\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. For example, the line about half the . 2. The hook or 'tang' of the tape measure is the small, usually metallic component at the end of the blade. Soft Flexible Fiberglass. Note that inches are divided into fractions: , , , and 1/16. Find the closest whole inch to point B, then use the shorter indicator lines to see which fraction of an inch it is. When taking an internal measurement, therefore, it is important to bend the blade at the point at which it touches the object you're measuring to. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use soft measuring tape to measure curved or rounded objects, like the size of your wrist or the circumference of a hat. This sturdy tape measure automatically locks in place at the point where you stop pulling out the blade. Whilst the centimetres are clearly numbered, to make the blade easier to read the millimetres arenotnumbered. 1 cm = roughly 0.3937 inches. Still, this tape measure has a lot to recommend it. It has excellent standout, with the 16-foot model testing at around 11 feet and the 25-foot model testing at around 13 feet. For example, if the very last line of your measurement is the 8 line, then your measurement is exactly 8 inches. 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. Built to take a beating and keep on working, this professional-quality tape measure has a very sturdy housing that resists damage even if dropped from way up high. The shorter, unnumbered lines in between the numbered values are fractions of an inch. A well-placed top button gently releases the blade when you're readya feature that comes in very handy when you are measuring a long distance without an assistant. Most rulers are not calibrated in hundredths of an inch. However, that's not the case with this one, which has the measurements in the standard horizontal orientation on the top of the blade but has them in a vertical orientation on the blade's bottom. FREE delivery. While this is not a professional-level tool, it is a fine choice for the average user, especially one who struggles to read the markings on most other tape measures. The large ticks are spaced 1 apart, and the small ticks are all spaced fractions of an inch apart. % of people told us that this article helped them. 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. This article is edited and updated by Michelle Ullman, the home improvement/tool editor for The Spruce. Be sure to always measure from the 0 line to ensure accurate measurements. A 12-foot tape measure is handiest for consumers. Tape measures come in all different sizes! While this isn't the best choice if you need a tape measure for frequent or professional use, it's a worthy addition to the tool box of anyone who just wants a decent tape measure for occasionally measuring objects around the house. These tape measures have a retractable blade marked with imperial or metric measurements, and a case thats made of plastic or metal. Magnetic tape measures are designed with a magnetic end . Michael DiMartino, Senior Vice President of Installations at Power Home Remodeling, says I use tape measures all the time and store them in multiple locations throughout my home. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes & Gardens, among others. For example, use a measuring stick if youre trying to measure the length of something with a rigid straight edge. This measurement represents the length of your feet. Self-tightening Measure Tape 150cm/60 Inch Body Measuring Ruler Crafts Sewing Tailor Measurement Tools Automatic Circle Ruler Use: ruler Origin: Mainland China Type: Sewing Ahine Parts Type of Wholesale: NO Material: ABC Set Type: NO Measurement . Get it as soon as Friday, Apr 21. 99. So, it is a kind of flexible ruler also known as a tape measure. Deane Biermeier is an expert contractor with nearly 30 years of experience in all types of home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. When it comes to choosing a tape measure, dont automatically assume that the longer, the better. Rulers are best for short distances, while yard sticks are better for objects that are 1 to 3 feet (0.30 to 0.91m) long. Sixteen 1/16 inches add up to 1 inch. You dont need to convert the decimal part back to inches since most people are used to seeing mile measurements with decimals in them. 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 article has been viewed 266,290 times. Once you've found that, count the unnumbered lines past it until you reach the very end of the object or distance. There are also tape measures that give you all the other numbers too - and those can be MUCH easier . Once all testing was completed, the testers assigned each tape measure a score of 1 to 5 in categories of accuracy, durability, ease of use, performance, and value. For metric units, measure centimeters with the longest markings. For example, a 3 3/8-inch case added to a 15-inch measurement on the tape combines to an 18 3/8-inch total. 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. Builders commonly use the 25-foot length, while the 12-foot length is the most common length used by consumers. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. That's especially useful when measuring over your head or in tight spots or places that aren't easy to access. 95. Our top-scoring tape measure in our tests is the Irwin Strait-Line. Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. Whenever possible, we included both the 16-foot and 25-foot models of the same tape measure and tested them together at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Park RR-12 Metric and English 12" Tape Measure RR12 New. Orders placed online after 11.30am 23/12/22 will be shipped when we return from our Christmas holidays on 03/01/23. Some pocket tape measures feature a case with a known length (e.g. Copyright 2014 Kootoo Ltd. All rights reserved. Since .5 x 12 = 6, the objects length is 2 ft. 6 in. As a general rule, a tape measures standout should be at least 7 or 8 feet, although many go further. The numbers for inches will often be the largest on the tape measure and easy to spot from afar. Sell now. What does the diamond on a measuring tape mean? 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. line is 7/16; one mark to the right of the 7/8-in. All customers get FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon, Industrial Adhesives, Sealants & Lubricants. A steel clip is the most durable. Tape measures with magnetic hooks were also tested while clinging to a metallic object. Find Tape Measures; Length Ft.: 35.000; Graduation (Inch): 1/16; Blade Material: Steel; Standout Length (Feet): 35.00 at MSC Industrial Supply, serving the metalworking, safety, and MRO industries for over 75 years For this roundup, she relied on results from product testers, as well as manufacturer information and customer feedback both positive and negative. SumVibe Soft Tape Measure 120 Inches/300cm, Pocket Measuring Tape for Sewing Tailor Cloth Body Measurement, Yellow 3-Pack. By using our site, you agree to our. Overall, we found this to be a very accurate, durable, and useful tape measure for professionals, DIYers, and around-the-house users alike. $7.99. You'll still need to count line markings for 1/16s of an inch, however. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The longer, the medium markings are cm, the objects length is ft.. 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