How to scan a kitchen for a cabinet layout

A cabinet layout is only as good as the measurements under it. A LiDAR scan gets you the whole room in a few minutes; a laser makes the walls that matter exact. Here is the routine that works.

Before you start

• Turn on every light. Even, bright light gives the cleanest scan.
• Open the doors you want in the plan and move small things away from the walls.
• Connect your Leica DISTO in the app settings.

Step 1 — the outline

Start in the middle of the room and walk slowly along the walls, about 1–2 m away. Point at every corner, door and window, and look at the floor and the ceiling line too. Finish only when the outline on screen is complete.

Step 2 — the details

Stand still for a moment when step 2 starts. Then get 30–60 cm close to each outlet, switch, water line and valve, aim the cross at its middle and tap its type. A yellow frame means the edges were found and the size was measured.

Step 3 — confirm with the laser

Measure every wall the cabinets will touch, long walls first. The app keeps both values: ~ from the scan, ✓ from the laser. If the two differ a lot, the wall is flagged so you can measure it again by hand.

What to send

Send the PDF to the client, the DXF to whoever draws the layout, and keep the project ZIP — you can open it again later to check a dimension.

Scan values are approximate. Check every dimension that matters on site before you order or manufacture.