How to Measure Dinner Plates & Bowls

When you shop for dinner plates and bowls, you'll notice that each piece is marked with a measurement. It's important to understand how these dishes are measured so you know what size your new tableware will be. The standard measurement for dinner plates and bowls is diameter, or the distance from one point on the edge of the plate to an opposite point all the way across the plate. Measuring your current dishes can give you a benchmark for buying new tableware or adding to your existing set.

Things You'll Need

• Dinner plate or bowl
• Ruler or tape measure

Instructions

1. Choose a point on the outside edge of your plate or bowl.

2. Extend your ruler or tape measure across the face of the plate to the opposite edge, so your ruler is dividing the plate exactly in half.

3. Read the measurement between the opposite edges. Include any border or lip on your dish, not just the usable surface. This is the diameter of your dish, which is always listed on labels and packaging for new dishware.

Tips & Warnings

• While diameter is the most common measurement for plates and bowls, some manufacturers also list dish depth. You can measure the depth of your plate or bowl by standing your ruler or tape measure vertically next to the dish. Place your plate or bowl on a flat table. Set one end of the ruler flat against the table, and read where the top edge of the dish hits the ruler. This is your depth.

References

• The Cover Store: How to Measure for a Perfect Fit