How To Read A Tape Measure In Inches And Feet

Tape measures come in both imperial units inches and feet and metric centimeters and meters featuring unit breakdowns for further accuracy.

How to read a tape measure in inches and feet. When using a metric tape measure the measurements appear in centimeters millimeters and sometimes meters. If the tape measure stretches exactly halfway between the 27 and 28 inch markings this means that your arm is 27 5 inches long. Mostly utilize imperial measurements which means that you measure in feet inches and fractions of inches. For instance let s say you hold one end of a tape measure in the tips of your fingers and stretch the other end all the way to the crook of your armpit to determine how long your arm is.

How to read inches on a tape measure similar to reading rulers the large numbers on a standard tape measure are the inch marks. On the outside of the tape measure you will see a belt clip a blade lock or button and the tip or hook also known as the rivet which is the end of the tape. Belt clip blade lock hook tip or rivit. The guides below for how to read a tape measure and how to measure on a tape measure.

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. Watch more home repair diy videos. Queries are not only how to read a measuring tape also arise what is soot in measuring tap how many mm in one soot how many feet in one inch how many soot in one inch but these are also the common simple and most important questions for general knowledge and practice because we always use in daily life. Foot markers are the longest lines on the tape measure and sometimes extend the entire width of the tape.

While standard tape measures usually go from 15 50 feet long tapes go to greater lengths such as 100 feet or more and retract with a hand crank. Specialized versions can include markings that cover truss lengths for roofing and stud intervals for housing. Even if you don t have a tenths calibrated measuring tape however you can still indirectly measure length in tenths. Most tape measures tell you where each foot mark is located along with the whole inch designation.

Before we dive into how to read tape measure increments let s go over the lay of the land. Tape measures in the u s.