Glossary
Back to DeedSketchMetes and bounds
Metes and bounds is a way of describing land by tracing its perimeter as a sequence of courses — each giving a direction and a distance — that start at a fixed point and travel boundary to boundary until they return to that point. "Metes" are the measured distances; "bounds" are the boundary lines and landmarks.
Also called: metes-and-bounds description · bounds description
How it works
A metes-and-bounds description starts at a defined point of beginning, then lists each boundary segment as a "call" — a bearing (direction) and a distance — walking around the parcel in order until the last call closes back on the starting point.
It is the older of the two main systems used in the United States. The other, lot-and-block, identifies a parcel by its number on a recorded subdivision plat ("Lot 7, Block 2, Sunset Acres"). Metes and bounds is used where no such plat exists — most rural, agricultural, and irregularly shaped tracts.
Why it matters
Because the boundary is written out call by call rather than drawn on a plat, a metes-and-bounds deed has to be plotted to see the actual shape, size, and location of the land. A single mistyped bearing or distance can change the parcel — which is why checking closure and acreage against the deed is part of basic due diligence.
Related terms
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