How To Read A Measurement Tape | Tape measurement | inches and meter tape

In this article, we explain to you how to use measurement tape properly. As a civil engineer, it's a basic thing to learn to use it in day to day works 

A tape measure, also called measuring tape, is a type of flexible ruler. Measurement will consist of imperial (inches and feet) and metric system (cm, mm and meter) like the image shown below

How to read the tape in inches - imperial units?

Inch tape measure marks start at 16 lines which shows up to 1/32th of the inch. The first step in learning how to read a tape measure is to understand the markings. 

1.   Main Measurements are at 1 inch, 2 inches and 3 inches

2.   The half of inch - 1/2

3.   Quarters of the inch which are 1/4 or ¾

4.   Eight of the inch which is 1/8, 2/8,3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8 or 7/8 over 8/8 of an inch

5.   Sixteenth of the inch are 1, 2, 3,5,7,9,11,13,15 over 16 of an inch.

When you note down your measurements, keep in mind that

10'' is the inch and 10’ in the foot.

After every 12 inches, there is a foot marking.  This will be in a new colour, compared to other markings.

12” – 1feet

 

How to read the tape in meter (mm, cm and meter)

Meter tape (usually 5m tape) measure marks start at 10, which shows up to 10mm - 1cm. The first step in learning how to read a tape measure is to understand the markings.  The below image explains the lines and its denotes

MUST READ: Unit Conversion | Measurement Units | Site Engineer Must Read

 

Test for tape Measurement

Measurement - 1

The marker distance from 44 to 45 is, of course, 44cm. From the centimeter mark to the 8 mark is 8mm so, 44 + 0.8 = 44.8cm. ( 1cm – 10mm)

 

Measurement - 2

The marker distance from 2” to 3” is, of course, 2". From the centimetre from the inch mark to the 1/4" mark is 2/4". 2" + 2/4" = 1 ²/₄ ".