The short answer
AR indoor navigation works in two steps. First the app finds where you are, using a scanned code, a visual match against a pre-scanned map of the building, or radio beacons. Then the phone's motion tracking follows you and draws a path on the floor through the camera. A single-floor pilot using markers starts around $999, a full app around $2,999 with our AR packages, and multi-building deployments run from $30,000 to $150,000 or more. The hard part is positioning and keeping the venue data current, not drawing the arrows.
Why GPS is not enough
Satellite signals weaken and bounce inside buildings, so GPS error grows from a few metres to tens of metres, and it cannot tell floors apart. Indoor navigation needs its own way to locate the phone. Outdoor location-based AR is a different problem, covered in how GPS AR works.
Ways to find position indoors
| Method | How it works | Accuracy | Cost and upkeep |
|---|---|---|---|
| QR or image markers | User scans a sign at a known point | Exact at the marker | Cheapest. Print and place signs |
| Visual positioning | Camera view matched to a pre-scanned 3D map | Very good | Scanning effort, rescans when the venue changes |
| Bluetooth beacons | Signal strength from installed beacons | A few metres | Hardware, batteries, calibration |
| Wi-Fi positioning | Signal patterns from access points | Several metres | Uses existing network, lower accuracy |
| Ultra-wideband | Timed radio pulses between anchors and devices | Tens of centimetres | Expensive infrastructure, limited phone support |
Most practical systems combine methods: a marker or visual match gives an exact starting point, and the phone's own tracking carries on from there.
Following the user
ARKit on iPhone and ARCore on Android track the phone's movement by combining the camera with motion sensors. From a known starting point they follow the user accurately for a while, but small errors add up over distance. Good systems correct the drift regularly with another marker, a visual match or a beacon. Persistent anchors, such as ARCore Cloud Anchors and ARKit's saved world maps, let content stay fixed to real places between sessions. We compare the platforms in ARKit vs ARCore vs WebXR.
What has to be built
- Floor plans and a route graph. Corridors, doors, lifts, stairs and escalators as a network the app can search for the shortest path.
- A positioning layer. Markers installed or the venue scanned.
- A destination directory. Shops, gates, rooms, departments, with search.
- The AR view. Path on the floor, turn prompts, distance, arrival marker.
- A map view. A 2D fallback for when the user lowers the phone, and for devices without AR.
- Accessible routing. Step-free routes, lifts instead of stairs, audio guidance.
- A content management system. So staff can close a corridor, rename a room or move a shop without a developer.
- Analytics. Popular destinations, abandoned routes, searches with no result.
App or browser
A native app gives the best tracking and can use platform anchors and background features. Browser-based AR needs no install, which matters for one-time visitors such as hospital patients or event guests, but tracking and persistence are more limited. A common approach is a web experience started from QR signs for casual visitors and an app for staff and regulars. See WebXR in the browser and QR code AR campaigns.
Use cases
| Venue | What navigation solves |
|---|---|
| Airports and stations | Gates, lounges, transfers under time pressure |
| Hospitals | Departments and clinics, reducing missed appointments and staff interruptions |
| Malls and retail | Finding shops and products, promotions along the route |
| Universities and offices | Rooms, desks, facilities for visitors and new staff |
| Museums and attractions | Themed routes and exhibits. See AR for museums and tourism |
| Events and exhibitions | Stands and sessions in temporary layouts |
| Warehouses | Guiding pickers to locations, onboarding temporary staff |
Safety and usability
People walking while looking at a phone bump into things. Good design reduces camera time: show the next turn clearly, let users lower the phone and use vibration or audio for the turn itself. Give clear arrival confirmation. Keep battery use in mind, since AR is demanding. Provide large text and voice guidance, and respect local rules on photography in sensitive areas such as hospitals.
Privacy
Camera frames are used for positioning. Process on the device where possible, do not store images of people and state clearly what location data is collected. Venues should decide how long route data is kept and whether it is linked to an identity.
Upkeep is the hidden cost
Buildings change: shops move, corridors close for works, signage is replaced. Visual maps need rescanning when the look of an area changes a lot, beacons need batteries, and markers get covered or removed. Assign an owner on the venue side and budget for it. A system with last year's layout is worse than no system.
What it costs
| Scope | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Single-floor pilot with markers and a few destinations | From $999 |
| Full app for one building with directory and map fallback | From $2,999 for a focused scope, $15,000 to $40,000 for larger sites |
| Multi-floor, multi-building with visual positioning and management system | $30,000 to $150,000+ |
| Positioning platform licences and hardware | Separate, varies by vendor and venue size |
Cost drivers are floor area, the positioning method, the number of destinations, accessibility features, integration with existing systems such as flight or appointment data, and languages. See AR app development cost.
Running a pilot
- Choose one floor or wing with a real wayfinding problem.
- Start with printed markers at entrances and junctions.
- Test with people unfamiliar with the building.
- Measure time to destination and success rate against signs alone.
- Decide whether to scale and whether to invest in visual positioning.
Getting started
Send us a floor plan and the five destinations people ask for most. We will build a pilot at a fixed price that you can test on site. Packages are on the VR and AR offer page.
Sources: Wikipedia: Indoor positioning system · Google ARCore: Cloud Anchors · Apple: ARKit. Checked November 11, 2026.
Related: AR game development · VR and AR packages · Get a quote
Quick answers ❓
How does AR indoor navigation work without GPS?
The app finds its position from a scanned marker, a visual match against a pre-scanned map of the building or radio beacons, then uses the phone's motion tracking to follow the user and draw the route.
How accurate is AR indoor navigation?
Marker and visual positioning can be accurate to well under a metre at the fix point. Accuracy drifts as the user walks, so good systems correct position regularly.
How much does an AR indoor navigation app cost?
A single-floor pilot starts around $999 and a full app around $2,999 for a focused scope. Multi-building deployments cost $30,000 to $150,000 or more.
Do venues need to install hardware for AR navigation?
Not always. Marker-based and visual positioning need only printed signs or a scan of the venue. Beacons and ultra-wideband need installed hardware.
What maintenance does indoor AR navigation need?
Updating routes and destinations when layouts change, rescanning areas that look different, replacing beacon batteries and keeping markers visible.
Related guides
How GPS AR works → ARKit vs ARCore vs WebXR →Need indoor AR wayfinding? 🧭
We build AR navigation pilots for venues and campuses. Demo from $999.