How far is it, counting height?
The 5e rules say how to count squares on a flat grid and stay quiet about the dragon 30 feet up. This calculator applies the same rule your table uses for diagonals to the height as well, so range, reach and spell distance come out the way a 3D ruler would measure them.
How the count works
Height is treated as a third axis of the grid, in 5-foot steps. With the standard 5e rule (every diagonal is 5 feet) the distance is the largest of the three axes: 30 feet across and 20 feet up is 30 feet. With the 5/10 variant, every second diagonal step costs double, in height as in the flat plane. True distance is the straight line through space, rounded to the nearest foot.
This is exactly the count TerrainTale's in-app ruler makes when a mini on a wall measures to one on the ground, so the number here matches what the table shows.
Worked examples
| Situation | Diagonal 5 ft | Diagonal 5/10 ft | True distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archer on a 20 ft wall, goblin 6 squares away | 30 ft · 20 ft up | 40 ft · 20 ft up | 36 ft · 20 ft up |
| Wizard targeting a dragon 40 ft up, 4 squares over | 40 ft · 40 ft up | 50 ft · 40 ft up | 45 ft · 40 ft up |
| Diagonal 5 by 3 squares, 15 ft drop | 25 ft · 15 ft down | 35 ft · 15 ft down | 33 ft · 15 ft down |
Want the ruler to do this for every move? The 3D distance ruler counts height on the table itself.
Questions
How do you measure distance to a flying creature in 5e?
The 2014 and 2024 rules do not give one method. Most tables use the same rule as diagonals: with the default rule that makes the distance the longer of the horizontal distance and the height difference. The DMG variant counts every second diagonal step, including vertical ones, as 10 feet.
Is a creature 30 feet up within 30 feet of me?
With the default 5e diagonal rule, yes, if it is directly or diagonally above within 30 feet horizontally. With true distance it is exactly 30 feet only when directly overhead; anything to the side adds distance.
Does height matter for melee reach?
Yes. A creature 10 feet above you is out of reach of a 5-foot weapon under every common rule, since height counts at least one square per 5 feet.
Which rule should I use?
Use whatever your table uses for diagonals so the numbers stay consistent. The default 5e rule is fastest; the 5/10 variant and true distance punish long diagonal and vertical shots more realistically.
Can a virtual tabletop do this automatically?
A 3D one can. TerrainTale's ruler knows the height of every mini and counts it with the diagonal rule you pick, so a token on a balcony reports its distance to the floor without anyone doing arithmetic.
Keep reading
D&D Distance Ruler: Feet, Diagonals, Elevation
Measure distance in feet on a real 3D grid: pick 5e's every-diagonal-5-ft, the 5/10/5 DMG/Pathfinder variant, or true distance.
3D Battle Maps for Tabletop RPGs
Make 3D battle maps in the browser from a realistic, CC0/CC BY library: PBR floors and walls, photoscanned props, trees and lights.
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3D Virtual Tabletop (3D VTT): Free, in the Browser
A 3D virtual tabletop that runs in a browser tab: realistic battle maps with walls, light and height, painted-miniature figures, a ruler in feet and initiative.
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