One of the most common questions we get before a first project: "How accurate is this, really?". The honest answer is: it depends. And above all, it depends on what you intend to do with the data. Here is a level-headed overview of accuracy classes in 3D indoor capture.
Accuracy is a ratio, not an absolute value
When a provider advertises "±2 mm accuracy", the honest follow-up question is: over what distance?. ±2 mm across a 10 m wall is excellent; ±2 mm between two points 200 m apart is, physically, essentially impossible.
That is why we always quote our accuracy as a ratio: ±2 cm per 10 m for our standard offering with the Matterport Pro3 LiDAR. Across a 50 m hall the cumulative deviation can therefore settle around ±10 cm — not because the sensor gets worse, but because registration errors add up across many scan stations.
Three accuracy classes, three methods
| Class | Accuracy | Method | Typical use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | ±2 cm per 10 m | Matterport Pro3 LiDAR | Walkable tour, CAD of existing buildings, dimensional survey for interior fit-out |
| Survey | ±2 mm per 10 m | Terrestrial laser scanning (Faro/Leica) | BIM as-built model, industrial halls, plant and equipment survey |
| Detail | ±0.1 mm | Handheld scanner | Restoration, archaeological documentation, bespoke fittings |
Which class do you really need?
Here is an honest assessment per use case:
- Property marketing / virtual tour: standard is more than enough. ±2 cm is not visible to the eye.
- Dimensional survey for built-in furniture / joinery: standard works for most rooms. For bespoke fittings with complex connections, add a handheld scanner for the critical spots.
- Architectural drawings of existing buildings: standard is sufficient for floor plans at 1:50 or 1:100.
- BIM as-built model for energy consultants / structural engineers: standard is enough as long as you don't need sub-centimetre tolerances.
- Industrial hall with crane / plant: here we switch to terrestrial laser scanning, because the plant geometry often needs to be documented precisely.
- Heritage preservation / restoration: hybrid — standard for the overall geometry, handheld scanner for the archaeologically relevant detail.
Why not always pick the highest class?
Higher accuracy costs disproportionately more time, and therefore money:
- Standard (Pro3): 1.5 hours for 200 m², from €499.
- Survey (terrestrial): 4–5 hours for 200 m², from around €1,800.
- Detail (handheld scanner, spot use): an additional 1–2 hours per detail area, from around €500 surcharge.
Booking terrestrial scanning for a simple estate-agent tour means paying three to four times as much — without the data being any better, visually or practically. Conversely, using standard for a crane-runway survey risks producing rework on site.
How we choose for you
For every enquiry, we clarify three things before quoting: what do you want to do with the data, who will work with it, and which downstream applications are realistic within the next 24 months? From there we recommend the appropriate accuracy class — sometimes a different one than the client had in mind.
If you're not sure which class you need: a consultation costs nothing.
Let's have a quick conversation.
We're happy to give non-binding advice on your specific use case — even if no order with us results.
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