Detached house photographed at dusk with a planned PV module layout and dimension lines drawn on the roof in SimpleMeasure

SimpleMeasure – the photo measurement app for roofs, facades and PV

For craftsmen, planners, energy consultants and appraisers: measure building elements directly from a photo on your smartphone or tablet, lay out PV modules on site and send the results as a report.

Get the app How it works
SimpleMeasure on an iPad: photo of a detached house with an automatic PV module layout on the roof, dimension lines and a magnifier for precise points

What is SimpleMeasure?

SimpleMeasure is a measurement app by Hottgenroth Software AG for Android and iOS, also available as a desktop version for Windows. It calibrates a photo of a building using one or two known reference dimensions, so that areas, windows, balconies and roof surfaces can be measured directly in the image – even parts that are hard to reach, from a single perspective.

How it works – in six steps

  1. Take a photo

    Photograph the building with your smartphone or tablet – or use a photo your client sends you.

  2. Set a reference

    Enter one or two known dimensions to calibrate the image.

  3. Measure elements

    Mark an area, window or balcony – all other dimensions in the same plane are shown automatically.

  4. Lay out PV modules

    Fill roof areas automatically with PV modules of definable size.

  5. Get the material list

    The app creates a material list automatically; you can name each item.

  6. Send the report

    Export images and results as PDF, CSV or JPG with your company name and logo.

Who uses SimpleMeasure?

Before you can quote, plan or document, you need the dimensions of the building. SimpleMeasure gets you there faster – as a roof measurement app right on site.

Craftsmen and installers

Capture roof areas that are hard to reach from one perspective and use the automatic material list to prepare your quote faster.

Planners

Document existing buildings with dimensioned photos and use the PV module layout as a starting point for the system design.

Energy consultants

Record facade, window and roof areas of an existing building for your consultation – without measuring every element by hand.

Appraisers

Keep a traceable record: save your projects and access images and measurements at any time.

SimpleMeasure and PV-Planner

From on-site measurement to PV simulation: SimpleMeasure is the photo measurement app for the building survey, PV-Planner the PV planning software for the detailed design.

PV-Planner on a laptop showing a 3D house model with PV modules, next to a smartphone with the SimpleMeasure app and a photo of a house with a PV module layout

SimpleMeasure app

Measure buildings from a photo – right on site

  • Measure on site with your smartphone or tablet – from a photo instead of with measuring tape and notepad.
  • Calibrate photos with one or two reference dimensions and measure any area in the same plane.
  • Fill roof areas automatically with PV modules – choose them from the manufacturer database or define width, height and spacing yourself. The module dimensions can then be used to simulate the PV system.
  • Get an automatic material list with freely nameable items as the basis for your quote.
  • Send images and results by email as a PDF, CSV or JPG report with your company name and logo.
  • Save your projects and access the data at any time.
Google Play (opens in a new tab) App Store (opens in a new tab)

Free download. The Light version has limited functionality – creating, editing, saving and exporting projects requires the PRO version (in-app subscription or licence).

PV-Planner

Windows software for 3D PV planning and yield simulation

  • Plan PV systems directly on a 3D building model with the integrated HottCAD – including roof areas and module layout.
  • Simulate shading visually as a basis for realistic yield forecasts.
  • Simulate the PV yield hour by hour based on location-specific weather data from Meteonorm.
  • Include battery storage – with editable databases for modules, inverters and storage systems.
  • Calculate profitability according to VDI 2067 – with risk analysis, variable financing and payback period.
Request a consultation

Do you want to analyse the interplay between different system components such as PV, heat pump and CHP? Then take a look at ETU-Simulation (opens in a new tab).

See the software in action

  • SimpleMeasure on a tablet: photo of an office building calibrated with a perspective grid over a reference area
    SimpleMeasure Calibrate the photo with a reference area
  • SimpleMeasure on a tablet: dimensioned facade of an office building with gross and net wall area
    SimpleMeasure Measure wall areas – gross and net
  • SimpleMeasure on a smartphone: dimension line of 2.43 metres drawn on the photo of a building
    SimpleMeasure Dimension lines directly on the smartphone
  • SimpleMeasure on a smartphone: dimensioned roof of a detached house with an automatic PV module layout around a roof window
    SimpleMeasure PV module layout on any roof geometry – on the smartphone
  • SimpleMeasure desktop version: automatic PV module layout on the roof of a detached house
    SimpleMeasure desktop Automatic PV module layout on any roof geometry
  • PV-Planner: simulation results with annual yield, own consumption and pie charts for PV usage and demand coverage
    PV-Planner Graphical display of the simulation results

Technical facts

Both tools at a glance.

Technical facts for SimpleMeasure and PV-Planner
SimpleMeasure PV-Planner
Type App for smartphone and tablet; desktop version for Windows Desktop software
Platform Android (Google Play), iOS and iPadOS 15.0 or later (App Store), desktop version for Windows Windows
Core functions Photo calibration with 1–2 reference dimensions, area measurement, automatic PV module layout, material list 3D building model with integrated HottCAD, shading simulation, hourly yield simulation, battery storage, profitability calculation according to VDI 2067
Output Report as PDF, CSV or JPG with company name and logo, sent by email Yield calculation, shading analysis and visualisation of the PV system
Climate data – Meteonorm – selected locations in Germany included, worldwide locations optional
Licence Free Light version; PRO version as in-app subscription or licence On request
Publisher Hottgenroth Software AG Hottgenroth Software AG

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Start measuring with SimpleMeasure

Free download for Android and iOS – upgrade to PRO to create, save and export projects.

Google Play (opens in a new tab) App Store (opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked questions

SimpleMeasure is a measurement app by Hottgenroth Software AG for Android and iOS. You calibrate a photo of a building with one or two known reference dimensions and then measure areas, windows, balconies or roof surfaces directly in the image.

Yes. Once an area in the photo has been calibrated, all other measurements in the same plane are shown automatically. This lets you measure areas that are hard to reach, such as roofs, from one perspective.

The app is free to download. The free Light version has limited functionality: creating, editing, saving and exporting projects requires the PRO version, which is available as an in-app subscription or as a licence.

SimpleMeasure runs on Android smartphones and tablets (Google Play) and on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 15.0 or later (App Store). A desktop version for Windows is also available.

You can send the images and results by email as a report in PDF, CSV or JPG format, including your company name and logo.

Yes. SimpleMeasure fills roof areas automatically with PV modules of definable size and documents the calculated areas. The module dimensions can then be used to simulate the photovoltaic system.

SimpleMeasure is an app for measuring buildings from photos and laying out PV modules – on site with a smartphone or tablet, or on the desktop. PV-Planner is Windows software for detailed PV design: 3D building model, shading analysis, hourly yield simulation and profitability calculation.

Yes. Besides the app for Android and iOS, SimpleMeasure is also available as a desktop version for Windows – including the automatic PV module layout.

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We also offer software for building services engineering, building data acquisition and renewable energies. Contact us and receive an offer tailored to your needs.

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