The tape measure tells you this, so no math is required. The tape measure has a sliding lock to hold the blade extended when in use, and we found it very easy to slide with just one thumb. A 16ft tape measure, for example, will have sixteen one-foot marks along its length and 192 one-inch marks (12 inches per foot). Perhaps you're interested in how particular trades use their tools? To learn how to estimate inches using your thumb, scroll down! There's no need to break your budget for a tape measure if you just need a basic tool for taking measurements around the house. The line you trace onto the paper should be the exact same length as the edge you want to measure. . ", He adds, "For most people, a 25-foot option is great because its easy to store and long enough to handle most measuring tasks around the house. We measure our height in feet and inches, our weight in stones and pounds and our speed in miles per hour. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. In response to our customers, therefore, weve put together this simple guide that explains just that! wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. WISEUP Magnetic Tape Measure 25 Ft Metric and Inches Fractions 2 Pack Bulk,Easy to Read,Measuring Tape with Belt Clip for Surveyors,Engineers,Household,Carpentry,Construction. 7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Measure-in-Inches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Measure-in-Inches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ee\/Measure-in-Inches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Measure-in-Inches-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":" \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Our team of testers put the tape measures through their paces, scoring the tools on several aspects of performance. The 1-1/4-inch-wide blade is coated for durability, with the first 6 inches double-coated to prevent fraying, bending, or cracking. He is currently counting down the seconds until the release of Kerbal Space Program 2 in 2023a game that will almost certainly take up what little free time he has. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Measuring objects in inches might seem straightforward. I know many of you are familiar with how to read the larger parts of the tape measure, as in 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch. Metal cases are heavier but sturdier. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. On the tape measure, the inch mark is indicated by largest number in bold and black and by the longest line, the half-inch mark by the second longest line and the fraction , the quarter-inch mark by the third longest line and the fraction , and so on. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. When referring to the diagram above you'll see a series of large numbers marked 1, 2, 3, and 4. Milwaukee 25 ft. How To Read Tape Measure In Feet and Inches. So, it is a kind of flexible ruler also known as a tape measure. Not only does this keep the blade in place whilst measuring, it also guarantees an accurate measurement by compensating for the thickness of the metal hook in the measurement. Shockforce Nite Eye G2 25-ft Tape Measure. After tracing the edge, you can remove it from the paper. The most common length for a cased tape measure is 25 feet, which is long enough to measure the average rooms walls or floors, yet not so long that its unwieldy or overly heavy. Reading a tape measure is a matter of interpreting the lengths of the perpendicular marks on the blade and determining if your measurement is aligning with a 1-inch, a 1/2-inch, a 1/4-inch, a 1/16-inch, or 1/32-inch markings. Enjoy! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To convert inches to yards, divide the number of inches by 36. Picture Information. Price at time of publish: $15 for 16-foot; $18 for 25-foot, Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.875 inches | Blade Width: 1 inch | Weight: 1 pound | Autolock: Yes | Magnetic Hook: No, Measurements run horizontally on one side of blade, vertically on the other. Free shipping. If the starting edge of your tool is not marked with a 0, measure from the line thats closest to the end of your tool. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Open the app and measure height with the camera on the go. 95. Your fraction would be 3 over 16 (since 15+1 =16). The shorter, unnumbered lines in between the numbered values are fractions of an inch. Below are a few popular options with different features and benefits. Tape width slightly on the thin side at -inch wide; Get the DeWalt 100 ft. tape measure on Amazon or at Tractor Supply Co. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, haoa Tape Measure for Body Measuring, 79Inch/2Meters Retractable Measuring Tape for Body Fabric Sewing, Tailor, Knitting Cloth, Craft, Measurements Dual Sided (Square,1 Pack) (Pale Pink), haoa Tape Measure for Body Measuring, 79Inch/2Meters Retractable Measuring Tape for Body Fabric Sewing, Tailor, Knitting Cloth, Craft, Measurements Dual Sided (Square,1 Pack)(White), haoa Tape Measure for Body Measuring, 79Inch/2Meters Retractable Measuring Tape for Body Fabric Sewing, Tailor, Knitting Cloth, Craft, Measurements Dual Sided (Square,1 Pack)(Lavender). Click the "save changes" button. Remember that the numbered values on your measuring tool correspond to whole inches. Company No: 7593069, The Tape Store - The UK's Measurement Specialist, Protimeter Psyclone Thermo Hygrometer BLD7800, Protimeter Hygromaster 2 Thermo Hygrometer with Hygrostick BLD7750, Trumeter 5505E Measuremeter (Metric/Imperial), Rotosure RCP Classique Professional (Metric), compensating for the case length on the blade. This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the home improvement/tool editor for The Spruce. Some tape measures have a magnetic hook, which is useful when measuring steel or other magnetic metal items but can potentially be a nuisance, as the magnet can attach itself to various nearby metal items other than what you want to measure. If there is no ruler in hand, you can use to measure the easily dimension. When looking at the image above, the 1st small mark after the 4cm point denotes a measurement of 41mm. The hook or 'tang' of the tape measure is the small, usually metallic component at the end of the blade. The blade lock was easy to slide with just one thumb on both models, and the belt clip also worked easily with one hand. Designed for use on a job site, where drops, rugged use, and rough working conditions are the norm, this tape measure is very durable. Each tape measure was used for both inside and outside measuring: an inside measurement means that the hook at the tip of the tape measure blade is pressed against the edge of the item being measured, whereas an outside measurement means that the hook is latched over the edge of the item being measured. Mark the tip of the big toe and the outermost part of the heel, and use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the distance between the two points. Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants. We tested both the 16-foot and 25-foot models and found them both very accurate in terms of measurements. Most cased tape measures have a small toggle that locks the extended blade in place with a push of your thumb, preventing the blade from retracting before you are done with it. Decimal Inch Tape Measure, 25 Foot, Black Marks Even hundredths of an inch, Black Numbers for Tenths of an inch and inches, red for feet and inches, Magnetic Three Rivet Hook, Tape Lock, Belt Clip. Why does the metal piece on a tape measure move? Keep reading to learn how to measure in inches in any scenario. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Free shipping for many products! The testers extended the tape measure blade to various lengths and then used the manual lock (or autolock on those tape measures with this feature) to hold the blade in place. This is a very sturdy tape measure with a 1-3/16-inch matte nylon-coated blade that reduces glare. If there are 15 unnumbered lines, the inches are broken down into sixteenths (1/16). A measuring tape is a flexible tool used for measuring length. You'll still need to count line markings for 1/16s of an inch, however. For instance, if the final space is about half as long as the others, count it as half an inch. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Also, this app is a free measurement tool that measures any length or height using digital ruler centimeters, inches, and feets. Also, whilst a few tapes show '1m' to display the 1 metre mark, the majority will show '100cm'. With incredible quality, features and accuracy, what are you waiting for? 41mm can also be referred to as 4.1cm (0.041m) but the majority of trades in the UK do tend to quote measurements in milimetres. Use the top of your thumb or an object of similar length to approximate measurements in inches, if you dont have a measuring tool handy. If squinting at the tiny measurement markings on a tape measure isn't your favorite part of using these tools, then you'll appreciate the clearly marked fractions on this tape measure, which are actual numerals, not just lines, indicating 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 inches. There are three common types of tape measures: cased, reel, and sewing. Still, this tape measure has a lot to recommend it. The measurements are black against a yellow tape for improved readability, and the marks are down to 1/16th of an inch the . But you cant determine that as easily online. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. It's very reasonably priced, as well. Get it as soon as Friday, Apr 21. Click to enlarge. Some pocket tape measures feature a case with a known length (e.g. This type of tape measure is a must-have in your toolkit and is useful for most measuring tasks around the home. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. They may not feel sharp at first but it can be a very different story when travelling at speed. Standard stud and joist spacings are marked as well. FREE delivery. There is 1 2 " between each inch marking and half . Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Whilst the ability to return the blade quickly into the case can seem like a useful function, it can be very dangerous with a number of people each year being injured by wildly flailing hooks. Additionally, hooks with upright points are more likely to catch on items other than what you are measuring. Eight inches add up to 1 inch. One inch will be noted as 1", 1in, or just with the number itself. If your measurement ends exactly on a numbered line, use the number on that line as the whole inch value. To convert inches to meters, divide the number of inches by 39.37. This is written as 3/16. The most common length for a sewing tape measure is 5 feet, but there are some as long as 12 feet. We also liked the compact size of this tape measure, which fits comfortably in the hand. Use a ruler, yardstick, measuring tape, or some other tool that displays inches to measure objects. Park Tool RR-12C Tape Measure (12 Foot) Bike Metric and Imperial inches. The belt clip easily attaches to a belt or strap, but this measuring tape is a bit bulky for the designated tape measure holder on some tool pouches. , 25 Ft Decimal Retractable Dual Side Ruler with Metric and Inches, Easy to Read, for Surveyors, Engineers and Electricians, with Magnetic Tip and Rubber Protective Casing, Set for Sewing Tailor Craft Cloth Fabric, 150, 60in with Clip-n-Lock & Eject (Pop Up Release) Button & Rebound Buckle, Ergonomic and Portable Design, 60inch/150cm, Upgraded Version, REIDEA M2, Black, Metric Scale with Both-Side Metal Blade,Magnetic Tip Hook and Shock Absorbent Case-for Construction,Contractor,Carpenter,Architect,Woodworking. It also has a nicely designed end hook that makes it easy to grab onto whatever you are measuring to keep the tape measure in place. The largest markings are cm, the medium markings are for 0.5 cm or 5 mm, and the smallest markings are for mm. The 1-inch-wide blade is coated with nylon for durability, and the case of the tape measure is very sturdy, with a rubbery coating for easy grip and added protection against damage from drops. A son of Cuban immigrants, he is bilingual in English and Spanish. Magnetic tape measures are designed with a magnetic end . For example, if an object measures 8 inches, its length is roughly 203.2 millimeters, since 8/0.03937 = 203.2. 1 cm = roughly 0.3937 inches. Easiest to Read. Small Business. 99-$17.99 $ 17. In other words, two inches add up to 1 inch. Most of the tape measures in circulation today are 12 foot, 25 foot, or 100 foot. The line for inches may even span the entire height of the tape measure. The Measure app on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPhone 12 Pro, and . If the increments of an inch are not labeled, determine the marking's increment and add together the respective fractions. It is a common measuring tool. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Most tape measures just have small lines to indicate fractions of an inch, but that can be tough to read. Sixteen 1/16 inches add up to 1 inch. The black diamonds are stud or joist markings for builders to help them space floor joists in new construction. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. To convert inches to miles, divide the number of inches by 63,360. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally, we get samples provided to us directly by companies. But what if youre not accustomed to using a ruler or dont have one handy? Nadia Hassani is a a Penn State Master Gardener with nearly 20 years of experience in landscaping, garden design, and vegetable and fruit gardening. Above you'll see a picture of a metric/imperial pocket tape measure. In pocket tapes (as seen in the image below), this is usually a straight piece of metal attached to the blade by a number of rivets. If the measurement is incorrect - specify your screen size in inches manually. Deane is a member of The Spruce's Home Improvement Review Board. It is made up of materials like fiberglass, cloth, plastic, metal ribbon or strip. The SINGER 60-inch tape measure is made of durable, yet flexible vinyl, making it perfect for a seamstress or tailor. The standout of the 16-foot version was around 12 feet and the 25-foot model was only slightly longer at around 13 feet in our tests. To measure in inches, start by lining up a ruler, yardstick, or tape measure with the object or distance you're trying to measure so the "0" is at one of the ends. Mens Tape Measure Suspenders 2 Inch Wide Adjustable Work Suspenders for Tool Be. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. One mark to the left of the 1/2-in. Tape Measure . This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Then, you can use that tracing to roughly measure the length of the object. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. To read a tape measure, you first need to know what each of those black lines stand for. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. FREE delivery. The measurements are black against a yellow tape for improved readability, and the marks are down to 1/16th of an inch the entire length of the blade. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. The blade's engineering scale makes it easy for users to measure to tenths of an inch. 1. $12.87. Not all tape measures are the same. Soft Flexible Fiberglass. Make sure that the measuring edge of your 1-inch object stays parallel to the line you traced. However, if you want a tape measure with easy-to-read measurements, then we recommend the Milwaukee Compact Tape Measure, which has numerals instead of lines for fractions of an inch. With a rubbery outermolding, this tape measure is easy to grip and resistant to damage if dropped, although it might be a bit large for those with small hands. Neither option is necessarily superior; its mostly a matter of preference. The Irwin Strait-Line is a top option for any tool collection. Diagram showing fractions of an inch on a standard sixteenth measuring tape. But there are shorter tape measures for those only needing the tool for small tasks like measuring a piece of furniture, looking for the right spot to drive a nail to hang a picture, or centering a television. Think about it; when youre physically at a store and youre looking at a piece of furniture, you can easily gauge with your eye whether or not its going to fit in your space or if itll even fit through your doorframe. Free shipping. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Johnathan Fuentes is a writer based in the New York City region. Product Description. As an example, the image below shows a length that goes from the inch mark to an unlabeled marking. from the inside edge of an object such as between one internal wall and another) the hook can be pushed against the object (e.g. The markings are located at 19.2-inch intervals. If your measuring tool has 1 unnumbered line in between each inch, then the inches are divided into halves (). wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. He is a certified lead carpenter and also holds a certification from the EPA. Perfect Measuring Tape - Fraction Tape Measure, All-Purpose 60 Inch Tape Measure - Double Sided Fractional Inches and Millimeter/Centimeter Tape Measure TR-16-frac (60 inch White) 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (638) $5.99 $ 5. Park Tool RR-12C Tape Measure: 12 Foot. Before you measure, be sure to check that the tool you're using has inch markers, and not just centimeters or other metric units! Perfect Measuring Tape - Fraction Tape Measure, All-Purpose 60 Inch Tape Measure - Double Sided Fractional Inches and Millimeter/Centimeter Tape Measure TR-16-frac (60 inch White) 4.7 (600) $599. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Other than 25 feet, the most common sizes are 12, 16, 30, and 35 feet. .66" is 2/3 of an inch, which is a little more than halfway from the mark for a half-inch and the mark for 3/4 of an inch. 1 inch = 16 x 1/16th of an inch, 8 x 1/8th of an inch, 4 x 1/4 of an inch or 2 x 1/2 of an inch. Self-Lock Evolution 30-ft Auto Lock Tape Measure. The one downside we found was the standout of this tape measurethat's the distance the blade of a tape measure can stand out straight without support before bending towards the groundwasn't quite as good as some others in our tests. Our tester did note that the recoil was a bit slow but reliable. Admittedly, many tape measures are not easy to read. $24.82. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. These numbers sit next to long vertical marks which represent whole inches. As for the blade width, around 1 inch is best. Black print on pink background allows for easy sight and marked inches and centimeters . A 12-foot tape measure is handiest for consumers. Then, look for the last full inch before the opposite end of the object or distance you're measuring.
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