PixelStick

PixelStick

Version 2.16.4 | Released: 2024-10-10 | Requires: Mac 10.6-26

Screen ruler and measurement tool for Mac: measure pixels, angles, colors; design/UI measuring, eyedropper, screenshot aid; useful for surveying, mapping, astronomy; productivity.

PixelStick – Mac App To Measure Pixel, Angle, Color Onscreen

PixelStick screenshot showing measurement tool

PixelStick is a tool for measuring distances (in pixels), angles (in degrees) and colors (RGB) on the screen. Photoshop has distance, angle and color tools but they only work in Photoshop. PixelStick works in any app and anywhere on screen anytime and costs a hundred times less. Excellent for designers, navigators, mapmakers, biologists, astronomers, cartographers, graphic designers or anyone who uses a microscope or telescope or wants to measure a distance on their screen in any window or application.

"Determining the RGB color code of individual pixels and performing pixel-precise distance measurements on-screen has never been easier – thank you for this awesome little App!"

– Alexander

It's easy, simple and fast. PixelStick is a measuring tool you can pinch and stretch to measure anything on your screen. Use the eyedropper to copy colors in 4 formats (CSS, RGB, RGB hex, HTML) to the clipboard for use in any app.

PixelStick measuring tool in action

PixelStick Used By

PixelStick is a professional measuring tool used by:

  • Cartographers – for maps or all kinds.
  • Biologists – for microscopy and morphology.
  • CSI Technicians – for crime scene investigations.
  • Manufacturing – for design and fabrication.
  • Physicists and Astronomers – for all kinds of measurements.
  • Engineering – for mechanical, electrical and civil engineering.
  • Builders – for measuring existing buildings or blueprints.
  • Education – for students, teachers and researchers.
  • Photographers
  • Designers – for graphic, architecture, interior, space, marine, and aeronautical.
  • Software Developers – for graphics, web, layout and user interface.
  • Medical Technicians – for X-rays, ECG, EKG, and microscopy.

For anyone who needs to measure objects on the Mac.

Anyone can use PixelStick because it's easy to use, simple and fast. Measure on:

  • Retina, regular displays and multiple monitors.
  • Mac OS 10.6 – 13.0 or higher
  • Any app and between apps.

Supports the scaling in Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and Photoshop. Also has Customized (user settable) scaling options. PixelStick is a measuring tool you can pinch and stretch to measure anything on your screen. It's like an onscreen virtual ruler that you can use vertically, horizontally and at any angle to measure distances (pixels), angles (degrees) and much more just by dragging. When you know the scale of the document you are measuring then you can create a custom scale to measure inches, miles, centimeters, microns, parsecs or lightyears.

PixelStick measurement features

Most of what PixelStick does is obvious. Drag the endpoints to change the measurement. Click the locks to constrain the movement. Launch it, play around, no more limitations to just one app in measuring distance, angle and color.

Its easy, simple and fast. PixelStick is a measuring tool you can pinch and stretch to measure anything on your screen when you know the scale.

PixelStick interface
PixelStick measurement tool
PixelStick features
PixelStick screenshot

Measure anything on your screen

PixelStick is a sophisticated ruler, protractor, and eyedropper that works anywhere on your Mac. Measure distances in pixels, angles in degrees, and capture colors in any application, window, or across the desktop. Unlike Photoshop's tools that only work within Photoshop, PixelStick works everywhere you do.

Perfect for designers, developers, cartographers, astronomers, biologists, or anyone who needs precise on-screen measurements. PixelStick uses pixels as a unit of measurement, and with custom scaling, you can measure anything from galaxies to molecules—as long as you know the scale.

Lightweight, fast, and inexpensive. PixelStick gives you professional measurement tools that work invisibly in the background, ready whenever you need them. Double-click any measurement to select and copy it to your clipboard instantly.

Key features

Pixel distance measurement

Measure distances between any two points on your screen in pixels. See both pixel distance and pixel difference (x, y coordinates) for precise measurements.

Angle measurement

Measure angles in degrees with a protractor tool. Set custom baselines, use map mode for bearings, and lock angles for precise measurements.

Color eyedropper

Capture colors from anywhere on screen with magnification. Copy colors in 7 formats: CSS, HTML, RGB integer, hex with or without #, and more.

Custom scaling

Measure in any unit with custom scales. Built-in support for Google Maps, Yahoo Maps, and Photoshop. Create your own scales for astronomy, microscopy, or any specialized measurement.

Screen elements ruler

Measure UI elements directly. Highlights screen elements and shows their dimensions automatically—perfect for design and development work.

Works everywhere

Unlike app-specific tools, PixelStick works in any application, between apps, in Finder, and across your entire desktop. No need to switch apps to measure.

For designers & developers

Measure UI elements, check spacing, verify alignment, and capture exact colors. PixelStick is essential for web design, app development, and graphic design work. The screen elements ruler automatically highlights and measures interface components.

Design measurement (placeholder)

For scientists & researchers

Measure anything with custom scales. Astronomers can measure distances in AU or light-years. Biologists can measure cells in micrometers. Cartographers can measure map features. As long as you know the scale, PixelStick can measure it.

Scientific measurement (placeholder)

Precision tools

Lock distances and angles, snap to 45° increments, use keyboard shortcuts for pixel-perfect adjustments. The loupe magnifies areas under your cursor for precise endpoint placement. Set custom baselines to measure relative angles.

Precision tools (placeholder)

Requirements

  • macOS 10.6–26, Apple Silicon & Intel
  • Screen Recording permission (for eyedropper)
  • Accessibility permission (for screen elements)

Great for

  • Measuring distances and angles on screen
  • Capturing colors from any application
  • Design and development workflows
  • Scientific and research measurements

Changelog

2.16.2

bugfix
2020-01-11
📝 Changes
  • changed the event tap code
  • macos catalina 10.15 now requires user permission for "screen recording" to allow apps like pixelstick to see the contents of the screen. now fixed
  • when building pixelstick with xcode versions 10 and above: the window is no longer transparent, so you only see pixelstick on a grey background covering the whole screen. this is now fixed.
  • if you have any issue make sure you uncheck and check the permissions for pixelstick in privacy:accessibility, privacy:input monitoring and privacy:screenrecording.
🔧 Improvements
  • changed the event tap code
  • when building pixelstick with xcode versions 10 and above: the window is no longer transparent, so you only see pixelstick on a grey background covering the whole screen. this is now fixed.
🐛 Bug Fixes
  • macos catalina 10.15 now requires user permission for "screen recording" to allow apps like pixelstick to see the contents of the screen. now fixed

Reviews

"I've used a number of different screen rulers over the years, including Free Ruler and the rulers in Art Directors Toolkit. But nothing comes close to PixelStick.

PixelStick is different. There are no rulers to block your view of the screen. Instead, PixelStick displays a measuring line. Drag the endpoints to measure the distance. To measure height and width, position the endpoints on the corners, then drag one endpoint to the opposite corner to measure the other dimension. You can lock the endpoints to constrain the length or angle, or to snap the line to the nearest 45° angle. PixelStick also displays guidelines to help you quickly measure or align objects at a glance.

Bottom Line: If you want to rule your screen, don't use a ruler, shake a PixelStick."

– Robert Ellis, Upstart Blogger

"Determining the RGB color code of individual pixels and performing pixel-precise distance measurements on-screen has never been easier – thank you for this awesome little App!"

– Alexander

PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review
PixelStick review

User Raves

"PixelStick is a tool for measuring distances, angles and colors on the screen. PhotoShop has distance, angle and color tools but they only work in PhotoShop. PixelStick works in any app and anywhere on screen anytime and costs a hundred times less."

"PixelStick is a professional measuring tool used by designers, software developers, cartographers, medical technicians, biologists, CSI technicians, manufacturing, physicists, astronomers, engineering, builders, education, photographers… anyone who needs to measure objects on the Mac."

"Anyone can use PixelStick because it's easy to use, simple and fast. Measure on Retina, regular displays and multiple monitors. Mac OS 10.6 – 13.0 or higher. Any app and between apps."

PixelStick review

Product Manuals

Product Manuals

Select your platform and app to view the complete manual in a new window.

No previous versions available for this app.