Content

• Steps
• Advice

There are two types of rulers: the inch scale divided by the fractions, and the metric ruler divided by the decimal number. Reading the tape measure might seem very complicated with tiny lines, but it is actually quite simple. Once you understand the basics listed below, you should have no trouble measuring with either of these.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Read inch rulers

1. 

   Let's take an inch ruler. You will recognize these rulers because they have 12 bars representing the inches on the ruler. 12 inches equals 1 foot (0.305 m). Each foot is divided into inches. Each inch is divided into 15 smaller lines, for a total of 16 lines per inch on the ruler.
   • The longer the line on the ruler surface, the larger the measurement. Arranged from 1 inch to 1/16 inch, the bar will be reduced in size like the unit of measure.
   • Make sure you read the ruler from left to right. If you are dimensioning an object, align the object to the left of the zero line on the ruler. The end point of the object touches to the left of the line is its measurement in inches.

2. 

   
   
   Learn about inch lines. A ruler consists of 12 inch bars. They are usually numbered and represented by the longest bar on the ruler. For example, if you want to measure a nail, place one end on the upper left side of the ruler. If the other end of the nail is just above the long line 5, its length is 5 inches.
   • Some rulers also have 1/2 inch numbers, so be sure to use the largest number with the longest line as the inch bar.

3. 

   
   
   Learn about 1/2 inch lines. The 1/2 inch line will be the second longest line on the ruler, half an inch. Each 1/2 inch line will lie between two inch lines because it is half of each inch. This means the line is between 0 and 1 inch, 1 and 2 inches, 2 and 3 inches, etc. on the ruler, is the 1/2 inch line. A total of 24 such lines on the 12-inch ruler.
   • For example, place the ruler next to the pencil with the eraser end to the left of the ruler. Mark the position of the pencil tip on the ruler. If the pencil tip is on the shorter line between the 4 and 5 inch lines, your pencil is 4 and 1/2 inch long.

4. 

   
   
   Learn the 1/4 inch line. Between the two 1/2 inch lines, there will be a smaller line representing 1/4 inch. For the first inch, you will have 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch markings. Although 1/2 inch and 1 inch have their own markings, they are still a part of the 1/4 inch measurement because 2/4 inch is half an inch and 4/4 inch equals 1 inch. There are a total of 48 1/4 inch lines on a 12 inch ruler.
   • For example, if you measure a whole carrot and its end falls on the line between 6 1/2 and 7 inches, the carrot is 6 and 3/4 inches long.

5. 

   Learn the 1/8 inch line. This line is smaller and is located between two 1/4 inch lines. Between 0 and 1 inch there are lines representing 1/8, 1/4 (or 2/8), 3/8, 1/2 (or 4/8), 5/8, 6/8 (or 3/4 ), 7/8, and 1 (8/8) inch. A total of 96 such lines on the 12-inch ruler.
   • For example, you measure a piece of cloth and the tip of the cloth hits the 6th line after the 4-inch line, exactly between the 1/4 inch line and the 1/2 inch line. That means the cloth is 4 and 3/8 inch long.

6. 

   Learn about the 1/16 inch line. This small line is between two 1/8 inch lines and represents 1/16 inch. This is the smallest line on the ruler. The first smallest line to the left of the ruler is the 1/16 inch line. Between 0 and 1 inch, there are lines representing 1/16, 2/16 (or 1/8), 3/16, 4/16 (or 1/4), 5/16, 6/16 (or 3 /). 8), 7/16, 8/16 (or 1/2), 9/16, 10/16 (or 5/8), 11/16, 12/16 (3/4), 13/16, 14 / 16 (or 7/8), 15/16, 16/16 (or 1) inch. There are a total of 192 such lines on the ruler.
   • For example, you measure a flower stalk and the end of the stem is on the 11th line after the 5-inch line. So the flower stalks are 5 and 11/16 inches long.
   • Not all rulers have 1/16 inch bars. If you are going to measure small objects that require great precision, make sure the ruler you use has such marks.
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Method 2 of 2: Read the meter ruler

1. 

   Take the metric ruler. The metric ruler is based on the International Measurement System (SI), sometimes called the metric system, and is divided into millimeters and centimeters instead of inches. The ruler is usually 30 centimeters long, indicated by the large numbers on the ruler. Between two centimeter lines there are 10 small lines called millimeters (mm).
   • Remember to read the ruler from left to right. If you are measuring an object, place it in line with the left side of the zero line on the ruler. The end point of the object to the left of the line is its size in centimeters. For this type of ruler the line thickness does not affect the measurement.
   • Unlike a yardstick, a metric measure is written as a decimal instead of a fraction. For example, 1/2 centimeter is written 0.5 cm.

2. 

   Learn the centimeter line. The large numbers next to the longest lines on the ruler represent the centimeter lines. A metric ruler has 30 such lines. For example, place the flat end of the crayon to the left of the ruler to measure the size of the pen. Mark the point of the tip. If the pen's end point is on the 14-inch long line, the crayon is exactly 14cm long.

3. 

   Learn the 1/2 centimeter line. In the middle of each centimeter there is a slightly shorter line representing 1/2 centimeter, or 0.5 cm. There are 60 such lines on the 30 cm ruler.
   • For example, you want to measure the size of a button and its edge reaches the fifth line right between the 1 and 2 centimeters mark. Your button is 1.5cm long.
   • For example, to measure 0.6 cm, count one thick line (5 mm) and one thin line (1 mm).

4. 

   Learn the millimeter line. Between each 0.5 cm line there are four more millimeter lines. Each centimeter has 10 millimeter lines in all, in which the 0.5 cm line is the 5-millimeter line, so each centimeter is 10mm long. There are 300 millimeter lines on a 30-cm ruler.
   • For example, if you measure a piece of paper and the end of the paper hits the 7th line between the 24 and 25 centimeters mark, that means the piece of paper is 247mm long, or 24.7cm.
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Advice

• To learn how to read the rulers, you need to practice, especially how to convert measurements. Just remember to practice using a ruler and you will become more fluent.
• Make sure to always use the correct ruler face while measuring. You don't want to confuse centimeters and inches or your measurements are inaccurate. So remember that the yard has 12 large numbers and the yardstick has 30 digits.