How to Measure Length Using Everyday Objects & Body Parts

Download Article

Easy hacks to estimate length without a ruler or tape measure

Co-authored by Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil. Reviewed by Grace Imson, MA

Last Updated: September 30, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Using Everyday Objects

|

Using Your Body

|

Video

When it comes to everyday life, people don’t usually carry around rulers in their purses and pockets. However, sometimes you might need to take a quick measurement of something and don’t have a ruler on hand. Keep reading for easy ways to measure with everyday objects or with your own body (i.e., your thumb, hand, or arm). You’ll be able to measure things like a pro, while impressing all your friends with your resourcefulness!

How to Measure by Hand (Without a Ruler)

Compare the item you’re measuring to an object with a known length, like a dollar bill (6.14 in), quarter (0.96 in), or credit card (3.375 in).
Use a standard-size sheet of paper (8.5x11 in) for reference.
Or, measure the item against a body part like your top thumb joint (about 1 in) or forearm (about 1 foot).
Measure the object with your shoe size, then convert the length later once you’ve measured your shoe.

Section 1 of 2:

Measuring Items Using Everyday Objects

Download Article

1
Check your wallet for currency to use as a mini ruler. All US and EU currencies are a standard size. Keep in mind that not all euro banknotes have the same dimensions.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- All US bills are 2.61 inches (6.6 cm) wide and 6.14 inches (15.6 cm) long (or roughly 6 inches).
- A US quarter is .96 inches (2.4 cm) long, or roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm).^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- A 5 euro bill is 120 millimetres (4.7 in) long, and a 50 euro bill is 140 millimetres (5.5 in) long and about 3 inches (76 mm) wide.^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
2
Pull out a credit card or business card to use as a rough guide. You can measure objects by placing the card alongside the object. Then compare the size of the card to the size of the object.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- A standard credit card is 3.375 inches (8.57 cm) long.
- A standard business card is 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) long and 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
Advertisement
3
Use a sheet of printer paper as a reference point. If you don't have access to a printer and the piece of printer paper isn't standard-sized, the dimensions of the printer paper can often be found on the front of its packaging. Then, compare the size of that paper with the object you're measuring.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Standard US and Canadian printer paper is 8.5 inches (22 cm) by 11 inches (28 cm).
- Standard international printer paper is 210 millimetres (8.3 in) by 297 millimetres (11.7 in).
- Keep in mind that 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters (cm) and 25.4 millimeters (mm).
4
Find a ribbon to act as a makeshift tape measure. To know how to measure without a tape measure, personal stylist Kate Breen suggests "taking a ribbon and wrapping it around your wrist. Mark it where the two ends would meet up. Later, take the ribbon over to a ruler or measuring tape and compare the length of the ribbon to the length of the ruler/measuring tape to get the circumference."^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Kate Breen
Personal Stylist

Expert Interview}
- The average man’s wrist has a circumference of 7 inches (17.8 cm), and the average woman’s wrist is 6 inches (15.2 cm).^{[8]
  X
  Research source} When you mark your ribbon, you can use these as an estimated length if you’re unsure of your wrist size.
- Use this method when you need to measure clothes without a measuring tape.
5
Print out an online ruler. There are many basic templates that can be found online. This is an easy solution, but it will only work if you have access to a printer.
- Find a printable ruler you can access for free and keep it nearby when you need it.

Section 2 of 2:

Measuring Using Your Body

Download Article

1
Use your thumb or index finger to approximate an inch. The distance between the tip of your thumb and your thumb’s top knuckle is roughly 1 inch (2.5 cm). The first joint of your index finger is also about 1 inch long.^{[9]
X
Research source}
- Keep in mind that this is an approximation. If your thumb or index finger is particularly long or short, your estimated measurement could be off from the actual length of the item you’re measuring.
2
Locate your hand length and span. For your hand span, stretch your fingers as wide as possible, then measure your hand from the tip of your thumb to the tip of your pinkie—it’s usually about 9 inches (22.9 cm); the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger is usually about 6 inches (15 cm). Knowing the size of your palm and fingers can make it easy to measure small objects of various sizes.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- The length from the wrist line to the tip of the middle finger is approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm).
3
Measure from your elbow to the top of your fist to determine a foot. Bend your arm 90 degrees, and use the distance from where your forearm meets your elbow to the top of your fist, at whichever knuckle is the longest. This equals approximately 1 foot, which makes it easier when you need to measure in feet, not in inches.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- The length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger (when outstretched) is typically approximately 18 inches (45.7 cm).
4
Learn your arm length. Measure your arm length by standing against a wall with your feet together and arms extended horizontally at a 90-degree angle; face your palms forward or downwards. With a flexible tape measure, measure the distance from the tip of the middle finger of one hand to the tip of the middle finger of the other hand.^{[12]
X
Research source}
- If possible, have someone hold the tape measure at the 0 mark on one side and another person take the reading on the opposite side.
5
Measure your height using everyday objects for reference. First, stand straight with your back against a wall and your feet flat and together. Measure your height by marking it on a wall and measuring the distance from the floor to the mark against an everyday object with a known length.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- This is an easy way to measure your height by yourself when you don’t have a second person to help.
6
Make use of your shoe size. Measure the length of your foot from the heel to your longest toe. This measurement is typically used for determining room dimensions, i.e., square feet. Search for an online shoe size conversion chart to easily convert your shoe size to inches and centimeters.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Your shoe size can also sometimes be located on the tongue, on the inner topmost part of your shoe, or on the bottom of the sole.