diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 736f11053..1dc9237ff 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 ### Added
 
+- Show Figma-style temporary distance measurements between selected and Option/Alt-hovered layers. (#491)
 - Add a reproducible Dev Container for web, package, CLI, and non-browser test development.
 - Add local crash recovery for unsaved and pathless documents, including MCP-created documents. (#487)
 - Add isolated visual inspection that sends bounded selection renders to the configured Vision model and returns text findings without retaining image data in Design chat history. (#232, #471)
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/index.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/index.ts
index 857dbedee..886c50847 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/index.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export {
 } from './selection'
 export { drawAutoLayoutHover } from './auto-layout-hover'
 export { drawFlashes, drawLayoutInsertIndicator, drawMarquee, drawSnapGuides } from './feedback'
+export { drawMeasurements } from './measurement'
 export { drawTextEditOverlay } from './text-edit'
 export { drawSelectionLabels } from '#core/canvas/labels/selection'
 export { drawPenOverlay, drawRemoteCursors } from '#core/canvas/pen-overlay'
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/measurement.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/measurement.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7074130c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/overlays/measurement.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+import type { Canvas } from 'canvaskit-wasm'
+
+import type { SceneGraph, SceneNode } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph'
+import { getAxisAlignedWorldBounds, getWorldMatrix } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/coordinate'
+import { computeBounds } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/geometry'
+import Matrix from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/matrix'
+import type { Rect } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/primitives'
+
+import type { SkiaRenderer } from '#core/canvas/renderer'
+import {
+  MEASUREMENT_COLOR,
+  MEASUREMENT_PILL_HEIGHT,
+  MEASUREMENT_PILL_PADDING_X,
+  MEASUREMENT_PILL_RADIUS,
+  MEASUREMENT_TEXT_BASELINE
+} from '#core/constants'
+
+export interface MeasurementSegment {
+  axis: 'x' | 'y'
+  from: number
+  to: number
+  cross: number
+  value: number
+}
+
+function center(start: number, size: number) {
+  return start + size / 2
+}
+
+function overlapCenter(startA: number, endA: number, startB: number, endB: number) {
+  return (Math.max(startA, startB) + Math.min(endA, endB)) / 2
+}
+
+function horizontalCross(from: Rect, to: Rect) {
+  const fromBottom = from.y + from.height
+  const toBottom = to.y + to.height
+  if (fromBottom < to.y) return fromBottom
+  if (toBottom < from.y) return from.y
+  return overlapCenter(from.y, fromBottom, to.y, toBottom)
+}
+
+function verticalCross(from: Rect, to: Rect) {
+  const fromRight = from.x + from.width
+  const toRight = to.x + to.width
+  if (fromRight < to.x) return to.x
+  if (toRight < from.x) return toRight
+  return overlapCenter(from.x, fromRight, to.x, toRight)
+}
+
+export function computeMeasurementSegments(from: Rect, to: Rect): MeasurementSegment[] {
+  const segments: MeasurementSegment[] = []
+  const fromRight = from.x + from.width
+  const toRight = to.x + to.width
+  const fromBottom = from.y + from.height
+  const toBottom = to.y + to.height
+
+  const fromInsideTo =
+    from.x >= to.x && fromRight <= toRight && from.y >= to.y && fromBottom <= toBottom
+  const toInsideFrom =
+    to.x >= from.x && toRight <= fromRight && to.y >= from.y && toBottom <= fromBottom
+
+  if (fromInsideTo) {
+    segments.push(
+      {
+        axis: 'x',
+        from: to.x,
+        to: from.x,
+        cross: center(from.y, from.height),
+        value: from.x - to.x
+      },
+      {
+        axis: 'x',
+        from: fromRight,
+        to: toRight,
+        cross: center(from.y, from.height),
+        value: toRight - fromRight
+      },
+      {
+        axis: 'y',
+        from: to.y,
+        to: from.y,
+        cross: center(from.x, from.width),
+        value: from.y - to.y
+      },
+      {
+        axis: 'y',
+        from: fromBottom,
+        to: toBottom,
+        cross: center(from.x, from.width),
+        value: toBottom - fromBottom
+      }
+    )
+    return segments.filter((segment) => segment.value > 0)
+  }
+
+  if (toInsideFrom) {
+    return computeMeasurementSegments(to, from)
+  }
+
+  if (fromRight <= to.x) {
+    segments.push({
+      axis: 'x',
+      from: fromRight,
+      to: to.x,
+      cross: horizontalCross(from, to),
+      value: to.x - fromRight
+    })
+  } else if (toRight <= from.x) {
+    segments.push({
+      axis: 'x',
+      from: toRight,
+      to: from.x,
+      cross: horizontalCross(from, to),
+      value: from.x - toRight
+    })
+  }
+
+  if (fromBottom <= to.y) {
+    segments.push({
+      axis: 'y',
+      from: fromBottom,
+      to: to.y,
+      cross: verticalCross(from, to),
+      value: to.y - fromBottom
+    })
+  } else if (toBottom <= from.y) {
+    segments.push({
+      axis: 'y',
+      from: toBottom,
+      to: from.y,
+      cross: verticalCross(from, to),
+      value: from.y - toBottom
+    })
+  }
+
+  return segments.filter((segment) => segment.value > 0 && Number.isFinite(segment.cross))
+}
+
+function selectedBounds(graph: SceneGraph, selectedIds: Set<string>): Rect | null {
+  const nodes: SceneNode[] = []
+  for (const id of selectedIds) {
+    const node = graph.getNode(id)
+    if (node) nodes.push(node)
+  }
+  if (nodes.length === 0) return null
+  return computeBounds(nodes.map((node) => getAxisAlignedWorldBounds(node, graph)))
+}
+
+function textWidth(r: SkiaRenderer, text: string): number {
+  const font = r.sizeFont
+  if (!font) return 0
+  const widths = font.getGlyphWidths(font.getGlyphIDs(text))
+  let width = 0
+  for (const glyphWidth of widths) width += glyphWidth
+  return width
+}
+
+function drawPill(r: SkiaRenderer, canvas: Canvas, text: string, x: number, y: number) {
+  const font = r.sizeFont
+  if (!font) return
+  const width = textWidth(r, text) + MEASUREMENT_PILL_PADDING_X * 2
+  const rect = r.ck.RRectXY(
+    r.ck.LTRBRect(
+      x - width / 2,
+      y - MEASUREMENT_PILL_HEIGHT / 2,
+      x + width / 2,
+      y + MEASUREMENT_PILL_HEIGHT / 2
+    ),
+    MEASUREMENT_PILL_RADIUS,
+    MEASUREMENT_PILL_RADIUS
+  )
+  r.auxFill.setColor(r.ck.Color4f(MEASUREMENT_COLOR.r, MEASUREMENT_COLOR.g, MEASUREMENT_COLOR.b, 1))
+  canvas.drawRRect(rect, r.auxFill)
+  r.auxFill.setColor(r.ck.WHITE)
+  canvas.drawText(
+    text,
+    x - width / 2 + MEASUREMENT_PILL_PADDING_X,
+    y + MEASUREMENT_TEXT_BASELINE,
+    r.auxFill,
+    font
+  )
+}
+
+function drawTargetOutline(r: SkiaRenderer, canvas: Canvas, graph: SceneGraph, target: SceneNode) {
+  const world = getWorldMatrix(target, graph)
+  const view = Matrix.multiply(Matrix.translated(r.panX, r.panY), Matrix.scaled(r.zoom, r.zoom))
+  const points = Matrix.mapPoints(Matrix.multiply(view, world), [
+    0,
+    0,
+    target.width,
+    0,
+    target.width,
+    target.height,
+    0,
+    target.height
+  ])
+  const path = new r.ck.Path()
+  path.moveTo(points[0], points[1])
+  path.lineTo(points[2], points[3])
+  path.lineTo(points[4], points[5])
+  path.lineTo(points[6], points[7])
+  path.close()
+  canvas.drawPath(path, r.auxStroke)
+  path.delete()
+}
+
+export function drawMeasurements(
+  r: SkiaRenderer,
+  canvas: Canvas,
+  graph: SceneGraph,
+  selectedIds: Set<string>,
+  targetId?: string | null
+): void {
+  if (!targetId || selectedIds.size === 0 || selectedIds.has(targetId)) return
+  const target = graph.getNode(targetId)
+  const from = selectedBounds(graph, selectedIds)
+  if (!target || !from) return
+  const to = getAxisAlignedWorldBounds(target, graph)
+  const segments = computeMeasurementSegments(from, to)
+
+  r.auxStroke.setStrokeWidth(1)
+  r.auxStroke.setColor(
+    r.ck.Color4f(MEASUREMENT_COLOR.r, MEASUREMENT_COLOR.g, MEASUREMENT_COLOR.b, 1)
+  )
+  r.auxStroke.setPathEffect(null)
+
+  drawTargetOutline(r, canvas, graph, target)
+  if (segments.length === 0) return
+
+  for (const segment of segments) {
+    if (segment.axis === 'x') {
+      const x1 = segment.from * r.zoom + r.panX
+      const x2 = segment.to * r.zoom + r.panX
+      const y = segment.cross * r.zoom + r.panY
+      canvas.drawLine(x1, y, x2, y, r.auxStroke)
+      drawPill(r, canvas, String(Math.round(segment.value)), center(x1, x2 - x1), y)
+    } else {
+      const x = segment.cross * r.zoom + r.panX
+      const y1 = segment.from * r.zoom + r.panY
+      const y2 = segment.to * r.zoom + r.panY
+      canvas.drawLine(x, y1, x, y2, r.auxStroke)
+      drawPill(r, canvas, String(Math.round(segment.value)), x, center(y1, y2 - y1))
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer.ts
index 4dcd5be40..1f855905e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import { initializeRendererPaints } from './renderer/paints'
 import * as RenderPipeline from './renderer/pipeline'
 import * as RendererState from './renderer/state'
 import * as RenderText from './text'
-export type { RenderOverlays, RulerTheme } from './renderer/types'
+export type { MeasurementMode, RenderOverlays, RulerTheme } from './renderer/types'
 import type {
   Image as CKImage,
   Path,
@@ -199,6 +199,12 @@ export class SkiaRenderer {
     graph: SceneGraph,
     hoveredNodeId?: string | null
   ) => void
+  declare drawMeasurements: (
+    canvas: Canvas,
+    graph: SceneGraph,
+    selectedIds: Set<string>,
+    targetId?: string | null
+  ) => void
   declare drawEnteredContainer: (
     canvas: Canvas,
     graph: SceneGraph,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/methods.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/methods.ts
index ddd7eaed0..b6d8b2a4e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/methods.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/methods.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,15 @@ const rendererMethods: ThisType<SkiaRenderer> = {
     Overlays.drawHoverHighlight(this, canvas, graph, hoveredNodeId)
   },
 
+  drawMeasurements(
+    canvas: Canvas,
+    graph: SceneGraph,
+    selectedIds: Set<string>,
+    targetId?: string | null
+  ): void {
+    Overlays.drawMeasurements(this, canvas, graph, selectedIds, targetId)
+  },
+
   drawEnteredContainer(
     canvas: Canvas,
     graph: SceneGraph,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/pipeline.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/pipeline.ts
index 29b8a039a..4de7d2439 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/pipeline.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ export function renderFromEditorState(
     state.selectedIds,
     {
       hoveredNodeId: state.hoveredNodeId,
+      measurementMode: state.measurementMode,
       enteredContainerId: state.enteredContainerId,
       editingTextId: state.editingTextId,
       textEditor: textEditor as RenderOverlays['textEditor'],
@@ -130,6 +131,36 @@ function measure<T>(fn: () => T): { value: T; duration: number } {
   return { value, duration: now() - start }
 }
 
+function measurementVisible(overlays: RenderOverlays): boolean {
+  return (
+    overlays.measurementMode !== undefined &&
+    overlays.measurementMode !== 'off' &&
+    !overlays.editingTextId &&
+    !overlays.nodeEditState &&
+    !overlays.penState
+  )
+}
+
+function drawInteractiveOverlays(
+  r: SkiaRenderer,
+  canvas: Canvas,
+  graph: SceneGraph,
+  selectedIds: Set<string>,
+  overlays: RenderOverlays
+) {
+  const measuring = measurementVisible(overlays)
+  const hoveredNodeId =
+    measuring || overlays.hoveredNodeId === overlays.nodeEditState?.nodeId
+      ? null
+      : overlays.hoveredNodeId
+  r.drawHoverHighlight(canvas, graph, hoveredNodeId)
+  r.drawEnteredContainer(canvas, graph, overlays.enteredContainerId)
+  r.profiler.beginPhase('render:selection')
+  r.drawSelection(canvas, graph, selectedIds, overlays)
+  if (measuring) r.drawMeasurements(canvas, graph, selectedIds, overlays.hoveredNodeId)
+  r.profiler.endPhase('render:selection')
+}
+
 export function render(
   r: SkiaRenderer,
   graph: SceneGraph,
@@ -221,21 +252,15 @@ export function render(
     canvas.save()
     canvas.scale(r.dpr, r.dpr)
 
-    r.drawHoverHighlight(
-      canvas,
-      graph,
-      overlays.hoveredNodeId === overlays.nodeEditState?.nodeId ? null : overlays.hoveredNodeId
-    )
-    r.drawEnteredContainer(canvas, graph, overlays.enteredContainerId)
-    p.beginPhase('render:selection')
-    r.drawSelection(canvas, graph, selectedIds, overlays)
-    p.endPhase('render:selection')
+    drawInteractiveOverlays(r, canvas, graph, selectedIds, overlays)
     r.drawFlashes(canvas, graph)
     drawPageGuides(r, canvas, graph)
     r.drawSnapGuides(canvas, overlays.snapGuides)
     r.drawMarquee(canvas, overlays.marquee)
     r.drawLayoutInsertIndicator(canvas, overlays.layoutInsertIndicator)
-    r.drawAutoLayoutHover(canvas, graph, overlays.autoLayoutHover)
+    if (!measurementVisible(overlays)) {
+      r.drawAutoLayoutHover(canvas, graph, overlays.autoLayoutHover)
+    }
     r.drawNodeEditOverlay(canvas, graph, overlays.nodeEditState)
     r.drawPenOverlay(canvas, overlays.penState)
     r.drawRemoteCursors(canvas, graph, overlays.remoteCursors)
diff --git a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/types.ts b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/types.ts
index 49e7bff4e..a2d94e19a 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/canvas/renderer/types.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,11 @@ export interface RulerTheme {
   label: Color
 }
 
+export type MeasurementMode = 'off' | 'shallow' | 'deep'
+
 export interface RenderOverlays {
   hoveredNodeId?: string | null
+  measurementMode?: MeasurementMode
   enteredContainerId?: string | null
   editingTextId?: string | null
   textEditor?: TextEditor | null
diff --git a/packages/core/src/constants.ts b/packages/core/src/constants.ts
index 97afdd2c7..fb3d4ab68 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/constants.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/constants.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ export const DEFAULT_SHADOW_COLOR: Color = { r: 0, g: 0, b: 0, a: 0.25 }
 export const SELECTION_COLOR = { r: 0.23, g: 0.51, b: 0.96, a: 1 } satisfies Color
 export const COMPONENT_COLOR = { r: 0.592, g: 0.278, b: 1, a: 1 } satisfies Color
 export const SNAP_COLOR = { r: 1.0, g: 0.0, b: 0.56, a: 1 } satisfies Color
+export const MEASUREMENT_COLOR = { r: 0.949, g: 0.282, b: 0.133, a: 1 } satisfies Color
+export const MEASUREMENT_PILL_PADDING_X = 5
+export const MEASUREMENT_PILL_HEIGHT = 18
+export const MEASUREMENT_PILL_RADIUS = 3
+export const MEASUREMENT_TEXT_BASELINE = 4
 export const CANVAS_BG_COLOR = { r: 0.96, g: 0.96, b: 0.96, a: 1 } satisfies Color
 export const CANVAS_BG_COLOR_DARK = { r: 0.173, g: 0.173, b: 0.173, a: 1 } satisfies Color // #2c2c2c, Figma-ish dark canvas
 
diff --git a/packages/core/src/editor/create.ts b/packages/core/src/editor/create.ts
index 97a3a67ea..99e0e1649 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/editor/create.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/editor/create.ts
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ export function createEditor(options?: EditorOptions) {
   function setSelectedIds(ids: Set<string>) {
     const previous = [...state.selectedIds]
     state.selectedIds = ids
+    if (ids.size === 0) state.measurementMode = 'off'
     const selected = [...ids]
     if (
       previous.length !== selected.length ||
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ export function createEditor(options?: EditorOptions) {
   function setActiveTool(tool: EditorState['activeTool']) {
     const previous = state.activeTool
     state.activeTool = tool
+    if (tool !== 'SELECT') state.measurementMode = 'off'
     if (previous !== tool) emitEditorEvent('tool:changed', tool, previous)
   }
 
@@ -203,6 +205,7 @@ export function createEditor(options?: EditorOptions) {
     state.currentPageId = _graph.getPages()[0]?.id ?? _graph.rootId
     setSelectedIds(new Set())
     state.hoveredNodeId = null
+    state.measurementMode = 'off'
     pages.clearPageViewports()
     emitEditorEvent('graph:replaced', _graph)
     if (previousPageId !== state.currentPageId) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/editor/selection/overlays.ts b/packages/core/src/editor/selection/overlays.ts
index c28a7a0f6..b078fe718 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/editor/selection/overlays.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/editor/selection/overlays.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,12 @@ export function createSelectionOverlayActions(ctx: EditorContext) {
     ctx.requestRepaint()
   }
 
+  function setMeasurementMode(mode: typeof ctx.state.measurementMode) {
+    if (ctx.state.measurementMode === mode) return
+    ctx.state.measurementMode = mode
+    ctx.requestRepaint()
+  }
+
   function setDropTarget(id: string | null) {
     if (ctx.state.dropTargetId === id) return
     ctx.state.dropTargetId = id
@@ -56,6 +62,7 @@ export function createSelectionOverlayActions(ctx: EditorContext) {
     setSnapGuides,
     setRotationPreview,
     setHoveredNode,
+    setMeasurementMode,
     setDropTarget,
     setLayoutInsertIndicator,
     setAutoLayoutHover
diff --git a/packages/core/src/editor/state.ts b/packages/core/src/editor/state.ts
index 6ee8c1b4b..cb1457db6 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/editor/state.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/editor/state.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export function createDefaultEditorState(pageId: string): EditorState {
     dropTargetId: null,
     layoutInsertIndicator: null,
     hoveredNodeId: null,
+    measurementMode: 'off',
     editingTextId: null,
     penState: null,
     penCursorX: null,
diff --git a/packages/core/src/editor/types.ts b/packages/core/src/editor/types.ts
index 3d39b9cf5..d3d78d0d7 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/editor/types.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/editor/types.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import type { SnapGuide } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/snap'
 import type { UndoManager } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/undo'
 
 import type { RulerTheme, SkiaRenderer } from '#core/canvas/renderer'
-import type { RenderOverlays } from '#core/canvas/renderer/types'
+import type { MeasurementMode, RenderOverlays } from '#core/canvas/renderer/types'
 import type { TextEditor } from '#core/text/editor'
 import type { FontResolutionEvent, FontResolutionSnapshot } from '#core/text/resolver'
 
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ export interface EditorState {
     direction: 'HORIZONTAL' | 'VERTICAL'
   } | null
   hoveredNodeId: string | null
+  measurementMode: MeasurementMode
   editingTextId: string | null
   penState: {
     vertices: VectorVertex[]
diff --git a/packages/scene-graph/src/coordinate.ts b/packages/scene-graph/src/coordinate.ts
index 559bda1b4..b9896212c 100644
--- a/packages/scene-graph/src/coordinate.ts
+++ b/packages/scene-graph/src/coordinate.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,27 @@ export function getWorldMatrix(node: SceneNode, graph: SceneGraph): Mat3 {
   return matrix
 }
 
+export function getAxisAlignedWorldBounds(node: SceneNode, graph: SceneGraph) {
+  const matrix = getWorldMatrix(node, graph)
+  const points = Matrix.mapPoints(matrix, [
+    0,
+    0,
+    node.width,
+    0,
+    node.width,
+    node.height,
+    0,
+    node.height
+  ])
+  const xs = [points[0], points[2], points[4], points[6]]
+  const ys = [points[1], points[3], points[5], points[7]]
+  const minX = Math.min(...xs)
+  const maxX = Math.max(...xs)
+  const minY = Math.min(...ys)
+  const maxY = Math.max(...ys)
+  return { x: minX, y: minY, width: maxX - minX, height: maxY - minY }
+}
+
 export function getAbsolutePosition(node: SceneNode, graph: SceneGraph): Vector {
   const matrix = getWorldMatrix(node, graph)
   const p = Matrix.mapPoints(matrix, [0, 0])
diff --git a/packages/vue/src/canvas/useCanvasInput.ts b/packages/vue/src/canvas/useCanvasInput.ts
index 3ce362349..23fe0f75b 100644
--- a/packages/vue/src/canvas/useCanvasInput.ts
+++ b/packages/vue/src/canvas/useCanvasInput.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useEventListener } from '@vueuse/core'
-import { ref, type Ref } from 'vue'
+import { onScopeDispose, ref, type Ref } from 'vue'
 
 import type { Editor } from '@open-pencil/core/editor'
 import type { SceneNode } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph'
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
     previous: number
   } | null>(null)
   const selectedIdsBeforeClickSequence = ref<ReadonlySet<string>>(new Set())
+  const lastPointer = ref<{ cx: number; cy: number } | null>(null)
+  const pointerInside = ref(false)
+  let altHeld = false
+  let metaHeld = false
+  let controlHeld = false
   const spaceHeld = useSpaceHeld()
   const { recordClick, getClickCount } = createClickCounter()
 
@@ -60,7 +65,54 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
     hitTestFrameTitle
   )
 
+  function canMeasure() {
+    return (
+      pointerInside.value &&
+      !drag.value &&
+      editor.state.activeTool === 'SELECT' &&
+      editor.state.selectedIds.size > 0 &&
+      !editor.state.editingTextId &&
+      !editor.state.nodeEditState &&
+      !editor.state.penState
+    )
+  }
+
+  function refreshMeasurement() {
+    const mode = altHeld && canMeasure() ? (metaHeld || controlHeld ? 'deep' : 'shallow') : 'off'
+    editor.setMeasurementMode(mode)
+    const pointer = lastPointer.value
+    if (!pointer || drag.value || editor.state.activeTool !== 'SELECT' || !pointerInside.value)
+      return
+    cursorOverride.value = updateHoverCursor(
+      pointer.cx,
+      pointer.cy,
+      editor,
+      hitFns,
+      mode === 'deep'
+    )
+    editor.setAutoLayoutHover(
+      mode === 'off' ? resolveAutoLayoutHover(pointer.cx, pointer.cy, editor) : null
+    )
+  }
+
+  function updateModifier(code: string, held: boolean) {
+    if (code === 'AltLeft' || code === 'AltRight') altHeld = held
+    if (code === 'MetaLeft' || code === 'MetaRight') metaHeld = held
+    if (code === 'ControlLeft' || code === 'ControlRight') controlHeld = held
+    if (code.startsWith('Alt') || code.startsWith('Meta') || code.startsWith('Control')) {
+      refreshMeasurement()
+    }
+  }
+
+  function resetMeasurementModifiers() {
+    altHeld = false
+    metaHeld = false
+    controlHeld = false
+    editor.setMeasurementMode('off')
+  }
+
   function setDrag(d: DragState) {
+    editor.setMeasurementMode('off')
     drag.value = d
   }
 
@@ -148,6 +200,7 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
   }
 
   function onMouseDown(e: MouseEvent) {
+    editor.setMeasurementMode('off')
     const paddingEdit = autoLayoutPaddingEdit.value
     if (paddingEdit) {
       commitAutoLayoutPaddingEdit(paddingEdit.value)
@@ -175,25 +228,35 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
   }
 
   function onMouseMove(e: MouseEvent) {
+    pointerInside.value = true
+    const coords = getCoords(e)
+    lastPointer.value = { cx: coords.cx, cy: coords.cy }
     if (onCursorMove) {
-      const { cx, cy } = getCoords(e)
-      onCursorMove(cx, cy)
+      onCursorMove(coords.cx, coords.cy)
     }
 
     if (!drag.value) {
-      const { cx, cy } = getCoords(e)
+      const { cx, cy } = coords
       updatePenHover(cx, cy, editor)
     }
 
     if (!drag.value) {
-      const { cx, cy } = getCoords(e)
+      const { cx, cy } = coords
       updateNodeEditHover(editor, cx, cy)
     }
 
     if (!drag.value && editor.state.activeTool === 'SELECT') {
-      const { cx, cy } = getCoords(e)
-      cursorOverride.value = updateHoverCursor(cx, cy, editor, hitFns)
-      editor.setAutoLayoutHover(resolveAutoLayoutHover(cx, cy, editor))
+      const { cx, cy } = coords
+      cursorOverride.value = updateHoverCursor(
+        cx,
+        cy,
+        editor,
+        hitFns,
+        editor.state.measurementMode === 'deep'
+      )
+      editor.setAutoLayoutHover(
+        editor.state.measurementMode === 'off' ? resolveAutoLayoutHover(cx, cy, editor) : null
+      )
     }
 
     if (!drag.value) return
@@ -280,13 +343,19 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
 
     drag.value = null
     cursorOverride.value = null
+    refreshMeasurement()
   }
 
   useEventListener(canvasRef, 'dblclick', onDblClick)
   useEventListener(canvasRef, 'mousedown', onMouseDown)
   useEventListener(canvasRef, 'mousemove', onMouseMove)
   useEventListener(canvasRef, 'mouseup', onMouseUp)
+  useEventListener(window, 'keydown', (event) => updateModifier(event.code, true))
+  useEventListener(window, 'keyup', (event) => updateModifier(event.code, false))
+  useEventListener(window, 'blur', resetMeasurementModifiers)
   useEventListener(canvasRef, 'mouseleave', () => {
+    pointerInside.value = false
+    editor.setMeasurementMode('off')
     if (!drag.value) {
       editor.setHoveredNode(null)
     }
@@ -295,6 +364,11 @@ export function useCanvasInput(
     if (drag.value) onMouseUp()
   })
 
+  const stopToolListener = editor.onEditorEvent('tool:changed', () => {
+    editor.setMeasurementMode('off')
+  })
+  onScopeDispose(stopToolListener)
+
   setupPanZoom(canvasRef, editor, drag, onMouseDown, onMouseMove, onMouseUp)
   return {
     drag,
diff --git a/packages/vue/src/shared/input/select/hover.ts b/packages/vue/src/shared/input/select/hover.ts
index f8d4026b1..6c6f9beb4 100644
--- a/packages/vue/src/shared/input/select/hover.ts
+++ b/packages/vue/src/shared/input/select/hover.ts
@@ -45,12 +45,14 @@ function updateHoveredNode(
   cx: number,
   cy: number,
   editor: Editor,
-  fns: Pick<HitTestFns, 'hitTestInScope' | 'hitTestSectionTitle' | 'hitTestComponentLabel'>
+  fns: Pick<HitTestFns, 'hitTestInScope' | 'hitTestSectionTitle' | 'hitTestComponentLabel'>,
+  deep: boolean
 ) {
-  const hit =
-    fns.hitTestSectionTitle(cx, cy) ??
-    fns.hitTestComponentLabel(cx, cy) ??
-    fns.hitTestInScope(cx, cy, false)
+  const hit = deep
+    ? fns.hitTestInScope(cx, cy, true)
+    : (fns.hitTestSectionTitle(cx, cy) ??
+      fns.hitTestComponentLabel(cx, cy) ??
+      fns.hitTestInScope(cx, cy, false))
   const editNodeId = getNodeEditState(editor)?.nodeId
   editor.setHoveredNode(
     hit && !editor.state.selectedIds.has(hit.id) && hit.id !== editNodeId ? hit.id : null
@@ -61,7 +63,8 @@ export function updateHoverCursor(
   cx: number,
   cy: number,
   editor: Editor,
-  fns: Pick<HitTestFns, 'hitTestInScope' | 'hitTestSectionTitle' | 'hitTestComponentLabel'>
+  fns: Pick<HitTestFns, 'hitTestInScope' | 'hitTestSectionTitle' | 'hitTestComponentLabel'>,
+  deep = false
 ): string | null {
   if (getNodeEditState(editor)) {
     editor.setHoveredNode(null)
@@ -70,6 +73,6 @@ export function updateHoverCursor(
 
   const cursor =
     getResizeCursorForSelection(cx, cy, editor) ?? getRotationCursorForSelection(cx, cy, editor)
-  updateHoveredNode(cx, cy, editor, fns)
+  updateHoveredNode(cx, cy, editor, fns, deep)
   return cursor
 }
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..526c5dfd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+import { expect, test, useEditorSetupWithClear } from '#tests/e2e/fixtures'
+
+const editor = useEditorSetupWithClear('/?test&no-chrome&no-rulers')
+
+async function showMeasurement(targetId: string) {
+  await editor.page.evaluate((id) => {
+    const store = window.openPencil?.getStore?.()
+    if (!store) throw new Error('OpenPencil store not initialized')
+    store.state.hoveredNodeId = id
+    store.setMeasurementMode('shallow')
+    store.requestRepaint()
+  }, targetId)
+  await editor.canvas.waitForRender()
+}
+
+test('renders containment, multi-selection, rotation, and overlap edge cases', async () => {
+  const targets = await editor.page.evaluate(() => {
+    const store = window.openPencil?.getStore?.()
+    if (!store) throw new Error('OpenPencil store not initialized')
+    store.state.zoom = 1
+    store.state.panX = 0
+    store.state.panY = 0
+    const pageId = store.state.currentPageId
+    const fill = (r: number, g: number, b: number) => [
+      { type: 'SOLID' as const, color: { r, g, b, a: 1 }, visible: true, opacity: 1 }
+    ]
+
+    const container = store.graph.createNode('FRAME', pageId, {
+      x: 60,
+      y: 70,
+      width: 260,
+      height: 210,
+      fills: fill(1, 1, 1),
+      strokes: [
+        {
+          color: { r: 0.7, g: 0.7, b: 0.7, a: 1 },
+          weight: 1,
+          opacity: 1,
+          visible: true,
+          align: 'INSIDE',
+          cap: 'NONE',
+          join: 'MITER',
+          dashPattern: []
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+    const child = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', container.id, {
+      x: 40,
+      y: 50,
+      width: 90,
+      height: 60,
+      fills: fill(0.3, 0.55, 0.95)
+    })
+
+    const first = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 430,
+      y: 90,
+      width: 60,
+      height: 50,
+      fills: fill(0.3, 0.55, 0.95)
+    })
+    const second = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 500,
+      y: 160,
+      width: 60,
+      height: 50,
+      fills: fill(0.3, 0.55, 0.95)
+    })
+    const rotated = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 660,
+      y: 120,
+      width: 110,
+      height: 70,
+      rotation: 28,
+      fills: fill(0.95, 0.55, 0.2)
+    })
+
+    const overlapSelected = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 100,
+      y: 390,
+      width: 100,
+      height: 90,
+      fills: fill(0.3, 0.55, 0.95)
+    })
+    const overlapTarget = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 160,
+      y: 430,
+      width: 110,
+      height: 80,
+      fills: fill(0.95, 0.55, 0.2)
+    })
+
+    store.select([child.id])
+    store.requestRender()
+    return {
+      container: container.id,
+      first: first.id,
+      second: second.id,
+      rotated: rotated.id,
+      overlapSelected: overlapSelected.id,
+      overlapTarget: overlapTarget.id
+    }
+  })
+  await editor.canvas.waitForRender()
+
+  await showMeasurement(targets.container)
+  expect(
+    await editor.page.screenshot({ clip: { x: 40, y: 40, width: 310, height: 270 } })
+  ).toMatchSnapshot('distance-containment.png')
+
+  await editor.page.evaluate(({ first, second }) => {
+    const store = window.openPencil?.getStore?.()
+    if (!store) throw new Error('OpenPencil store not initialized')
+    store.select([first, second])
+  }, targets)
+  await showMeasurement(targets.rotated)
+  expect(
+    await editor.page.screenshot({ clip: { x: 390, y: 40, width: 430, height: 260 } })
+  ).toMatchSnapshot('distance-multi-rotation.png')
+
+  await editor.page.evaluate(
+    (id) => window.openPencil?.getStore?.().select([id]),
+    targets.overlapSelected
+  )
+  await showMeasurement(targets.overlapTarget)
+  expect(
+    await editor.page.screenshot({ clip: { x: 70, y: 350, width: 240, height: 200 } })
+  ).toMatchSnapshot('distance-overlap.png')
+})
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-containment-openpencil-darwin.png b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-containment-openpencil-darwin.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..560c5b39d
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-containment-openpencil-darwin.png differ
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-multi-rotation-openpencil-darwin.png b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-multi-rotation-openpencil-darwin.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c5eb01d5a
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-multi-rotation-openpencil-darwin.png differ
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-overlap-openpencil-darwin.png b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-overlap-openpencil-darwin.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a1701be82
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement-edge-cases.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-overlap-openpencil-darwin.png differ
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fdec1d74a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+import { expect, test, useEditorSetupWithClear } from '#tests/e2e/fixtures'
+
+const editor = useEditorSetupWithClear('/?test&no-chrome&no-rulers')
+
+test('Option hover shows temporary distances between layers', async () => {
+  await editor.page.evaluate(() => {
+    const store = window.openPencil?.getStore?.()
+    if (!store) throw new Error('OpenPencil store not initialized')
+    store.state.zoom = 1
+    store.state.panX = 0
+    store.state.panY = 0
+    const pageId = store.state.currentPageId
+    const selected = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      name: 'Selected',
+      x: 120,
+      y: 140,
+      width: 100,
+      height: 80,
+      fills: [
+        { type: 'SOLID', color: { r: 0.25, g: 0.52, b: 0.96, a: 1 }, visible: true, opacity: 1 }
+      ]
+    })
+    store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      name: 'Target',
+      x: 300,
+      y: 290,
+      width: 120,
+      height: 90,
+      fills: [
+        { type: 'SOLID', color: { r: 0.95, g: 0.55, b: 0.2, a: 1 }, visible: true, opacity: 1 }
+      ]
+    })
+    store.select([selected.id])
+    store.requestRender()
+  })
+  await editor.canvas.waitForRender()
+
+  await editor.canvas.hover(340, 330)
+  await editor.page.keyboard.down('Alt')
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => editor.page.evaluate(() => window.openPencil?.getStore?.().state.measurementMode))
+    .toBe('shallow')
+  await editor.canvas.waitForRender()
+
+  expect(
+    await editor.page.screenshot({
+      clip: { x: 80, y: 90, width: 390, height: 340 }
+    })
+  ).toMatchSnapshot('distance-measurement.png')
+
+  await editor.page.keyboard.up('Alt')
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => editor.page.evaluate(() => window.openPencil?.getStore?.().state.measurementMode))
+    .toBe('off')
+})
+
+test('deep measurement modifier targets a nested component child', async () => {
+  const ids = await editor.page.evaluate(() => {
+    const store = window.openPencil?.getStore?.()
+    if (!store) throw new Error('OpenPencil store not initialized')
+    store.state.zoom = 1
+    store.state.panX = 0
+    store.state.panY = 0
+    const pageId = store.state.currentPageId
+    const selected = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', pageId, {
+      x: 100,
+      y: 100,
+      width: 50,
+      height: 50
+    })
+    const component = store.graph.createNode('COMPONENT', pageId, {
+      x: 250,
+      y: 100,
+      width: 200,
+      height: 160,
+      fills: [{ type: 'SOLID', color: { r: 1, g: 1, b: 1, a: 1 }, visible: true, opacity: 1 }]
+    })
+    const child = store.graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', component.id, {
+      x: 30,
+      y: 30,
+      width: 80,
+      height: 60
+    })
+    store.select([selected.id])
+    store.requestRender()
+    return { componentId: component.id, childId: child.id }
+  })
+  await editor.canvas.waitForRender()
+  await editor.canvas.hover(300, 150)
+
+  await editor.page.keyboard.down('Alt')
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => editor.page.evaluate(() => window.openPencil?.getStore?.().state.hoveredNodeId))
+    .toBe(ids.componentId)
+  await editor.page.keyboard.down('Control')
+  await expect
+    .poll(() => editor.page.evaluate(() => window.openPencil?.getStore?.().state.hoveredNodeId))
+    .toBe(ids.childId)
+
+  await editor.page.keyboard.up('Control')
+  await editor.page.keyboard.up('Alt')
+})
diff --git a/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-measurement-openpencil-darwin.png b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-measurement-openpencil-darwin.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd7a7bfbe
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/e2e/canvas/distance-measurement.spec.ts-snapshots/distance-measurement-openpencil-darwin.png differ
diff --git a/tests/engine/render/canvas/measurement.test.ts b/tests/engine/render/canvas/measurement.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..39f0c9d12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/engine/render/canvas/measurement.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test'
+
+import { computeMeasurementSegments } from '#core/canvas/overlays/measurement'
+
+const rect = (x: number, y: number, width = 20, height = 20) => ({ x, y, width, height })
+
+describe('distance measurement geometry', () => {
+  test('measures horizontal and vertical gaps between separated bounds', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0, 0), rect(30, 40))).toEqual([
+      { axis: 'x', from: 20, to: 30, cross: 20, value: 10 },
+      { axis: 'y', from: 20, to: 40, cross: 30, value: 20 }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  test('anchors diagonal guides to the nearest corners', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(120, 140, 100, 80), rect(300, 290, 120, 90))).toEqual([
+      { axis: 'x', from: 220, to: 300, cross: 220, value: 80 },
+      { axis: 'y', from: 220, to: 290, cross: 300, value: 70 }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  test('measures from facing edges in either direction', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(40, 50), rect(0, 10))).toEqual([
+      { axis: 'x', from: 20, to: 40, cross: 50, value: 20 },
+      { axis: 'y', from: 30, to: 50, cross: 20, value: 20 }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  test('only measures the separated axis when bounds overlap', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0, 0), rect(30, 10))).toEqual([
+      { axis: 'x', from: 20, to: 30, cross: 15, value: 10 }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  test('measures all four edges for a child inside a container', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(20, 30, 40, 50), rect(0, 0, 100, 120))).toEqual([
+      { axis: 'x', from: 0, to: 20, cross: 55, value: 20 },
+      { axis: 'x', from: 60, to: 100, cross: 55, value: 40 },
+      { axis: 'y', from: 0, to: 30, cross: 40, value: 30 },
+      { axis: 'y', from: 80, to: 120, cross: 40, value: 40 }
+    ])
+  })
+
+  test('does not measure overlap on either axis', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0, 0, 40, 40), rect(20, 20, 40, 40))).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  test('preserves fractional geometry for display rounding', () => {
+    const [segment] = computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0.2, 0, 10.1, 10), rect(20.8, 0, 10, 10))
+    expect(segment).toMatchObject({ axis: 'x', to: 20.8, cross: 5 })
+    expect(segment?.from).toBeCloseTo(10.3)
+    expect(segment?.value).toBeCloseTo(10.5)
+  })
+
+  test('omits zero gaps for touching and identical bounds', () => {
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0, 0), rect(20, 0))).toEqual([])
+    expect(computeMeasurementSegments(rect(0, 0), rect(0, 0))).toEqual([])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/engine/scene-graph/world-bounds.test.ts b/tests/engine/scene-graph/world-bounds.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e6439b033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/engine/scene-graph/world-bounds.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test'
+
+import { SceneGraph } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph'
+import { getAxisAlignedWorldBounds } from '@open-pencil/scene-graph/coordinate'
+
+describe('axis-aligned world bounds', () => {
+  test('includes a node own rotation', () => {
+    const graph = new SceneGraph()
+    const page = graph.getPages()[0]
+    const node = graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', page.id, {
+      x: 100,
+      y: 100,
+      width: 100,
+      height: 50,
+      rotation: 90
+    })
+
+    expect(getAxisAlignedWorldBounds(node, graph)).toEqual({
+      x: 125,
+      y: 75,
+      width: 50,
+      height: 100
+    })
+  })
+
+  test('includes transformed ancestors', () => {
+    const graph = new SceneGraph()
+    const page = graph.getPages()[0]
+    const frame = graph.createNode('FRAME', page.id, {
+      x: 100,
+      y: 100,
+      width: 200,
+      height: 200,
+      rotation: 90
+    })
+    const child = graph.createNode('RECTANGLE', frame.id, {
+      x: 20,
+      y: 30,
+      width: 40,
+      height: 20
+    })
+
+    expect(getAxisAlignedWorldBounds(child, graph)).toEqual({
+      x: 250,
+      y: 120,
+      width: 20,
+      height: 40
+    })
+  })
+})