Is There an Easy Way to Measure the Height of a Tree?

Is There an Easy Way to Measure the Height of a Tree? [Crowdhacker]
from Lifehacker by Adam Pash
Trees are tall. Humans, relatively speaking, are not. And we're not the most agile climbers in the animal kingdom, either. But we are crafty, and we can out-think even the most wizened redwood. But how do you do so when all you've got is a pencil, a mirror, or a smartphone? In the first installment of a new series powered by Q&A site Stack Exchange, we're taking the question to the crowd.

Photo by Two+two=4".

Question:

I'd like to install an antenna for Internet service, but it will need to clear some trees on my neighbor's property as it requires a clear line of sight to work.

I really don't trust my estimating skills enough to plunk down money on a utility pole that might be too short or too tall. And climbing the tree with a tape measure (in my neighbor's yard) is a bit intrusive and dangerous.

Other than eyeballing it, is there a clever way that I can get a reasonably accurate (within 5' or so) estimate of the height of the tree?

— JohnFx (originally asked here)

Top Answer

Find a stick the length of your arm. Hold your arm out straight with the stick pointing straight up (90-degree angle to your outstretched arm). Walk backwards until you see the tip of the stick line up with the top of the tree. Your feet are now at approximately the same distance from the tree as it is high (provided the tree is significantly taller than you are, and the ground is relatively level).

Old logger method. Simple.