor from a low valley toward a mountain may show progressively higher elevation values.
Once you have completed this process, you may also want to learn How to Measure Distance in Google Earth Pro, if you need to measure distance in metric or any other unit.
How to Find Elevation on Google Earth Web
Google Earth on a computer can also provide elevation information.
Open Google Earth, search for your location, and place the cursor over the area you want to examine. Google documents that elevation can be measured by placing the cursor over a point on the map.
This is useful when you only need to check the approximate elevation of individual locations.
How to Find Elevation on Android
Google Earth on Android also provides elevation information.
Open the Google Earth app, navigate to the desired location, and tap the point you want to check. Google states that the elevation appears at the bottom of the screen after the coordinates.
One limitation is that Google notes that Android does not provide a direct measurement of the elevation difference between two points through this tool.
How to Create an Elevation Profile in Google Earth Pro
If you need to understand how elevation changes along a route, an elevation profile is more useful than checking individual points.
First, create a path along your route using the path tool. For better detail, create enough vertices along the route to represent changes in the terrain.
Then:
- Select the path.
- Open the path's editing options.
- Select Show Elevation Profile.
- Google Earth Pro displays an elevation graph.
The graph shows elevation on the vertical axis and distance along the path on the horizontal axis. You can move your cursor along the profile to examine elevation and distance at different locations. If the elevation reads zero, Google recommends checking that the terrain layer is enabled.
This can be particularly useful for studying roads, pipelines, hiking routes, drainage paths, and other linear projects.
How to Extract Elevation Data from Google Earth
For GIS work, you may need elevation values for many points rather than simply viewing them on the map.
A practical workflow described in the supplied source material is:
Google Earth → Create Path → Save as KML → Add Elevation Data → Export → GIS
First, create a path containing multiple vertices in Google Earth and save it as a KML file. The source tutorial recommends creating many vertices because elevation can then be associated with individual points along the path.
The tutorial then uses GPS Visualizer to add elevation information to the KML data and export the resulting information for further GIS processing. GPS Visualizer confirms that its elevation tool can add DEM-based elevation data to files containing latitude and longitude information.
The resulting data can then be opened or processed in software such as Excel or GIS applications.
Why More Points Can Be Useful
When creating a path for elevation analysis, the number and distribution of points matter.
A path with only a few widely separated vertices may not represent all the terrain changes along a route. Adding more vertices can provide a more detailed representation of the terrain.
However, more points do not automatically make the underlying elevation data more accurate. The quality of the elevation model and the resolution of the available terrain data also affect the result.
Common Problems
Elevation Shows Zero
If Google Earth Pro displays an elevation value of zero, check whether Terrain is enabled. Google specifically recommends this when viewing an elevation profile.
For additional information and the latest guidance, see the official Google Earth Help documentation on Measure distance and elevation.
Elevation Changes Unexpectedly
Terrain models are representations of the Earth's surface, so small differences or unexpected changes can occur. Do not treat Google Earth elevation as a precise survey measurement.
Too Few Points in a Path
If you are extracting elevation along a route, avoid creating a path with only a few vertices. A more detailed path can better represent changes in terrain.
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