---
title: Measuring View Dimensions
impact: MEDIUM
impactDescription: synchronous measurement, avoid unnecessary re-renders
tags: layout, measurement, onLayout, useLayoutEffect
---

## Measuring View Dimensions

Use both `useLayoutEffect` (synchronous) and `onLayout` (for updates). The sync
measurement gives you the initial size immediately; `onLayout` keeps it current
when the view changes. For non-primitive states, use a dispatch updater to
compare values and avoid unnecessary re-renders.

**Height only:**

```tsx
import { useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
import { View, LayoutChangeEvent } from 'react-native';

function MeasuredBox({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const ref = useRef<View>(null);
  const [height, setHeight] = useState<number | undefined>(undefined);

  useLayoutEffect(() => {
    // Sync measurement on mount (RN 0.82+)
    const rect = ref.current?.getBoundingClientRect();
    if (rect) setHeight(rect.height);
    // Pre-0.82: ref.current?.measure((x, y, w, h) => setHeight(h))
  }, []);

  const onLayout = (e: LayoutChangeEvent) => {
    setHeight(e.nativeEvent.layout.height);
  };

  return (
    <View ref={ref} onLayout={onLayout}>
      {children}
    </View>
  );
}
```

**Both dimensions:**

```tsx
import { useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
import { View, LayoutChangeEvent } from 'react-native';

type Size = { width: number; height: number };

function MeasuredBox({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
  const ref = useRef<View>(null);
  const [size, setSize] = useState<Size | undefined>(undefined);

  useLayoutEffect(() => {
    const rect = ref.current?.getBoundingClientRect();
    if (rect) setSize({ width: rect.width, height: rect.height });
  }, []);

  const onLayout = (e: LayoutChangeEvent) => {
    const { width, height } = e.nativeEvent.layout;
    setSize((prev) => {
      // for non-primitive states, compare values before firing a re-render
      if (prev?.width === width && prev?.height === height) return prev;
      return { width, height };
    });
  };

  return (
    <View ref={ref} onLayout={onLayout}>
      {children}
    </View>
  );
}
```

Use functional setState to compare—don't read state directly in the callback.
