How to Read Measurements on a Measuring Tape

A measuring tape does a lot more than just tell you how many inches something is. Standard measuring tapes break distances down into a number of different units, including inches, 1/2 inches, 1/4 inches and 1/8 inches. Each unit is designated on the tape using different sized hash marks. You will use these hash marks to properly read the measurements on your measuring tape.

Instructions

1. Stretch your tape measure across the two points you are trying to measure. The beginning of your tape measure should rest on one point and the tape measure should extend across the surface to the other point.

2. Look at the large numbers written on your tape measure. Each number represents the number of inches that your tape measure is extended. The space between the two largest hash marks on your tape measure is one inch. If your tape measure is stretched out to the "4" marking, this means that your object is 4 inches.

3. Examine the second largest hash marking on the tape measure. These hash marks appear directly in the center between two inch marks. This hash mark represents 1/2-inch increments.

4. Look at the third largest hash marking on the tape measure. These hash marks appear in between the inch marking and the 1/2-inch marking. These hash marks represent 1/4-inch increments.

5. Find the smallest hash marking on the tape measure. These hash marks represent 1/8-inch increments. If the object you are measuring extends past the large "4" inch hash mark and across three of the smaller 1/8-inch hash marks, this makes the measurement 4 and 3/8 inches.

References

• Levolor: How to Measure

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish