The best tape measures
Curtains, flat-pack, a new sofa that has to fit through the door: the tape measures worth keeping in the drawer, the toolbox and the van.
Every house needs a tape measure, and most need more than one, because the one in the kitchen drawer is never there when you're in the shed. For everyday jobs a 5m tape is plenty; an 8m one earns its keep measuring rooms, gardens and long runs of skirting.
That little wobble in the hook isn't a fault. The hook slides on its rivets by exactly its own thickness, so the reading is right whether it's hooked over an edge or pushed against a wall. Look for Class II accuracy, which allows about 1.3mm either way over 5m: more than enough for DIY.
What matters
- Length: 5m for jobs round the house, 8m for rooms and gardens.
- Blade width: a wider blade stays straighter when you reach across a gap.
- A lock that suits you: a slide lock, or one that locks itself.
- Class II accuracy: within about 1.3mm over 5m.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Stanley Tylon Tape Measure (5m/16ft, 19mm)
Under £10 Price range
The tape most toolboxes should start with: a 19mm blade with Stanley's hard-wearing Tylon coating, a slide lock and Class II accuracy, in a rubber-grip case that clips to a belt. Stanley was founded in New Britain, Connecticut, in 1843, and brought out its first PowerLock tape in 1963.
What owners say: Owners find it well made, accurate and easy to use for jobs round the house, and reckon it's worth paying a little more for.
A closer look: The Tylon coating protects the markings: Stanley rates it 1.5 times more resistant to wear than a standard lacquered blade. Metric and imperial run side by side, handy when a pattern, a secondhand wardrobe or an old house plan is measured in feet and inches.
- 5m / 16ft, 19mm blade
- Tylon-coated blade
- Class II accuracy
- Tru-Zero hook
- Belt clip
Best for: Everyday jobs round the house
- Length
- 5m / 16ft
- Lock or brake
- Slide lock
- Magnetic hook
- No
#2 of 5
Best premium
Milwaukee Gen IV Magnetic Tape Measure (8m/26ft)
£20–£30 Price range
A proper trade tape: the stiff 30mm blade stays straight in the air for up to 4.5m, and the magnetic hook holds on to steel, so one person can measure a long run without a helper on the other end.
A closer look: Press the Finger-Stop as the blade goes back in to slow it down, so the hook comes home gently. The blade is printed on both sides, and its architectural scale reads measurements straight off scaled drawings such as plans for an extension.
- 8m / 26ft, 30mm blade
- Up to 4.5m standout
- Magnetic hook
- Finger-Stop brake
- Anti-tear coating on the first 15cm
Best for: Long runs, working alone
- Length
- 8m / 26ft
- Lock or brake
- Finger-Stop brake
- Magnetic hook
- Yes
#3 of 5
Best budget
OX Trade Tape Measure (5m/16ft, 25mm)
Under £10 Price range
Made for building sites: a 25mm nylon-coated steel blade, wider than the 19mm Stanley and Rolson here, with Class II accuracy and a Duragrip moulded rubber case for a sure hold.
What owners say: Owners find it well built, easy to read and accurate, and a handy size for jobs around the home.
A closer look: Slide the thumb lock to hold the blade out while you mark up, then use the quick-release strip underneath to let it back in under control; the bumper takes the knock as the hook comes home. It's the one for a toolbox that lives in the boot of the car.
- 5m / 16ft, 25mm blade
- Nylon-coated steel blade
- Class II accuracy
- Slide thumb lock
- Shock-absorbing bumper
Best for: A wider blade on a budget
- Length
- 5m / 16ft
- Lock or brake
- Slide thumb lock
- Magnetic hook
- No
#4 of 5
Best self-locking
Amazon Basics Self-Locking Tape Measure (5m/16ft)
Under £10 Price range
Pull the blade out and it stays there until you press the button, so there's no fumbling for a lock while you hold the end in place. The rubber-covered case has a belt clip and a wrist strap.
What owners say: Owners find it sturdy and well made, accurate enough for measuring up rooms, and good value.
Heads up: It's chunkier than a slim pocket tape (8.7 × 7.2 × 4.3cm), so it's best carried on the belt clip or by the wrist strap.
A closer look: A self-locking tape suits anyone who finds a slide lock fiddly: pull, measure, press to return. Keep a hand near the hook as the blade comes back, so it doesn't snap into the case.
- 5m / 16ft
- Self-locking, push-button release
- MID accuracy
- Metric and imperial
- Belt clip and wrist strap
Best for: No fiddling with a lock
- Length
- 5m / 16ft
- Lock or brake
- Locks itself; button releases
- Magnetic hook
- No
#5 of 5
Best stocking filler
Rolson 50535 Tape Measure (5m, 19mm)
Under £10 Price range
Two ways to hold the blade: a thumb lock, and a quick lock that holds it when you squeeze the case. The 19mm blade stays out for about 1.8m before it bends, and there's a belt clip and a carry strap.
What owners say: Owners find it well made and accurate, and very good value.
Heads up: The blade comes back quickly, so let it run home through your fingers rather than letting go.
A closer look: At this price it's worth having more than one: one in the kitchen drawer, one in the car and one in the shed. The impact-resistant case has a rubber outer cover, made to take the odd drop.
- 5m / 16ft, 19mm blade
- Thumb lock and grip lock
- About 1.8m standout
- 3-rivet hook
- Belt clip and carry strap
Best for: A spare for the car or shed
- Length
- 5m / 16ft
- Lock or brake
- Thumb lock and grip lock
- Magnetic hook
- No
How they compare
| Feature | #1Stanley Tylon 5m | #2Milwaukee Gen IV 8m | #3OX Trade 5m | #4Amazon Basics 5m | #5Rolson 5m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best budget | Best self-locking | Best stocking filler | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.7 |
| Price | Under £10 Price range | £20–£30 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Length | 5m / 16ft | 8m / 26ft | 5m / 16ft | 5m / 16ft | 5m / 16ft |
| Lock or brake | Slide lock | Finger-Stop brake | Slide thumb lock | Locks itself; button releases | Thumb lock and grip lock |
| Magnetic hook | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Best for | Everyday jobs round the house | Long runs, working alone | A wider blade on a budget | No fiddling with a lock | A spare for the car or shed |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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