The Best Tape Measures - Tested by Bob Vila

By Andreana Lefton, Glenda Taylor

Updated on Oct 24, 2022 5:10 PM EDT

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The “measure twice, cut once” adage is the key to success in all kinds of craft and construction projects. Following this advice often requires the use of a tape measure—a flexible cloth, metal, or fiberglass ribbon of variable length with measurement markings.

Virtually everyone is familiar with the function of a tape measure, but we wanted to know how various top models compared to their competitors. We personally tested the best tape measures on the market to see if they lived up to their manufacturer claims. We inspected them for quality, precision, and the ability to stand up to repetitive use. Read on to learn more about what makes the best tape measure options stand out—and don’t miss the pros and cons we discovered in our hands-on testing.

To earn a spot in our lineup, each of the tape measures had to be accurate and precise. Fortunately, all the ones we tested were, so that wasn’t an issue. We then moved on to various other tests that pushed each tape measure to its limit. We extended each one out to its maximum length—something that may not happen in general use—but it was necessary to test how the ends of the blades were connected and whether pulling on them would pull them out of the case. For each of the tests we performed, we awarded points between 0 and 4, depending on how well the tape measured up.

All of the metal tapes were tested for standout length, or the length to which it could be extended in the air before it bent. The ones with greater standout lengths received more points.Each tape was also closely inspected and awarded points for how well its tang was attached and whether its markings were clear and easy to read. We looked at how well a tape performed for its intended usage. For example, we expected the long reel tapes to measure long distances without the tapes twisting or blowing unduly in a breeze. That wasn’t an aspect for the standard cased tapes, however.

We awarded points for durability and the quality of materials and workmanship and noted when a tape included both imperial and metric measurements. Still, we didn’t dock a tape for not having metrics since many U.S. DIYers and pros use only imperial measurements.

At the end of the tests, we tallied the points, and if a tool came in with an unusually low number of points, we excluded it from the list. We used the other tallies to determine the best-intended usage for the tape measures that excelled in our tests.

The following products all had to meet our high testing standards to qualify for a spot in this lineup of the best tape measures. In addition to scrutinizing each one and comparing their measurements against a steel measuring tool for accuracy, we noted how easy it was to pull the blade out and how smoothly it retracted back into the housing. We also looked at quality, blade standout, blade lock, and the overall design of the tape. The results? The following models all made the cut—but keep reading—each one comes with some upsides and a few downsides.

From a name well known in the building industry comes the Stanley 25-foot PowerLock tape measure—a dependable and accurate choice for anyone needing to make precision cuts. We’re familiar with the Stanley brand, so we were not surprised that this 25-foot tape performed exceptionally well.

The PowerLock features a stainless steel case and comes with a strong blade lock that holds the extended blade firmly without slipping. The durable metal of the blade allowed us to extend it to nearly 10 feet before the blade bent—quite an accomplishment compared to thinner blades that bend at 5 feet or less. The PowerLock comes with a 3-rivet-reinforced tang for accurate measuring, and the blade features imperial-only measurements in ⅙-inch increments.

It also features premarked (in red) 16-inch notations for easy stud locating, and black diamonds every 19.2 inches (another typical framing spacing). After 1 foot (12 inches), the Stanley tape shows both feet and inch measurements and cumulative inch measurements. For example, it shows both 30 inches as well as 2 feet, 6 inches. We found the tape to be highly accurate and durable. Plus, it comes with a clip for easy carrying on a pocket or belt.

Get the Stanley 25 ft. tape measure at The Home Depot, Ace Hardware, or Tractor Supply Co.

The hook-under forks on the Ryobi 25-foot tape measure tang are a boon for hooking the tape beneath the bottom edge of an object, such as the underside of a tabletop. We were impressed by the rubberized overmold that gives the Ryobi tape measure a soft, nonslip surface. The tang is reinforced with three rivets for durability, and the Ryobi blade is smooth and durable—we were able to extend it to nearly 8 feet (standout) before the blade bent.

This durable tape measure features imperial measurements in 1/16-inch increments as well as centimeters. It also features graphic markings every 16 inches and 19.2 inches, making it well suited for installing or pinpointing standard-spaced framing members.

We found the blade lock on the Ryobi to be snug and robust—no slippage at all. When compared against a steel measurement tool, the Ryobi was dead-on accurate, as it should be. However, the belt clip is a wire rather than solid stainless steel, and we found it slightly inadequate to hold the tool snugly on a belt or pocket.

Get the Ryobi 25 ft. tape measure at The Home Depot.

DIYers don’t have to spend much money to get an accurate tape measure. The Komelon Self Lock 25-Foot Power Tape comes with precise imperial measurements on both edges of the blade, making it easy to measure precisely from either side without guessing.

The Komelon comes with a handy “self-lock” feature that automatically engaged when we pulled out the tape. Rather than the user needing to manually press a blade lock, the Komelon secured the blade in place by itself. When we finished checking measurement accuracy, we pushed a bright green button, and the blade retracted smoothly. This is an excellent feature for those who don’t want to engage the blade lock by hand (some are quite stiff).

Unfortunately, we found the auto-lock function didn’t work as well at longer lengths. For instance, it engaged at 4 feet, but the blade slipped a bit at 20 feet. Still, the measurements are highly accurate—slipping notwithstanding—and we could use the green button to lock the blade manually.

The Komelon also features graphic notations every 16 inches and 19.2 inches, making it well suited for standard framing measurement. It demonstrated rigid blade standout to just over 7 feet,making it a very decent tape measure for the price point, all things considered.

Get the Komelon 25 ft. tape measure on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

Those looking for a quality compact tape measure need look no further than the LEXIVON 16-foot tape measure, which comes with both imperial and metric measurements and graphic markings to denote 16-inch and 19.2-inch standard framing measurements. We prefer a minimum of 25 feet for a tape measure most of the time, but the LEXIVON is a welcome exception.

The LEXIVON tape is only 16 feet long, but it’s just the ticket for small jobs that don’t require a longer measure. It features a smooth rubberized overmold, a steel belt/pocket clip, and hook-under tang forks that allow the user to snag the upper or underside of the item being measured. We were able to extend it nearly 6 feet (standout) before it bent.

The numbers are easy to read, and the tool features a dual blade-locking system that impressed us. It comes with a standard blade lock, but then it has something else that we found to be innovative and a little ingenius: a pressure-sensitive button on the bottom of the case. By pressing the button, we could stop the blade from moving; if we let up a bit on the button, the blade would retract slowly. Anyone who’s been cut by a metal tape blade that retracted too quickly will appreciate the pressure lock on the LEXIVON.

Get the LEXIVON 16 ft. tape measure on Amazon.

Everything about the Craftsman 25-foot tape measure points toward quality, and this tool is made to stand up to high use. We noted the quality of this tape measure during the initial inspection. The case is made from heavy molded polyethylene and features a partial rubberized grip along the top and bottom edges. The belt clip is made from polished solid steel, and the metal blade is nylon coated for durability and rust resistance.

We checked the measurements on the Craftsman tape against our steel measure, and they were spot-on as we expected. The tape comes with the standard graphic notations every 16 and 19.2 inches. The tool features a 3-rivet tang and a solid-feeling lock button that doesn’t leave the user guessing which direction is locked and which is unlocked—it’s labeled. The tape is self-locking as well, making it well suited to anyone who doesn’t want to take the extra time to set the lock manually.

Although this tape measure comes with only imperial measurements, it improves over some tapes in that incremental fractions are printed along the bottom edge of the blade. The movement on the blade is smooth, and the retraction is controlled and even.

Get the Craftsman 25 ft. tape measure on Amazon.

For staking out an area for excavating or determining the dimensions of a lot, the DeWalt 100-foot tape measure shines. This type of tape measure is not suited to making precise carpentry cuts, but it wasn’t designed for that work. Instead, the 100-foot reel tape measure is made to obtain longer measurements, and it’s typically used outdoors—for laying out foundations or determining the length of a proposed fence line.

We’re familiar with reel tape measures and DeWalt products, so we had high hopes for this specific tool—and we weren’t disappointed. The tang comes with a fold-out spike that is useful for fitting over a nail or screw head, and the molded plastic case is strong and durable and comes with a partial rubberized grip. We hooked the tang over a nail and stretched the tape out to its maximum length. The flexible fiberglass blade is coated with a rust-resistant coating that gives it some stability—it didn’t flip this way and that in the wind as some reel tapes are prone to doing.

The stainless steel crank arm is snug without any play, and it features a 5-to-1 gear ratio, which allowed us to wind up the entire tape with just a dozen or so turns. The tape comes with an attached stainless steel carabiner clip we discovered was perfect for hanging on a hook in the garage. The measurements are imperial and only in ⅛-inch increments—but that’s par for the course for this type of tape. We were pretty impressed.

Get the DeWalt 100 ft. tape measure on Amazon or at Tractor Supply Co.

The Milwaukee name is nationally known for high-quality construction tools and accessories, and the Milwaukee 25-foot self-lock tape measure is no exception. As with all the tapes we tested, the Milwaukee’s measurements were spot-on. The tape’s bold black whole-inch numbers are large and easy to read against the muted yellow background.

In addition, the smaller fractions are clearly labeled along the bottom edge of the tape, with the ¼-inch fractions appearing in bold and the ⅛-inch fractions in regular type, making it easy to see at a glance which is which.

The Milwaukee tape measure features a 3-rivet tang with hook-under forks that allow the user to snag the topside or the underside of the item being measured. The tape had the longest standout of all, just under 9 feet before it bent, and the tool comes with a self-lock that kept the blade from retracting until we depressed the retraction button.

Get the Milwaukee 25 ft. tape measure at The Home Depot.

With the DTAPE Laser Measure, there’s no hooking a tang over a nail head or recruiting a helper to hold the end of the tape. There’s no locking a blade in place or wondering if it will retract too quickly and snap a hand. With this digital tape measure, determining distance is as easy as pushing a button and reading a number on the LED screen.

We tested the DTAPE’s accuracy against the other tape measures in this lineup, and it came in within ¼ to ½ of an inch. That’s not accurate enough for construction or woodworking projects. Still, it’s plenty accurate for calculating the width, length, volume, and area of rooms for appraisal purposes or to estimate paint, carpeting, or wallpaper.

Plus, it’s fast and easy. The digital tape runs on two AAA batteries (included), and in addition to determining distance, it comes with calculator functions. We tested its calculations, and while they’re accurate, it’s much quicker to figure estimates on a standard construction calculator.

The red laser dot is bright and easy to see—we positioned the tool and then directed the laser to the spot we wanted to measure, and it instantly gave us the distance.

Get the DTAPE laser tape measure on Amazon.

Lengthy measurements, such as across an entire lot or from a curb to the back of the house, require the use of a long reel tape, and that’s just what the Komelon 300-foot open reel tape measure is designed to do. All 300 feet of lime-green fiberglass tape are neatly wound around a center spool and held in place by strong molded polyethylene arm supports that keep it snug and evenly wound.

The tang features a fold-down spike that can be fitted over a nail or screw head, and the Komelon comes with a separate bright orange spike for pushing into the ground to determine the origination point. We’ve used reel tapes before that became twisted on the spool when rewinding them up, but the fiberglass tape on the Komelon has just enough stiffness to help keep it straight.

Both sides of the tape feature imperial measurements in ⅛-inch increments, which is standard for a reel tape. The winding handle is solid and folds up along the top to serve as a lock to keep the tape from pulling out. It winds at an easy pace—not too quickly—but it doesn’t take a long time, either. The reel tape is sturdy and durable, and we found it to be among the best models we’d ever tested.

Get the Komelon 300 ft. tape measure on Amazon.

The vast majority of tape measures sold in the U.S. come with imperial measurements, and many feature only imperial measurements. For the few that include metric measurements, the numbers are often small and difficult to see. Not so with the Zabiki 25-foot easy to read tape measure that comes with both inches and centimeters clearly marked.

An impressive fringe benefit on this tape measure—one that didn’t appear on any of the others we tested—is a robust magnetic tang. When we positioned the tang against metal, we were able to pull the tape measure backward to extend the blade, and the magnetic tang held firm. This opens up many opportunities for measuring metal objects without needing a helper to hold the tang in place. We liked this feature.

The Zabiki comes with a 3-rivet tang for durability and features a sturdy case with a partial rubberized grip. The only downside we found with this tool was that the blade lock had a tendency to stick, and we had to apply quite a bit of pressure to engage it. Our standout test showed the Zabiki could be extended to almost 6 feet before it bent. It’s an excellent tape measure for anyone who wants to use both imperial and metric measurements.

Get the Zabiki 25 ft. tape measure on Amazon.

Don’t choose a tape measure at random; take some time to learn the basics. First off, know that there are four basic varieties to choose from.

The following features are often found in quality tape measures:

Graphic markings (diamonds and triangles) noting 16-inch and 19.2-inch intervals keep newly constructed walls in compliance with building codes (studs are often placed 16 inches apart). They help the user locate the center of studs (as long as the structure was built in compliance with standard codes). Stud marks make hanging pictures and installing shelves much easier, allowing you to anchor the nail solidly.

Tape measures aren’t designed for constant in-hand use, so they’re not the most comfortable hand tools to grasp. Fortunately, they don’t require a firm grip to use, so they’re usually not too cumbersome.

Getting precise measurements is essential for many projects, even ones as simple as hanging art or estimating how much wallpaper will be necessary for a specific room.

Tape measures sold in the United States feature measurement increments in inches and fractions of inches—the imperial measuring system. Some (not all) of the newer measuring tapes also offer metric measurements. This is handy when building, assembling, or installing materials that come with metric instructions. In addition to the other accuracy features mentioned above, a few more considerations may apply.

Tape measures are found in most homes, workshops, tool boxes, and tool belts, and for a good reason—there’s always something that needs measuring, it seems. Still, different types of tape measures are better suited to some tasks than others. Those looking to find the best tape measure for a specific project are likely to have some questions.

Small black triangles appear every 16 inches on many measuring tapes to denote standard 16-inch on center (O.C.) measurements between studs. Small black diamonds appear every 19.2 inches, another standard spacing for wall studs or floor joists, although 16-inch O.C. is the most common.

It sure is handy, but you don’t need it. You can always engage the manual lock if the tape doesn’t automatically lock when you pull the blade out.

With tape measures, 25 feet is the most common length, although some are as short as 12 feet, and others are 30 feet or longer.

It depends on how they’re used. They’re typically accurate to around ¼ of an inch, which is suitable for figuring wall space. However, they’re not accurate enough for woodworking. Real estate agents, appraisers, and engineers often find laser tape measures worth the money.

They should be equally accurate—the difference is that a tape measure is accurate over a longer distance.

Andréana Lefton is a writer and educator, focusing on human rights and creating spaces of refuge—in our homes and communities. As a documentary researcher, she has freelanced with The Guardian as well as NPR- and BBC-affiliates. She’s written for On Being, the United Nations, and many non-profit clients in the US, UK, Europe, and Middle East. All that she knows of garden care and interior design she learned from her artistic mother, Jacqueline. She now applies these skills to her life in Chattanooga, TN, where home is an urban art studio with books piled everywhere. Follow her on Twitter.

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