Exactly where is the measurement taken? 139. $4.99 $ 4. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Try to keep the tape straight as you do this — if you let it sag (which is easy to do if you're measuring long distances), the results you get will be skewed. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Tape measures usually have a red mark every 16 inches. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Skip the struggle of making out the tiny quarter-inch lines on the measuring tape. 1 The regular measuring tape. Thanks. 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) 4.6 out of 5 stars 94. $4.99 $ 4. To create this article, 60 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Quickly seeing which of two objects is bigger, Seeing whether something will fit through a certain space, Keeping the tape available for multiple quick measurements, Keeping a certain distance "handy" to avoid having to re-measure. Its standard width is 3.37 inches (3 3⁄8 inches), or 85.6 mm (8 centimeters, 56 millimeters) for the metric measurement. Quarter inches, eighth inches, and sixteenth inches. Visit our website today to find the tape measure that’s right for your next job. ", "Specific steps helped. These are typically marked by long, thin lines and fairly large numbers. Lay the tape on the floor and hook the end into one corner of the room. A tool is only as good as the person using it. If you need to measure beyond your reach, you can try keeping the zero end of your tape measure in place with a weight or getting a friend to help. Most standard tape measures in the U.S. have markings that measure down to 1/16 of an inch. LICHAMP Tape Measure 12 ft, 8 Pack Bulk Easy Read Measuring Tape Retractable with Fractions 1/8, Measurement Tape 12-Foot by 1/2-Inch 4.4 out of 5 stars 47 $19.99 $ 19 . or tape measure increments, you might find yourself resorting to the old, “2-1/2 inches and 3 little black marks” method. For example, if you want to find the distance around your wrist, place the zero end of the tape measure on top of your wrist, wrap the slack around and underneath, then line it up with the zero end on top. ", after reading this article, I realized how easy it is to use a tape.". These are incredibly long and are ideal for creating land maps, finding boundaries between neighbors, … Let's say that we measure past the 33 centimetre mark to the sixth millimetre marking. These are smaller, sometimes thinner markings, evenly spaced between the half-inch and inch marks on a tape measure. The measuring tape is of two type. To measure a room from one corner to the other: All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. The measurement is technically taken at the center of the mark; however, if you need measurements to that precision, I would recommend using something a bit more accurate, such as calipers. This is handy in certain situations, like for instance, when you're measuring into a tight corner. Why is there an arrow marking on 16, 32, 48, etc. Similar Items. In this case, we can find our distance in centimetres like this: If we wanted our distance in something other than centimetres, however, we would need to shift the decimal place to compensate. It is a common measuring tool. Most will show fractions down to eighths of an inch. Its design allows for a measure of great length to be easily carried in pocket or toolkit and permits one to measure around curves or corners. Is the blade or hook at the end of a measuring tape included in the measurement? Was not sure about little markings, but, "Clear information, and useful tips. in the inches column of the tape? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On a tape measure labeled with imperial units, the most prominent marks are usually the one-inch marks. How do I write in feet, inches, and fractions of an inch? For example, the second eighth-inch marking after the inch marking is a quarter inch. With the hook pressed in place, pull the tape blade out until it spans the distance you’re measuring. For a 12 inch measurement, do I mark the left edge of the 12" gradation, the center, or the right edge? In this case, since there are 100 centimetres in one metre, we could use a conversion factor like this: In general, to go from centimetres to metres, shift the decimal two places to the left, and to go from metres to centimetres, shift it two places to the right. Remember that two sixteenths of an inch equals one eighth, two eighths of an inch equals one quarter, and 2 quarters equals one half. Half-inch marks sit between two one-inch marks. Thanks. In other words, the half-inch mark between inches 13 and 14 is read as 13 ½ inches, and sits exactly midway between the markings for those numbers. "I've sent this to my sons who are just starting in the construction business. For example, if you are measuring across the front of your dresser and the edge of the dresser lines up right after the 24 inch marking, this means that your dresser is between 24 and 25 inches wide. You will see a foot designation marked every 12 inches (sometimes in a box as in the picture, or sometimes the number will be shown in red). Source: Amazon If you are going to be measuring extensive distances on open land and need to be able to accurately tell how far away places or locations are then you need to have a surveyor measuring tape. They’re only effective if the person using them knows how to get an accurate reading. It depends on the tape measure itself, they come in different lengths. There are 10 decimeters in a meter, 10 centimeters in a decimeter, and 10 millimeters in a centimeter. Approved. If it sags, your measurement will be off. Example: Measure a space on your wall. for pricing and availability. Copyright © 2021 If you need help, see our article on how to, If you have a measuring tape longer than one metre (100 centimetres), usually, the metre(s) will receive a special marking as well — often in a different color than the rest of the markings. Most standard tape measures in the U.S. have markings that measure down to 1/16 of an inch. On some tapes, quarter inch marks are the same size as eighth-inch marks. Tape can help. Last Updated: January 5, 2021 For example, let's say that we want the answer above in metres. In this case, keep in mind that two eighths of an inch make a quarter. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. That’s an old saying, but a true one, and something that applies to tape measures as well. This has made me feel confident in doing the tasks at home that I have avoided, "Thank you for the methods of measurement, it really helped me. Place the front of the tape at the start point and extend it until after you reach the stop point. This article has 17 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. By using our site, you agree to our. If you aren’t measuring something you can latch onto – the distance across a door frame, for example – press the hook against one side to ensure an accurate reading. Look at the tape and see the last number before the stop point, for example, 17. 99. A measuring Tape is an instrument that is used for measurement to measure any object in length, width, and height in mm, cm, inch, and soot. Reading it used to be a problem for me. The retractable Tape Measure is an extra-heavy glazed cloth tape that measures 60" (150cm). Because it's the engineering model, it has the 10ths of an inch, so can be used to measure on a drawing or set of prints with that scale. • Self-marking. I'm really glad that y'all have that, thank you. Once you’ve gotten the tape where you need it to be, take the measurement directly from the tape. With contractor measuring tapes, used for measuring large areas, you often cannot get a measurement using just the tape, as the body or case of the measuring tape gets in the way. Note that, starting with half-inch marks, not all lines may be labeled with numbers. and I believe that this is the best outline on how to read a tape measure. This article has been viewed 2,932,435 times. Your email address will not be published. Even if you don't have a tenths-calibrated measuring tape, however, you can still indirectly measure length in tenths. 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters; therefore, "n" centimeters = n x 2.54. Replacement Tape Tape Measure. The large numbers are the units you're measuring, like inches or centimeters, and the markings between the large numbers correspond to fractions of that unit. If it's in inches, there are big marks for inches and smaller marks for parts of an inch. How To Read Tape Measure In Feet and Inches. Thus, most manual tapes won't be much longer than the human arm span. Most tapes feature imperial units (inches) on the top row and metric units (centimeters) on the bottom. Komelon PG85 8m by 25mm Metric Gripper Tape, Black. Tape Measure Pro: Subscribing to Tape Measure Pro gives you access to all Tools & Features plus an ad free experience while you are an active subscriber: • You can subscribe to a yearly plan that comes with a free 3 day trial. When using a retractable tape measure, you’ll have a small metal hook at the end of the tape, which you can use to grab onto the edge of what you are measuring to hold the blade in place. It is very easy to explain to the trainees. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. [1] X Research source Every 12 inches, there will often (but not always) be a foot marking. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. These are known as ‘Fractional Read’ or ‘Easy Read’ blades. For example, if you wanted to write five feet, one and a half inches, you would write it like this: 5'1 1/2". I'm really glad that there are websites like this to help people all around the world. For fractions of an inch, simply put the fraction after the whole number for inches. A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used to measure size or distance.. Knowing how to use and read both a retractable measure and a traditional ribbon-style tape measure can be a major asset to anyone working with his or her hands, so learn today and start measuring! A tape measure is an essential tool for both dressmakers and woodworkers. Look on the case body for the width indicator. Use the same pattern for recognizing these miniscule measurements. To read a measuring tape, line the zero mark up at the edge of the item you're measuring, then stretch the tape all the way across the item. Website Design & Website Hosting by IQnection. In stock and ready to ship. To find our measurement, we need to add: Since there are two eighth-inches in a quarter-inch, we can rewrite this as: Adding fractions like 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and so on can be tricky. 99 Shockforce Nite Eye Tape Measure 2-Pack, 16-ft and 25-ft. On a metric tape you will basically see markings for meters, centimeters, and millimeters. You get 120 inch long measuring tapes in shops as well, which is useful for measuring those curtains and quilts and other home decor stuff. On the other hand, if you're measuring something that can't be latched on to (like, for instance, the distance across a door frame), just press this metal notch into one side of the object. Try to keep the tape straight to ensure an accurate measurement! It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. Many are 3". Required fields are marked *. A prime (apostrophe) is used for feet, while a double prime (quotation mark) is used for inches. The Tape Measure … Luckily, with the proper approach, using a tape measure can be a quick, easy way to get you the information you need about your project. (Best for Heavy Duty) The professors choose The KUTIR 25FT Tape because the blade is made of stainless steel while the… The initials FT or ft mean "foot" or "feet". Note that lines marking a quarter of an inch sometimes aren't any different in size from eighth-inch marks. How to Measure with a Tape Measure When measuring with a retractable tape measure, lay the tape along the length you’re measuring, and mark the spot where the tape lines up with the edge. Phone: 800-472-8273 | Fax: 800-582-8273 When you reach the other corner push the butt of the tape case into the corner (the butt or back of the case has been flattened for this purpose). If it is, for instance, six inches at this point, then your wrist has a circumference of about six inches. ", "We can use it for training purposes. One meter (39 inches) is a similar measurement to the yard above, but use your arm with fingers extended and measure to the tip of the fingers. We explored 11 prime replacement tape tape measures over the latter 3 years. 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) 4.6 out of 5 stars 84. To learn about the differences between the imperial system and the metric system, read on! It is also a common divisor for materials such as plywood (4' x 8'), ceiling heights, and common lumber lengths. ", "I was wondering about the little lines and now I know! In this case, you need to use the markings on either side to guide you. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Part of the problem with manual tape measures is that they're most useful for measuring only short differences because you have to be able to hold the zero end in place while you move the other end into position. These are smaller, sometimes thinner markings, evenly spaced between the half-inch and inch marks on a tape measure. Hook. This article has been viewed 2,932,435 times. When it comes to construction and craftsmanship, taking accurate measurements can be the difference between a great finished product and a subpar one. 1. This makes it convenient to mark off wall studs or joists, which typically are 16 inches apart. Metric is based on ‘tens’. • The payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Then, look at the point where the tape meets the end of the item you're measuring and read the nearest large number. It's important to know how to read a tape measure. © 2021 U.S. Measuring Tape Measure By Kutir - EASY TO READ 25 Foot BOTH SIDE DUAL RULER, Retractable, STURDY, Heavy Duty, MAGNETIC HOOK, Metric, Inches and Imperial Measurement, SHOCK ABSORBENT Solid Rubber Case 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,409 Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. But when it comes to the smaller, more precise measurements. 60 inches and 7/16ths of an inch would be written as 60-7/16.". 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. 99. Square meters is a unit of measure for area - that is bi-dimensional spaces - whereas feet are used to measure distance, so there's no possible equivalence. Thank you, wikiHow. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. For this reason, it's usually fine to refer to half-centimetre markings in decimal terms (i.e., 1 1/2 centimetres becomes 1.5 centimetres.). yellow 1/10 inch tape measures. U.S. If, for instance, it's three 1/8 inch marks past 24 inches, it is 24 3/8 inches wide. To learn about the differences between the imperial system and the metric system, read on! After the number 17, count four lines, noticing that you stop on the third longest line. Let's say that we've measured past the one-inch mark, past one quarter-inch mark, and past one eighth-inch mark. You can also try putting a kink in the tape, then lining up this kink with the edge of what you're measuring. Compare; Find My Store. 3. Explains how to read a ruler with 16th increments. Coming with a double-sided print that shows decimal foot and fractional inch readings, it is easy to get consistent and reliable measurements at a glance. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. ", "Read this in math class, it really helped! lufkin fiberglass tape measures. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Read-a-Measuring-Tape-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Read-a-Measuring-Tape-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b6\/Read-a-Measuring-Tape-Step-1-Version-6.jpg\/aid4365-v4-728px-Read-a-Measuring-Tape-Step-1-Version-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"