How to Use a 40-Acre Land Locator Template

Select a 7.5-minute USGS topographic quadrangle map of the location that you want to measure.

Remove all items from the work area and lay the topographic quadrangle map on a level surface. A 7.5-minute USGS topographic quadrangle map is sanctioned and created by the United States government. Other non-sanctioned maps might contain the incorrect scale.

Survey the topographic quadrangle map until you find the approximate location of the area that you want to measure.

Place the 40-acre land locator template above the topographic quadrangle map. There are holes in the template that are spaced one-quarter inch apart. When you connect the four holes, it makes the outline of a square. The area of the square measures a 40-acre plot of land.

Insert the tip of a pencil into the four holes to mark the corners of the square shape. Each side of the marked square shape measures one-quarter mile of land. The top edge of the square faces the “North” direction. The bottom edge of the square faces the “South” direction. The left edge of the square faces the “West” direction. The right edge of the square faces the “East” direction.

Remove the template to check if the marked area matches the desired area. Erase the marks and adjust the template as necessary until the desired 40-acre plot of land is measured.