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The adage "measure twice, cut once" is the key to success for a variety of craft and construction projects. Following this advice often requires the use of a tape measure - a flexible cloth, metal or fiberglass tape with variable lengths of measurement marks.
Almost everyone is familiar with the capabilities of a tape measure, but we wanted to know how the various top models compared to their competitors. We tested the best tape measures on the market to see if they met the manufacturer's requirements. We checked their quality, accuracy and ability to stand up to repeated use. Keep reading to learn more about what makes the best tape measure options stand out - and don't miss the pros and cons we found in our hands-on testing.
The Stanley 25-foot PowerLock tape measure comes from a well-known name in the construction industry - a reliable and accurate choice for anyone who needs to make precision cuts. We're familiar with the Stanley brand, so it's no surprise to us that this 25-foot tape performs well.
The PowerLock features a stainless steel housing with a sturdy blade lock that holds the extended blade securely in place without slipping. The durable metal of the blade allows us to extend the blade to nearly 10 feet before it bends - quite an accomplishment compared to bending thinner blades 5 feet or less. the PowerLock has a 3-rivet reinforced shank foot for precise measurement and the blade has imperial-only dimensions in ⅙-inch increments.
It also features a pre-marked (red) 16-inch symbol for easy positioning of studs, with black diamonds every 19.2 inches (another typical frame pitch). After 1 foot (12 inches), the Stanley tape measure displays foot and inch measurements as well as cumulative inch measurements. For example, it shows both 30 inches and 2 feet 6 inches. We found the tape to be very accurate and durable. It also comes with a clip for easy carrying in your pocket or on your belt.
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The hook down fork on the foot of the Ryobi 25ft tape measure is perfect for hooking the tape measure under the bottom edge of an object, such as the bottom of a table. We were impressed with the rubber overmolding of the Ryobi tape measure's soft, non-slip surface. The foot is reinforced with three rivets for added durability, and the Ryobi blade is smooth and durable-we were able to extend it nearly 8 feet before the blade bent (protruding).
This durable tape measure is available in imperial sizes in 1/16-inch and centimeter increments. It also features graphic markings every 16 inches and 19.2 inches, making it ideal for mounting or pinpointing standard spacing frame members.
We found the blade lock on the Ryobi to be snug and strong - no slippage at all. Compared to steel measuring tools, the Ryobi is very accurate, as it should be. However, the belt clip is wire rather than solid stainless steel, and we found it insufficient to hold the tool tightly to a belt or pocket.
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DIY enthusiasts don't have to spend a lot of money to get an accurate tape measure; the Komelon Self-Locking 25-Foot Power Tape comes with precise imperial measurements on both edges of the blade, making it easy to take accurate measurements from either side without guessing.
Komelon has a convenient "self-locking" feature that automatically engages the tape when we pull it out, and instead of the user manually pressing the blade lock, Komelon holds the blade in place by itself. When we are done checking the accuracy of the measurement, we press a bright green button and the blade retracts smoothly. This is a great feature for those who don't want to engage the blade lock by hand (some are very stiff).
Unfortunately, we found that the auto-lock feature did not work well on longer lengths. For example, it engaged at 4 feet, but the blade slipped a bit at 20 feet. Nonetheless, the measurement was still very accurate - despite the error - and we were able to lock the blade manually using the green button.
The Komelon also has graphic symbols every 16 inches and 19.2 inches, making it ideal for standard framing measurements. It showcases over 7 feet of rigid blade prominence, making it a very decent price point.
making it a very decent tape measure for the price point, all things considered.
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Those looking for a quality compact tape measure need only look at the LEXIVON 16-foot tape measure, which comes with imperial and metric measurements and graphic markings to indicate the 16-inch and 19.2-inch standard frame measurements. For the most part, we prefer a tape measure of at least 25 feet, but the LEXIVON is a welcome exception.
The LEXIVON tape is only 16 feet long, but it's just right for smaller jobs that don't require longer lengths. It has smooth rubber overmolding, a steel tape/pocket clip and a hooked fork that allows the user to grip the top or bottom side of the item being measured. We were able to extend it nearly 6 feet before it bent (protruding).
The numbers are easy to read, and we were impressed that the tool has a dual blade locking system. It comes with a standard blade lock, but we found it had a few other innovations and little ideas that we discovered: a pressure-sensitive button on the bottom of the housing. By pressing the button, we could stop the blade from moving; if we let go of the button slightly, the blade would slowly retract. Anyone who has been cut by a metal tape blade that retracts too quickly will love the pressure lock on the LEXIVON.
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Everything about the Craftsman 25-foot tape measure is built with quality in mind, and this tool is built to last. We noted the quality of this tape measure during our initial inspection. The housing is made of heavy-duty molded polyethylene with partial rubber grips on the top and bottom edges. The belt clip is made of polished solid steel and the metal blade is coated with nylon for durability and rust resistance.
We checked the measurements on the Craftsman tape measure against our steel ruler and the results were as accurate as we expected. The tape comes with standard graphic symbols every 16 inches and 19.2 inches. The tool has a 3-riveted shank foot and a solid-feeling locking button that takes the guesswork out of which direction is locked and which is unlocked - it's labeled. The tape is also self-locking, perfect for those who don't want to spend extra time manually setting the lock.
Although this tape measure only has imperial measurements, it is an improvement over some tape measures because incremental scores are printed along the bottom edge of the blade. The movement on the blade is smooth and the retraction is controlled and even.
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The DeWalt 100-foot tape measure shines when excavating or sizing plots in release areas. This type of tape measure is not suited for precise woodworking cuts, but it's not designed for that job. Instead, the 100-foot reel tape is used to get longer measurements, and it's often used outdoors - for laying foundations or determining the length of a proposed fence line.
We were familiar with reel tapes and DeWalt products, so we had high hopes for this particular tool - and we weren't disappointed. The shank foot has a folding tip for mounting on a nail or screw head, a rugged molded plastic case and a partial rubber grip. We hooked the shank foot onto the nail and stretched the tape to its maximum length. The flexible fiberglass blade is coated with a rust-resistant coating that gives it stability - it won't flip from side to side in the wind like some reel-to-reel tapes.
The stainless steel crank arm fits snugly without any gaps, and it has a 5-to-1 gear ratio, which allows us to wind the entire tape with just a dozen turns. The tape comes with a stainless steel hiking buckle clip, which we found to be perfect for hanging on a garage hook. Measurements are imperial and in ⅛-inch increments only - but that's standard for this type of tape. We were impressed.
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The Milwaukee name is nationally known for high-quality construction tools and accessories, and the Milwaukee 25-foot Self-Locking Tape Measure is no exception. As with all of the tapes we tested, Milwaukee's measurements were spot on. The tape's bold black full-inch numbers are large and easy to read against a soft yellow background.
In addition, smaller fractions are marked along the bottom edge of the tape, ¼-inch fractions are shown in bold, and ⅛-inch fractions are shown in regular font for an easy-to-read look.
The Milwaukee tape measure has a 3-riveted shank foot with a hook and fork that allows the user to grip the top or bottom of the item being measured. The tape is the longest of all, at just under 9 feet before bending, and the tool comes with a self-locking feature that prevents the blade from retracting until we press the retract button.
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With the DTAPE laser measurement, there is no need to hang a shank foot on the nail head or recruit helpers to hold the tape end in place. No need to lock the blade in place or worry if it retracts too quickly and breaks your hand. With this digital tape measure, determining the distance is as easy as pushing a button and reading the number on the LED screen.
We tested the DTAPE's accuracy against other tape measures in the series and the results were within ¼ to ½ inch. This is not accurate enough for construction or carpentry projects. Nonetheless, it is still very accurate for calculating the width, length, volume and area of a room for estimating purposes or estimating paint, carpet or wallpaper.
Plus, it's fast and easy. The digital tape is powered by two AAA batteries (included) and, in addition to determining distances, it also has a calculator function. We tested its calculations and while they are accurate, it is much faster to calculate estimates on a standard construction calculator.
The red laser dot was bright and easy to see - we positioned the tool and then directed the laser to the point we wanted to measure, and it gave us the distance immediately.
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Longer measurements, such as across an entire lot or from the curb to the back of a house, require the use of long reel tapes, and that's what the Komelon 300-foot open reel tape measure is designed to do. All 300 feet of lime green fiberglass tape is neatly wrapped around the center spool and held in place by a sturdy molded polyethylene arm bracket for a snug and even wrap.
The shank foot has a long, fold-down spike that can be mounted on a nail or screw head, and the Komelon comes with a separate bright orange spike that is pushed into the ground to define the starting point. We've used tape before, but the reel twists when rewound, but the fiberglass tape on the Komelon is just stiff enough to help keep it straight.
Both sides of the tape have imperial measurements in ⅛-inch increments, which is the standard for spool tapes. The winding handle is solid and folds up along the top to act as a lock to keep the tape from being pulled out. It winds at an easy pace - not too fast - but it doesn't take long either. The reel tape is strong and durable, and we found it to be one of the best models we have tested.
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The vast majority of tape measures sold in the U.S. come with imperial measurements, and many are imperial sizes only. For the few that do include metric measurements, the numbers are often small and difficult to see. this is not the case with the Zabiki 25-foot easy-to-read tape measure, which comes with clearly marked inches and centimeters.
An impressive side benefit of this tape measure is the strong magnetic foot, which is not found on any other tape measure we tested. When we rested the foot against the metal, we were able to pull the tape measure back to extend the blade and the magnetic foot stayed secure. This provided many opportunities to measure metal objects without the need for an assistant to hold the shank foot in place. We like this feature.
The Zabiki comes with 3 riveted feet for durability and a sturdy case with a partial rubber grip. The only drawback we found with this tool was that the blade lock had a tendency to stick and we had to apply considerable pressure to engage it. Our excellent testing showed that the Zabiki could extend to nearly 6 feet before bending. This is an excellent tape measure for those who want to use both imperial and metric measurements.
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To earn a spot in our lineup, every tape measure must be accurate and precise. Fortunately, we tested all of them, so that wasn't a problem. We then proceeded to perform various other tests, pushing each tape measure to its limit. We extended each one to its maximum length - which may not happen in general use - but it was necessary to test how the blade ends were attached and whether pulling on them would pull them out of the housing. For each test we performed, we gave a score between 0 and 4 based on how well the tape measured.
All metal tapes were tested for protruding length, or the length they could be extended in the air before being bent. Those with larger protruding lengths received more points.
Each tape was carefully inspected and given a score based on how well its shank legs were attached and how legible the markings were. We examined how well the tapes performed in terms of their intended use. For example, we wanted long rolls of tape that could measure long distances without twisting or blowing excessively in the breeze. However, this is not an aspect of standard cassette tapes.
We added points for durability, material quality and workmanship, and marked when the tape contained both imperial and metric measurements. That said, we didn't stop with the tape because of the lack of metrics, as many American DIY enthusiasts and professionals only use imperial measurements.
At the end of the test, we calculate the score and if a tool scores unusually low, we exclude it from the list. We use other counts to determine the best use for the tape measure that performed well in our tests.
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