How to Read the Measuring Tape Used for Construction

Understand all the ins and outs of a tape measure.

If you are performing any sort of home remodeling that requires you to use a tape measure, you need to know exactly how to read the information printed on the tape. Although the inch lines are clearly marked, you are not always going to be measuring objects by the inch--and a measurement rarely falls exactly on one of the marked numbers. Thankfully, the numbers are rather straightforward, and once you understand the tape measure, you aren't going to have a problem measuring construction again.

Instructions

1. Look at how each inch is marked with a large number. This allows you to easily see what inch mark you are at. Even though the measurement may not fall on the exact marking, it prevents you from counting all the inches from your starting position.

2. Notice the longer lines directly in between the solid inch marks. These longer lines are the 1/2-inch marks.

3. Look at the small lines running down the length of the tape measure. There are 16 of these small lines inside 1 inch. The 1/2-inch mark is the eighth line between the 2 inches. This allows you to measure down to 1/16 of an inch.

4. Flip the tape measure over. Sometimes measuring tape has meter measurements in between. These measurements are not often used in the United States, but the numbers are far easier to divide. A meter (slightly longer than a foot) is made up of 100cm. Each centimeter is than made up of 100mm. Each centimeter is typically marked off with a number, while the millimeters are the smaller dashes in between the centimeters.

References

• Mighty Guide: How to Read a Tape Measure