In the metric system, the standard unit of length is the meter. There are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter and 100 centimeters in 1 meter. In the imperial system, the standard unit of length is the foot. There are 12 inches in a foot, and 3 feet make a yard. Most of the world uses the metric system. The United States, Myanmar, and Liberia use the imperial system.
Use a ruler for objects smaller than a piece of paper. Imperial rulers are 1 foot long and metric rulers are 30 centimeters long. Use a yardstick or meter stick for medium objects bigger than a ruler. Yardsticks are 3 feet long (36 inches) and meter sticks are 1 meter long (100 centimeters). Use a tape measure for long objects, like the length of a room. Imperial tape measures use feet and inches, and metric ones use meters and centimeters.
Make sure the object and your measuring tool are lined up straight with each other. Otherwise, your measurement will be a diagonal instead of the straight length. Double check that your measuring tool reaches all the way along the object’s length. If it’s too short, grab a bigger measurer.
Metric rulers: The biggest tick marks show centimeters. These tick marks have numbers by them to help you count centimeters easily. There are 9 smaller tick marks inside each centimeter. These smaller ticks are millimeters (there are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter). Imperial rulers: The biggest tick marks with numbers are inches. Inches have different-sized ticks inside for different divisions: The largest ticks between inches are half inches. The mid-sized ticks between half inches are quarter inches. The second-smallest ticks between quarter inches are eighth inches. The smallest tick marks between eighth inches are sixteenth inches. Read measuring tapes the same way you’d read a ruler or measuring stick. The only difference is the extra markings that show feet or meters.
There are 9 smaller tick marks inside each centimeter. These smaller ticks are millimeters (there are 10 millimeters in 1 centimeter).
The largest ticks between inches are half inches. The mid-sized ticks between half inches are quarter inches. The second-smallest ticks between quarter inches are eighth inches. The smallest tick marks between eighth inches are sixteenth inches.
For example, if the tip of a pencil lands between the 5-inch mark and the 6-inch mark, the pencil is 5 inches plus a fraction of another inch long. If the pencil tip landed exactly on the 5-inch mark, then it’s exactly 5 inches long.
If the pencil tip lands past the 5-inch mark, count tick marks from “5” to the tip. If you count 3 eighth-inch ticks, then the pencil is an extra ⅜ inch long.
Consider why you’re measuring when you round. If you’re measuring wood to cut, for example, round up since you can always cut off more. [12] X Research source
Pretend you’re an American who wants to buy a shirt in France. You know your sleeve length in inches, but French stores measure clothes in centimeters. You’ll have to convert your sleeve length to centimeters to buy the right size. Some countries, like Canada, use a mix of both systems. In these places, knowing how to convert is very helpful![14] X Research source Some measuring tools have both metric and imperial tick marks. In this case, just read the ruler instead of converting units.
Metric to imperial conversions:[16] X Research source 1 millimeter = 0. 039 inches 1 centimeter = 0. 39 inches 1 meter = 1. 1 yards 1 kilometer = 0. 62 miles Imperial to metric conversions: 1 inch = 2. 5 centimeters 1 foot = 0. 3 meters 1 yard = 0. 91 meters 1 mile = 1. 6 kilometers
Alternatively, use an online conversion tool like Calculator. net for fast and accurate conversions.
Sleeves: Measure from the point where your spine meets the collar of your shirt, over your shoulder, down to your wrist. Inseam: Measure from the lowest part of the crotch to your ankle (with your shoes off). Dress shirt length: On the front of the shirt, measure from the bottom of the collar down to the tail of the shirt. Dress length: Measure from the top of the straps (or hollow of your neck for strapless dresses) down to the hemline of the dress. [19] X Research source Skirt length: Measure from your natural waist to the top of your kneecap along the side of your body. [20] X Research source
In imperial countries, cars measure distance in miles. In metric countries, distance is measured in kilometers.
Alternatively, use any object you have on hand to make a rough measurement—try books, spoons, pens, or jump ropes. Measure your nonstandard unit with a ruler or tape measure later to get a length estimate in metric or imperial units.
