Glossary
Back to DeedSketchClosure error
Closure error is the gap between where a deed’s last call ends and the point of beginning it is supposed to return to. A description that "closes" has a gap near zero. A large gap signals a mistyped bearing or distance, a missing call, or an ambiguous description that needs a closer look.
Also called: closure · error of closure · misclosure
How it is measured
When you plot every call in order, the final point should land exactly on the point of beginning. The straight-line distance between where you actually end up and the point of beginning is the closure error, usually expressed in feet.
Surveyors also express it as "precision" — a ratio of the closure error to the total perimeter (for example, 1:10,000). Smaller error and larger ratios mean the calls are more internally consistent.
Why it matters
A near-zero closure means the calls are internally consistent — it does not prove the parcel sits in the right place on Earth, but it does mean the description was likely transcribed correctly. A large closure error is a red flag: there may be a typo, a dropped call, a misread bearing quadrant, or a description that simply cannot be plotted as written and needs a surveyor or the recorded instrument to resolve.
Related terms
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