Calculate construction offsets for pipe, road, and layout work. Enter baseline station and offset distance to get offset stake coordinates and notes.
Set offsets precisely with a total station or GPS rover.
Shop Express Tools →An offset stake is set perpendicular to the baseline at a known distance — typically 2–5 feet — so construction equipment doesn’t destroy the control point during work. The elevation at the offset equals the design elevation at the baseline. Mark the lath with the offset distance and direction (e.g., “CL 3 ft RT”).
When you’re setting grade stakes directly on a pipe centerline or road edge, the first pass of equipment destroys your control points. Offsets solve this by moving control stakes to the side — close enough to reference easily, far enough to survive construction. The offset distance is always horizontal and perpendicular to the baseline direction.
The design elevation at the offset stake remains the same as the design elevation at the centerline in flat terrain. However, if the ground slopes significantly across the offset width, you need to account for the actual ground elevation difference. For example, if the centerline elevation is 100.00 ft and the ground drops 0.5 ft over 5 ft of offset, your grade rod reading target at the offset stake changes accordingly.
| Feature | Typical Offset | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer / water pipe CL | 2–5 ft | Trenching equipment clearance |
| Road centerline | 5–10 ft | Grading equipment width |
| Road edge of pavement | 2–3 ft | Paver screed clearance |
| Building corner | 3–5 ft | Concrete formwork clearance |
| Fence line | 1–2 ft | Post driver clearance |
| Pile centerline | 2–3 ft | Drill rig footprint |
| Curb and gutter | 2 ft | Concrete paving equipment |
Record staking data with Sitemark →
Log every stake with GPS coordinates, photos, elevation, and notes. Build a complete as-staked record that protects you on inspector sign-off and disputes.
Start free trialAn offset is a measurement taken perpendicular (at 90°) from a baseline or centerline. Offsets are used when you can't set stakes directly on a feature — like a pipe centerline — so you set them a known distance to the side.
Setting stakes directly on a pipe centerline or road edge gets in the way of construction equipment. Offset stakes are set 2–5 feet to the side so crews can reference them throughout the job without losing the control point.
The elevation at an offset point is the same as the design elevation at the centerline — the offset is purely horizontal. However, if the ground is not level, you'll need to account for the actual ground elevation at the offset location.