How Accurate Is Your GPS?
The Difference Between Consumer GPS and RTKUSA-Corrected GNSS
If you have ever used your smartphone to drop a pin or navigate to a jobsite, you have experienced GPS accuracy firsthand and also seen its limitations. Most consumer devices can get you within a few feet of your destination, but when precision matters in surveying, mapping, construction, or drone operations, a few feet might as well be a mile.
That is where RTKUSA comes in. Our nationwide network of 3,500+ U.S. base stations delivers centimeter-level accuracy anywhere in the country, transforming your survey-grade GNSS receiver into a tool you can truly rely on.
Let’s take a look at what “accuracy” really means and why RTK corrections make all the difference.
Understanding GPS Accuracy
Accuracy in positioning refers to how close your reported coordinates are to your actual location on Earth. Consumer GPS devices, such as your smartphone or car navigation system, typically provide horizontal accuracy between 3 to 10 meters (10–30 feet) under good conditions. That level of accuracy is fine for finding a restaurant, but not for setting a property boundary or grading a construction site.
In contrast, RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) systems correct for satellite signal errors in real time. When paired with a reliable correction network like RTKUSA, a GNSS receiver can achieve accuracy within 2–3 centimeters, which is roughly the width of your thumb.
[Read more: What is RTK and How Does It Work?]
Why Consumer GPS Falls Short
Smartphone GPS chips are designed for convenience, not precision. They rely on coarse satellite data and may combine inputs from Wi-Fi and cell towers to improve performance in cities, but that combination introduces error.
Factors such as ionospheric delay, satellite geometry, and multipath interference (signals bouncing off buildings or trees) all contribute to position drift. Without corrections, these errors accumulate and leave you with approximate positioning rather than true accuracy.
[Read more: Common Sources of GPS Error Explained]
RTKUSA: Accuracy That Works as Hard as You Do
At RTKUSA, we believe accuracy isn’t optional, it’s everything. Our correction service was built by users, backed by experience, and driven by disruption.
We are not a legacy provider with hidden fees or regional blind spots. RTKUSA is a next-generation RTK network that was purpose-built for modern applications such as surveying and engineering, drone mapping, agriculture, and construction automation.
Our affordable subscriptions start at $40 per month or $33 per month when billed annually, which makes professional-grade accuracy accessible to everyone.
[Read more: RTKUSA Coverage Map – 3,500+ Base Stations and Growing]
Putting It in Perspective
Here is a quick comparison of what to expect from different positioning systems:
SystemTypical AccuracyExample UseSmartphone GPS3–10 metersNavigation, fitness trackingSurvey-Grade GNSS (uncorrected)1–3 metersRough mapping, reconnaissanceRTKUSA-Corrected GNSS2–3 centimetersSurveying, drone mapping, precision agriculture
When the difference between “close enough” and “exactly right” matters, RTKUSA delivers.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are flying drones, staking boundaries, or grading sites, centimeter-level precision is no longer a luxury. It is the foundation of modern data. With RTKUSA corrections, you get reliable accuracy anywhere in the United States at a fraction of the cost of traditional providers.
RTKUSA: Get RTK that works as hard as you do.
