What does station notation like 12+34.56 mean?

The number before the plus sign is the station number and the number after is the remainder. With a 100 ft interval, 12+34.56 means 12 × 100 + 34.56 = 1,234.56 ft from the origin (Station 0+00).

How many feet is station 1+00?

With the common US 100-ft interval, station 1+00 is 100 ft from Station 0+00, and each full station adds another 100 ft (10+00 = 1,000 ft). If the plans use a different interval or meters, convert with that interval instead.

How do I find the station and offset of a point?

Project the point onto the alignment. For a straight baseline starting at station S0 and coordinates (N0, E0) with azimuth α, let ΔN = N − N0 and ΔE = E − E0. Station = S0 + ΔN·cos α + ΔE·sin α, and offset = ΔE·cos α − ΔN·sin α, positive to the right looking up-station. A point 100 ft north and 150 ft east of 10+00 on a 45° baseline is at 11+76.78, 35.36 ft right.

What is the standard station interval?

A common US highway convention uses 100 ft, so 10+00 represents 1,000 ft. Metric chainage is commonly grouped as kilometres plus metres, so 1+000 represents 1,000 m. Always follow the notation and units declared on the project plans.

What is the difference between stationing and chainage?

They mean the same thing. "Stationing" is common in American practice; "chainage" is preferred in British, Canadian and international metric practice. Both express cumulative distance along an alignment.

Is adding distance the same as a survey offset?

No. Adding a positive or negative distance moves ahead or back along the alignment. An offset is a perpendicular left or right distance from the alignment; use the Station & Offset panel for that. It models a straight baseline, so horizontal curves need the full alignment geometry.

How do I compute the distance between two stations?

Convert each station to decimal distance and subtract: 18+50 − 5+00 = 1,850 − 500 = 1,350 ft. The Distance Between Two Stations panel does this and also gives the midpoint station (11+75).

Stationing Calculator

Convert station or chainage notation (12+34.56) to feet or meters and back, add or subtract stations, find the station and left/right offset of a point from its coordinates, turn a station and offset into coordinates, and list stakeout stations at any interval.

Stationing marks distance along a road, pipeline or other alignment from Station 0+00.

Alignment Stationing Tool Active regime: 100 ft (US standard)

Station Interval & Units

Station → Distance

Enter station in XX+YY.YY format

Distance → Station

Enter cumulative decimal distance

Add / Subtract Along Alignment

Advance (+ ahead) or reverse (− back) along the baseline (not a lateral survey offset).

Base Station

Along-Alignment Distance (+ ahead, − back)

Distance Between Two Stations

Subtract two alignment stations to find length and midpoint

Station A

Station B

Station equations caution: Alignment revisions create back/ahead station equations with gaps or overlaps. This calculator assumes one continuous uninterrupted linear alignment. Always check plans for equation points.

FHWA Manual ODOT Equations Guide

Station Notation Quick Reference

Interval	Station	Decimal

Station & Offset from Coordinates

Straight baseline: give its start station, start northing/easting and direction. Offsets are perpendicular, positive to the right looking up-station. Uses the interval and unit selected above.

Start station

Azimuth or bearing

Start northing

Start easting

Point → station & offset

Point northing

Point easting

Station: —
Offset: —

Station & offset → coordinates

Station

Offset (+R / −L)

Northing: —
Easting: —

Stakeout Station List

Every even station between two stations, with centerline coordinates from the baseline above.

From station

To station

Every

Station	From start	Northing	Easting

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Quick answer

Stationing marks distance along a road, pipeline or other alignment from Station 0+00. With the common US 100-ft interval, 12+34.56 means 12 × 100 + 34.56 = 1,234.56 ft; in metric chainage, 1+234.56 means 1,234.56 m. A point beside the alignment is located by its station plus a perpendicular offset left or right, for example 11+76.78, 35.36 ft right.

Examples

Station (100-ft interval)	Distance
1+00	100 ft
10+00	1,000 ft
12+34.56	1,234.56 ft
52+80	5,280 ft (1 mile)
18+50 − 5+00	1,350 ft between stations

Convert any station, subtract two stations, get station and offset from coordinates, or list stakeout stations.

Summary

Station notation is the standard surveying format for distance along a road, pipeline or other alignment. A station like 12+34.56 means 1,234.56 feet (or meters) from the starting point. This tool converts station notation to decimal distance and back, adds or subtracts a distance along the alignment, finds the distance and midpoint between two stations, and lists stakeout stations at a chosen interval. For a straight baseline defined by a start station, start coordinates and an azimuth or bearing, it also converts a point's northing and easting into station and left/right offset, and a station and offset back into coordinates. Curved alignments and station equations need the full alignment geometry.

How it works

Choose the notation interval and distance unit used by the plans (100 ft US stations, 1,000 m metric chainage, or custom).
Station to distance: enter a station in XX+YY.YY format and read the decimal distance; distance to station works the other way.
Add or subtract along the alignment: enter a base station and a positive (ahead) or negative (back) distance.
Distance between two stations: enter both stations to get the length and the midpoint station.
Station and offset: enter the baseline start station, its northing and easting and the azimuth or bearing, then a point's coordinates to get its station and offset, or a station and offset to get coordinates.
Stakeout list: enter a start station, an end station and an interval to list every even station with its centerline coordinates.

Use cases

Convert road centerline stationing to total distance for quantity take-offs.
Find the station and offset of a utility pole, manhole or tree from surveyed coordinates.
Compute coordinates for stakes at a given station and offset from a straight baseline.
List every 25, 50 or 100 ft station between two points for a stakeout sheet.
Verify chainage values on pipeline or highway alignment drawings.
Find the station halfway between two known stations and the length of a segment.
Convert metric (1+000) and imperial (10+00) stationing formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-10-10 · Reviewed by Nham Vu