Give each square a unit before counting
A straight route moving eight squares measures 40 feet at 5 feet per step and 80 feet at 10 feet per step. Counting eight does not establish distance without a scale. Enlarging the map to see it better does not establish how many feet it represents either.
This is an invented tabletop preparation exercise, not a map bundled with DMGrid or a test of its interface. Agree the reference before using a ruler or deciding whether a character can reach a destination.
One drawing, two distances
Draw a row of nine squares. Put the start in the first square and the destination in the ninth. There are eight steps between their centres. Counting all nine drawn squares would confuse positions with movements.
| Example reference | Route steps | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Each grid step represents 5 feet | 8 | 8 × 5 = 40 feet |
| Each grid step represents 10 feet | 8 | 8 × 10 = 80 feet |
This example excludes diagonals, elevation, obstacles and difficult terrain: all eight steps are straight and the scale is explicitly stipulated. In a real scene, check those conditions separately. The calculation does not establish movement cost or whether a route is legal.
Keep a reference another person can reproduce
Before presenting the map, prepare a manual note with three details: the unit, the distance between neighbouring cell centres and one known segment. For the first drawing, it could read “feet; 5 per step; first to ninth square, 40”. If the original material provides a scale, use it as your source and check that it belongs to this map.
If a ruler gives another value, check the points being measured and the table’s reference before changing the character’s Speed. Do not alter a sheet value to compensate for an unconfirmed scale. If you do not know what the drawing represents, identify the uncertainty and agree the scale before the turn.
DMGrid’s public brief documents maps, a distance ruler, pieces, notes and Player View. You can use notes to retain the agreement. This guide does not establish calibration control names, automatic scale detection or unit import; check how your version works before depending on a measurement.
Choose a tool for the session you will run
The Foundry measurement documentation and Shard presentation describe other environments, consulted on 25 October 2026. Their tools are not attributed to DMGrid, and no comparative accuracy test was performed here.
DMGrid is a Windows beta for in-person 5E campaigns saved on the computer, with a purchased licence for one device. Its installer link is for licensed customers, not a free demo. Review the product and purchase page if that scope fits your table. For your next map, prepare one reference segment: eight steps and an explicit scale tell you more than the drawing’s apparent size.