How to Read a Tape Measure
Introduction
Reading a tape measure is fairly simple. At some point, you may need to learn this method. Everyone is presented with the need for this device at one time or another. Whether it may be positioning a couch, fixing a piece of furniture or building a cabinet, reading a tape measure is important.
The Basics
Tape measures have various lines indicating certain measurements.
The top portion of a standard tape measure is feet, inches and fractions of inches.
The bottom portion of this device is centimeters and millimeters.
12 inches is 1 foot.
10 millimeters is 1 centimeter.
On the foot measurement section, the red numbers or ft numbers are the feet measurements. This is depending on the type of tape measure you are using.
The inches are displayed in large numbers.
The middle line between inches is 1/2; the second largest lines are 1/4th. The third largest lines are 1/8th and the smallest are 1/16th.
Begin Reading a Tape Measure
Place the object you are trying to take measurements of on a flat surface or sawing table. It is important that the object is flat or your measurements may be slightly off. If you are attempting a home project, you could ruin your plans if your measurements are not correct.
Larger objects should be read in inches and feet. There are times when you may need to use centimeters or millimeters for what you are trying to accomplish. English instructions are completed in inches and feet measurements.
When taking measurements, you need to line up the tape measure completely from the start of the item.
Measuring a remote control:
The tape measure must be placed length wise with the remote to record the length.
At the end of the object you may encounter the object inside the fraction portion of the inches. Between the first inch and the second inch there are 16 lines.
If the object lands in the middle of an inch it is the inch number and 1/2. IE 7 1/2 inches. If the object lands on one of the smaller lines it could be 1/4 or 3/4. This is because 2/4th is 1/2 and 4/4th is the next inch. The same method works with 1/8th as well as with 1/16th. You always want to take the smallest number possible in your measurements.
If the remote is 8 inches and 10/16th, the correct measurement would be 8 5/8 inches.
This same concept works with centimeters and millimeters.
The remote control that is 8 5/8 inches would translate to 21.7 centimeters or 217 millimeters.
When working with the centimeters and millimeters measurements, be aware that you cannot combined the two. It has to be either centimeters or millimeters. It cannot be both.
Tips and Suggestions
A tape measure is a fairly simple process to understand.
To get the exact measurements that you need to complete the task at hand, use a pencil or a piece of tape to mark the exact spot.
If a measurement is off, you could ruin the whole job at hand.
Take extra care and check the measurement 2 or 3 times to be sure that they are correct.