\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. In other words it moves in and out ever so slightly. Measurements are indicated down to 1/16ths of an inch, with additional markings to show stud and joist spacings. Sponsored. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Once you've found that, count the unnumbered lines past it until you reach the very end of the object or distance. This is written as 3/16. The case might be plastic or metal. The metal hook at the end of a tape measure is intentionally not fixed, it wiggles to make up for the hooks thickness (usually 1/16 inch) to obtain the accurate measurement or true zero. To measure anything, you need a measuring device such as a ruler, yardstick, measuring tape, etc. Builders commonly use the 25-foot length, while the 12-foot length is the most common length used by consumers. Use a ruler, yardstick, measuring tape, or some other tool that displays inches to measure objects. FREE delivery. For example, if an object measures 10 inches, its length is roughly 25.4 centimeters, since 10/0.3937 = 25.4. You'll know which one you have because your measuring tape will either have 15 small lines between each large number or it will have 31. Skip this step if your measurement ended exactly on a numbered line, since there is no extra fraction to add. 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. This type of tape measure is a must-have in your toolkit and is useful for most measuring tasks around the home. For a length less than 1 inch, simply read off the tape measure the length. Before you measure, be sure to check that the tool you're using has inch markers, and not just centimeters or other metric units! Unlike most other options, this one has a fractional scalethat means it actually has the fractions printed right onto the nylon bladeso you can see clearly indicated 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2-inch numerals, plus small lines to indicate 1/16ths of an inch. Can be switched centimeters inches, length can be set 30-300cm, until 10-120inch. Here's How to Measure Accurately, How to Survive an Encounter with an Ostrich, https://www.ck12.org/measurement/tools-for-measurement-of-customary-and-metric-lengths/lesson/Appropriate-Measurement-Tools-MSM6/, http://www.homeschoolmath.net/teaching/f/measuring_inches.php, https://www.inchcalculator.com/how-to-read-a-ruler/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1r7WVh2Zgc#t=3m20s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKarbrOme_Y#t=3m25s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKarbrOme_Y#t=3m32s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1r7WVh2Zgc#t=2m, https://measuringstuff.com/11-objects-that-are-1-inch-long-7-is-surprising/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kZtB0ljXk#t=1m10s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kZtB0ljXk#t=1m13s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5kZtB0ljXk#t=1m34s, https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/feet-to-inches.htm, http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/miles-to-inches.htm, https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/millimeters-to-inches.htm, https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/centimeters-to-inches.htm, http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/meters-to-inches.htm. Find My Store. Whilst the centimetres are clearly numbered, to make the blade easier to read the millimetres arenotnumbered. Or what if you only know metric units? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Compact Tape Measure with Engineer Scale delivers up to 12 ft. of reach. Our tester did find it a bit tricky to hook the tape measure onto his belt, however. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This was repeated several times while the recoil was evaluated for smoothness, aggressiveness, and ease of control. Not all tape measures are the same. We tested both the 16-foot and 25-foot models and found them to be very accurate, comfortable to hold, and quite easy to read. Enjoy! Make sure that the measuring edge of your 1-inch object stays parallel to the line you traced. What does the diamond on a measuring tape mean? Metal cases are heavier but sturdier. You can gauge the size of objects, automatically detect the dimensions of rectangular objects, and save a photo of the measurement. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Whilst the seasoned professionals amongst you will no doubt be fully aware how to read the various markings on your tape, there will be amateurs, enthusiasts or those just starting off in their careers who arent yet so knowledgeable. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The first inch on a tape measure is actually short by 1/16 of an inch, because the metal on the tang is exactly 1/16 of an inch. Secure the tape in place with the metal hook to prevent it from moving and pull as much of the tape out of the case as needed. 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. Place the tip of the measuring tape on one end of the item and measure its length at the opposite end. Then, use a pencil to mark the spot on the line where your thumb ends. Between those numbers are a series of shorter marks which represent fractions of an inch. For this roundup, she relied on results from product testers, as well as manufacturer information and customer feedback both positive and negative. It also has standard measurements for studs and joists. Our tester noted that the belt clip was somewhat stiff, but the tool still clipped in place fairly easily. 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. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. mark is 15/16. 1 cm = roughly 0.3937 inches. (For the most precise measurement, consider using a ruler with centimeters, rather than inches.) That's especially useful when measuring over your head or in tight spots or places that aren't easy to access. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Standard stud and joist spacings are marked as well. Magnetic tape measures are designed with a magnetic end . You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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. If your measurement ends exactly on a numbered line, use the number on that line as the whole inch value. The second largest ticks halfway between the inch markings are the half-inch markings. Tip: If the object you want to measure is longer than a piece of paper, you can also reverse this step by tracing the length of your inch-long object onto a piece of paper. Markings on a Measuring Tape. 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. Home/ Utilities & tools/ Tape Measure. 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. 1,401. The magnetic tip can be removed if desired, though; this is a useful feature not found on many tape measures. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Click to enlarge. Model # L4830HV. You will normally find (on any pocket tape of quality) that the hook 'floats'. If youre using a ruler or other measuring stick, make sure the stick lies flat against the edge of the object or line being measured. The humble tape measure is the worlds most commonly used measuring tool, accompanying millions of tradesmen and contractors to work every single day. 99-$17.99 $ 17. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. 2. 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. The clip should be thick enough so it wont snap or bend, but not so thick that its bulky or hard to use. 7. Price at time of publish: $25 for 25-foot, Dimensions: 3.85 x 2.3 inches | Blade Width: 1-3/16 inch | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Autolock: No | Magnetic Hook: No, Measurement markings on both side of blade. Each tape measure was extended to its full length while the tester held it at various angles and noted the point at which the tape measure could no longer remain straight. These scores were added to the testing results and the numbers were tabulated to choose the top-scoring tape measures. Although a bit on the large side, we found that both the 16-foot and 25-foot models were easy to hold and felt comfortable in our hands. For example, if youre using your thumb, lay your thumb horizontally on top of the line, with the bottom end of your thumb aligned with the starting point of the line. 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. Remember that the unnumbered lines represent fractions. Overall, we found this to be a very accurate, durable, and useful tape measure for professionals, DIYers, and around-the-house users alike. There are some, however, that also have metric measurements, so if that is important, be sure to check before you buy. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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