To read a measuring tape, follow these steps depending on whether you are using an imperial (inches) or metric (centimeters/millimeters) tape:
Reading an Imperial Tape Measure (Inches and Fractions)
- Identify the inch marks: The longest lines on the tape represent whole inches, usually numbered clearly.
- Understand the fractional increments: Between each inch, there are smaller lines representing fractions of an inch. Typically, these are divided into halves (1/2"), quarters (1/4"), eighths (1/8"), and sixteenths (1/16"). The shorter the line, the smaller the fraction it represents.
- Counting fractions: For example, between 5 and 6 inches, if the measurement falls on the seventh smallest line after 5, it would be 5 and 7/16 inches.
- Add whole inches and fractions: To get the final measurement, combine the whole inch number with the fraction indicated by the smaller marks.
- Tip on the tape hook: The metal hook at the tape's end is designed to move slightly to account for inside and outside measurements, so align it properly.
- Example: If your measurement is past the 6-inch mark but before the 7-inch mark, and lines up with the first 1/16 inch line, the measurement is 6 and 1/16 inches
Reading a Metric Tape Measure (Centimeters and Millimeters)
- Centimeters and millimeters: Metric tapes are marked in centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm). Each centimeter is divided into 10 millimeters.
- Numbering: Centimeters are usually numbered, while millimeters are marked as smaller lines between centimeter marks.
- Measurement: Count the number of full centimeters and add the millimeters to get the precise measurement. For example, if the tape shows 3 full centimeters and 7 small marks beyond that, the measurement is 3.7 cm or 37 mm
Additional Tips
- Count the marks: On imperial tapes, count the number of small marks between inch lines to understand the fraction (commonly 16 marks per inch).
- Practice: Watching videos or using a cheat sheet with fractions can help familiarize you with the markings.
- Choose the right tape: Some tapes have fractions labeled, which can make reading easier for beginners
By understanding the longest marks as whole units and the shorter marks as fractional increments, you can accurately read any tape measure for your projects
