Deane Biermeier is a contractor with 27 years experience in home repair, maintenance, and remodeling. Here is a step-by-step guide that will teach you all the basics on deciphering the tape measure markings on the English system side.. But now, the 1/8-inch mark and the 1/16-inch mark come along and make things a bit more confusing. To measure a room from one corner to the other: All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. To read a tape measure, think about moving from long marks down to short marks. 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). Thank you, wikiHow. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. The 1/4-inch mark is exactly halfway between any two 1/2-inch marks. Moasure might not be compatible with all smartphones out there, but we think it’s one of the nicer tape measure apps on… 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. Tape measures are commonly used in construction, architecture, building, home projects, crafts, and woodworking. COVID-19 Update to Customers Customers can shop with us in-store or online with our Click & Deliver or Drive & Collect services. This means that you line up the end of the item you're measuring with the 1-inch mark on the tape. Tape measure markings represent the fractions of an inch. Remember - 12 inches is equivalent to one (1) foot. Tape measures usually have a red mark every 16 inches. A prime (apostrophe) is used for feet, while a double prime (quotation mark) is used for inches. 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. Look on the case body for the width indicator. Try to keep the tape straight to ensure an accurate measurement! 3- I recommend a steel bodied tape measure, not plastic. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,909,813 times. Special Notes for How to Read a Tape Measure The typical length between studs in a wall is 16 inches on center. Tape measures may have measurements in imperial and metric, imperial-only, or metric-only. Tape a piece of paper down to the floor. This measurement is normally in a black box with a small triangle or … It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibre glass, or metal strip with linear-measurement markings. Foot or 1’: The foot measurement shows up on the 12th inch and is written as 1F. If you are remodeling or building a home, reading a tape measure accurately is essential. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Tape Measure 1/8-Inch and 1/16-Inch Marks, How to Build a Temporary Wall Inside Your Home, How to Hang Vintage Textiles on the Walls, How to Make a DIY Coat Hook for Your Home. That would make the total measured space 17 and 1/4 inches. or tape measure increments, you might find yourself resorting to the old, “2-1/2 inches and 3 little black marks” method. How to Read a Tape Measure Find/read the markings. But, sometimes your measurement ends up falling on one of those little lines with no number markings. You Don't Need a Brannock Device. The whole inch mark is the easiest to read on the tape measure because the number is clearly stated on the tape. Now I'm good. 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.). http://www.johnsonlevel.com/News/TapeMeasure, https://www.ustape.com/blog/accurately-reading-a-tape-measure/, https://sewguide.com/sewing-tape-measure/, https://www.ck12.org/measurement/tools-for-measurement-of-customary-and-metric-lengths/lesson/Appropriate-Measurement-Tools-MSM6/, https://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/metric-length.html, https://sciencing.com/read-metric-tape-measure-4472324.html, http://thesweethome.com/reviews/the-best-tape-measure/, https://www.constructionprotips.com/tools-materials/ultimate-tape-measure-guide/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow, Every 12 inches, there will often (but not always) be a. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Completely different to an imperial tape measure, it is arguably easier to read a tape measure in metric than imperial; Each small increment is 1mm and there are 10mm that make up one centimetre. Stretch out the tape measure. 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. ", "I was wondering about the little lines and now I know! Step Four: Measure the Other Foot. Note that some very precise measuring tapes will mark down to one-thirty-second of an inch or even one-sixty-fourth of an inch! As we know, 12 inches make up a … For example, "Three and one half inches (or 3 1/2")" or "2 feet, 3 1/2". This section deals with how to use the two most common styles of tape measure. How do I write in feet, inches, and fractions of an inch? 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. 1 foot = 12 inches. How to read a tape measure with metric markings, in millimetres, centimetres and metres. ", after reading this article, I realized how easy it is to use a tape.". As you may know it, there are two main systems for measuring length – the Imperial System of Measurements where things are measured in yards, feet and inches and the Metric System of Measurement which uses meters, centimeters and millimeters.. You can get tape measures in Metric and Imperial measurements depending on your needs and you can find different specialty tape measures as well. For example, the half-inch mark between inches three and four stands for 3 1/2 inches, even though it's not labeled. When measuring your stride in advance, lay a measuring tape on the floor and have someone else watch you walk at a normal, natural pace. Although inches and centimeters are common on both, it is possible to get measuring tapes in "tenths," which measure tenths of a foot and are often used in building and construction. Even smaller marks then denote 1/8ths and 1/16ths (marked in red) of an inch. ", "Helps me in reading imperial tape measurements.". This makes it convenient to mark off wall studs or joists, which typically are 16 inches apart. Once you break it down into a few basics, a tape measure is actually very easy to read. "I've sent this to my sons who are just starting in the construction business. Unless you are dealing with wall studs or joists, you can ignore this marker. This is so you can measure either by butting the tape against an object or by hooking it on the edge of the object. The whole inch mark is the easiest to read on the tape measure because the number … This way, for example, you do not need to calculate 36 inches as equaling 3 feet. After each metre, the centimetre markings may, The metric system is in base ten, which makes it much easier to work with decimals compared to imperial measurements. Use a tape measure — ideally a metal one that will remain straight — to measure the distance from the floor to the mark on the wall. 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). and I believe that this is the best outline on how to read a tape measure. An easy read tape measure has the most dimension details on the tape, making the reading of your measurement easier to recognize and quite possibly quicker. Your foot: With this one it helps to know your European shoe size: 35 = 9′, 40 = 10″ and 45 = 11″. Remember that every inch is divided into four quarters. Is the blade or hook at the end of a measuring tape included in the measurement? This a common layout measurement for various items used in building homes and other structures. Typical tape measures are … The flat metal hook attached to the tape at the end with rivets is meant to grab onto the end of an item so that you can extend the tape. The 1/8-inch mark is located between any two 1/4-inch marks. As the length of the marks progressively shortens, the measurements shorten, as well. To create this article, 60 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Take a close look at step 3 and 4 in the picture above. It's important to know how to read a tape measure. It depends on the tape measure itself, they come in different lengths. References 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). Understand the Numbers - You need to first familiarize yourself with the tape measure markings, starting with the numbers. The top portion of a standard tape measure is feet, inches and fractions of inches. That's why these bodies are carefully designed and marked to a certain width. Last Updated: September 3, 2020 Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. To measure the diameter of a tree, the diameter tape (diameter side facing user) is wrapped around the tree, in the plane perpendicular to the axis of the trunk at 4.5 feet (1.4 m) above ground (or 4.27 feet (1.30 m), depending on the location) . This article has been viewed 2,909,813 times. Lay the tape on the floor and hook the end into one corner of the room. That counts as 12/16th or 3/4. Many are 3". ", "Read this in math class, it really helped! I'm really glad that there are websites like this to help people all around the world. A tape measure with both inches and centimeters usually has the imperial measurements in red on the top of the blade, while the metric measurements are in black on the bottom of the blade. For example, let's say that we want the answer above in metres. 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. Thanks. STANLEY® LEVERLOCK® Tape Measures are designed for performance and versatility at home or on the jobsite and this 25 ft. model is no exception. Its pressure-controlled auto locking system allows you to control the retraction speed which can help prevent tape breakage and possible injury. Since it is common to have different sized feet, it is important to fully measure both feet with the Brannock Device. The tape measure's 1/2-inch mark is the second-shortest mark, and the 1/4-inch mark is the next-shortest. Most tape measures tell you where each foot mark is located, along with the whole inch designation. You are going to trace an outline of your foot to measure, so avoid doing this on carpet or any other surface that will be difficult to write on. Thanks. 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. Approved. Do not let the tape roll back into place at full force, as you can badly cut your finger and damage the tape. Marks range from 1 inch down to 1/16 inch on most tape measures. 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. These measuring tapes are often referred to as “quick read” or “speed mark” tape measures and include labels for many of the smaller (1/8″, 1/4″, 1/2″) measurement values along with the larger (1″) marks. Was not sure about little markings, but, "Clear information, and useful tips. But when it comes to the smaller, more precise measurements. A 16ft tape measure, for example, will have sixteen one-foot marks along its length and 192 one-inch marks (12 inches per foot). 1 soot = 25.4 / 8 = 3.175 mm. There is no guesswork. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. 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. Note that, starting with half-inch marks, not all lines may be labeled with numbers. Example: Measure a space on your wall. Check out our range of Measuring Tape products at your local Bunnings Warehouse. Visit us today for the widest range of Measuring Tools products. Tape measures can be more hazardous to the operator than they may seem at first. Then, look at the point where the tape meets the end of the item you're measuring and read the nearest large number. This type of tape measure has the whole inch numbers labeled, as well as the eighths and quarters of an inch labeled, like 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, etc, which makes reading a tape measure much easier. Thank you! Different types of measuring tapes used in sewing 1 The regular measuring tape. The bottom portion of the measuring tape device stands for centimeters and millimeters. 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. You might have to do it a few times to make sure you’re not changing your gait wildly each time. This is marked in red on many tape measures. The 1/16-inch mark is the absolute shortest line on the tape measure. I'm really glad that y'all have that, thank you. For a 12 inch measurement, do I mark the left edge of the 12" gradation, the center, or the right edge? Draw the line from beginning of the measuring tape and stop at 2 feet, continue on and count 5 of the 1/8th inch marks or 10 of the 16th inch marks. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. A tape that has 31 markings between the whole numbers is a 1/32″ tape and can be confusing when learning how to read a tape measure. These numbers usually continue for the entire length of the tape measure. To learn about the differences between the imperial system and the metric system, read on! Even if math was not your strongest subject in school, you may be comforted to learn that this has little to do with mathematical calculations. Exactly where is the measurement taken? Most people still find this a fairly easy mark to read, as the line is relatively long. The pictures made it really easy to follow and, "The uncomplicated layout of the measuring tape, indicating the number range, was very helpful. It is also the first line that you will encounter after or before a whole-inch mark. Look at the tape and see the last number before the stop point, for example, 17. 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. For fractions of an inch, simply put the fraction after the whole number for inches. Reading a Tape Measure. Just beyond the tip, bold black numbers begin with the number one and continue consecutively. For another thing, there are so many of these marks that they can get lost in the thicket of other marks. 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. When you take the measurement, just subtract that extra inch that you added. 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. 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. To learn about the differences between the imperial system and the metric system, read on! Most work tends to stop at this point, though in some cases you will need to measure down to the 1/16-inch mark. 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. The one I like is a Dewalt 25′ Tape Measure.There are hashmarks every 1/16″ with longer hashmarks for every 1/8″, 1/4″, and 1/2″ … This is handy in certain situations, like for instance, when you're measuring into a tight corner. It is also a common divisor for materials such as plywood (4' x 8'), ceiling heights, and common lumber lengths. "This helped me how to read about tape measuring.". 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. Count to the second eighth-inch marking after the inch marking — this is the quarter-inch (and the line in the same spot on the other side of the half-inch mark is the three-quarter inch.). Thus, most manual tapes won't be much longer than the human arm span. In the United States, the imperial measurement system is normally used on a tape measure, though some models may have both the imperial and the metric system. 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. You just have to remember to subtract that inch. If it is, for instance, six inches at this point, then your wrist has a circumference of about six inches. Instead, reel it back slowly. Many tape measures will have 12-inch foot marks designated, eliminating the need to convert inches to feet yourself. For one thing, both are very short marks. 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. If the tape measure stretches exactly halfway between the 27 and 28 inch markings, this means that your arm is 27.5 inches long. Take your measurement from the tape and then add the 3" for the complete width. 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! When it comes to construction and craftsmanship, taking accurate measurements can be the difference between a great finished product and a subpar one. 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