A tape measure looks busy, but once you know what the numbers and the little marks between them mean, reading it is straightforward. This explains inches and their fractions plus the metric side so you can measure accurately.
What you'll need
- A tape measure
Step by step
- Read the big numbersOn the imperial side, the largest numbers mark whole inches. On the metric side, the numbers usually mark centimetres.
- Understand the inch fractionsBetween each inch, the longest mark is the half inch, the next longest are quarters, then eighths, and the shortest lines are sixteenths of an inch.
- Count the small marksTo read a fraction, count the small marks past the last whole inch. For example, four sixteenth marks past 3 inches is 3 and one quarter inches.
- Read the metric sideOn the metric edge, each centimetre is divided into 10 small marks, and each of those is a millimetre. A slightly longer mark often shows the half centimetre.
- Use the hook correctlyThe metal hook at the end slides slightly on purpose to account for its own thickness, giving accurate readings whether you hook onto an edge or push against it.
- Take the measurementPull the tape taut and straight, read the mark where your object ends, and note both the whole number and the fraction or millimetres.
Handy tips
- Many tapes mark 16-inch intervals in red for spacing wall studs; ignore those red marks for normal measuring.
- Keep the tape flat and straight, since a sagging or angled tape reads longer than the true length.
- The small diamond marks on some tapes indicate joist spacing and can be ignored for everyday tasks.
FAQ
What are the little lines between the inch numbers?
They divide each inch into fractions. The longest is a half, then quarters, eighths, and the tiniest lines are sixteenths of an inch.
Why does the metal end of the tape wobble?
That movement is intentional. The hook slides by exactly its own thickness so measurements are accurate whether you hook onto or push against an edge.
How do I read millimetres on a tape measure?
On the metric side, each centimetre is split into 10 equal marks. Each mark is one millimetre, so count them past the last whole centimetre.