How To Measure Something Without A Ruler: Although rulers and tape measures are easy to come by these days, you can find yourself in a situation where you need to measure something quickly but don’t have access to one. Bear in mind, though, that all of them can only provide you with estimates. It’s best to wait until you can use a ruler if you really need accurate measurements.
1. With your body – how to measure something without a ruler
For centuries, the human body has served as the basis for measuring time. The international foot, for example, corresponds to a human foot with a shoe size of 13 (UK), 14 (US male), 15.5 (US female), or 48 (US female) (EU sizing).
You may also use the following equivalences to get a rough idea of how much something weighs.
- 1 inch (2.5 cm) = the length of the first joint of your index finger
- 2 inches (5 cm) = the length of your thumb
- 4 inches (10 cm) = Most people’s hands are measured around their bottom knuckles to determine their width (without the thumb)
- 6 inches (15 cm) = the distance between the tips of the thumb and the index finger (when a hand is spread wide)
- 9 inches (23 cm) = the distance between the tips of the thumb and the pinkie (when a hand is spread wide)
- 18 inches (46 cm) = the distance between the elbow and the middle finger’s tip
2. With a banknote (or a credit card)
Using your local bills to quantify something is a smart idea because you’re likely to have them with you at all times. The size of a bill varies depending on the currency and, in some cases, the value. The following are some of the most widely used currencies:
- US dollars: 6.14 inches x 2.61 inches
- Pound sterling: £5 at 125 mm x 65 mm; £10 at 132 mm x 69 mm; £20 at 139 mm x 73 mm for the polymer version, and 149 mm x 80 mm for the paper version
- Euros: €5 at 120 mm x 62 mm; €10 at 127 mm x 67 mm; and €20 at 133 mm x 72 mm
how to measure without a ruler
If you don’t have any cash on you, you’re probably carrying a credit or debit card. Bear in mind that a regular card (also known as CR80) is the following size:
- 3.4 inches wide x 2.1 inches high (8.5 cm x 5.4 cm)
3. With an A4
The ISO 216 international paper size standard defines modern paper. That means that if you buy A4 paper anywhere, it should have the following dimensions:
- 210 mm × 297 mm or 8.3 inches × 11.7 inches
4. With an app
Modern smartphones either have a built-in app for measuring items or allow you to download specialised apps for this purpose. Google and Apple, for example, both have a free app called Measure.
Measure by Apple: After you open the app, follow any on-screen directions that ask you to move your computer around. Continue rotating your system until you see a circle with a dot in the middle. Tap the “Add” button after moving your unit so that the dot is over the starting point of your measurement. Slowly move your unit until the dot is over the measurement’s endpoint, then press the “Add” button once more.
Measure by Google: Locate flat surfaces, such as a tabletop or the floor, by moving your phone around the room. Start your measurement by pointing and tapping, then change it as needed. When you’re finished, tap on measurements for easy access to unit conversion, copy, and delete functions.
