How to Read a Tape Measure – Reeb Learning Center (2024)
An accurate measurement is vital when ordering a new door unit and using a tape measure to record accurate dimensions is key to a ordering a unit that will last for years.
A standard tape measure in the United States uses inches as the base for measurement with sixteen tick marks in between each inch marker. The smallest tick marks denote the odd numbered sixteenth marks such as 1/16, 3/16 up to 15/16.
Between the odd numbered sixteenth tick marks are longer tick marks noting even numbers. In order to make measurements easier to remember and record, each even tick mark is divided by two until it reaches its lowest common denominator. So, 2/16 is divisible by 2 down to 1/8, 6/16 to 3/8, 10/16 to 5/8 and 14/16 to 7/8.
The next longest tick marks of 4/16 and 12/16 are each divisible by 2 twice down to 1/4 and 3/4.
When reading a tape measure, find the closest whole inch to the end point. Then examine leftover indicator lines to see what fractions of an inch remain. Add those to the whole inches for your total measurement. To read an inch, look for the large numbers.
The bottom edge has a half- scale so when you find your measurement on top and match it to the half measurement on the bottom, you have essentially divided your measurement in two and have found the mid-point, or CENTER of your object. All without doing any math!
The biggest tick mark usually represents inches. The second biggest mark represents 1/2-inch, the third biggest represents 1/4-inch, the second smallest denotes 1/8-inch, and the smallest denotes 1/16-inch. It helps to remember that the 1/16-inch mark is the first mark you'll see after or before a whole-inch mark.
Reading a tape measure can be mind-bogglingly difficult if you're unfamiliar. There are an abundance of small lines and marks, each one smaller than the last. Between inches, feet, and fractions of them both, it can be difficult to know what the numbers even mean.
The black diamonds which appear every 19 3/16” on metal tape measures are for spacing I-beam “timbers.” Several wood-product manufacturers offer I-beam “timbers” as a substitute for solid lumber floor joists.
The black diamond marks every 19.2" on our tape rule blades. This is for spacing of engineered joists common on job sites. The 19.2 inches allows for a break at 8 foot to accommodate full sheets of plywood.
Try to keep the tape as straight as possible while measuring. If it sags, you won't get an accurate read. If you are marking your measurement, use a “v” (instead of a single line) for accuracy, with the bottom point directly on your measurement.
The large numbers are the units you're measuring, like inches or centimeters, and the markings between the large numbers correspond to fractions of that unit. To learn about the differences between the imperial system and the metric system, read on!
A standard tape measure in the United States uses inches as the base for measurement with sixteen tick marks in between each inch marker. The smallest tick marks denote the odd numbered sixteenth marks such as 1/16, 3/16 up to 15/16.
If you refer to the diagram above and move away from the zero point, you'll see a series of large numbers representing either Inches on the top or cm on the bottom half of the tape blade. Each number represents a full unit of measurement for example 1” or 1cm.
Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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