From the most seasoned pro to the greenest DIYer, a tape measure is a must-have in everyone's toolbox. Lengths and prices vary, with most costing less than $30. But are all tape measures created equal? of course not. We're breaking things down into the categories that our team of professionals think is the most important when looking for the best tape measure.
Editor's Note: Think you know everything about tape? Check out our article on how to read a tape measure, we promise you'll learn something new!
Editor's note: This article is part of PTR's "Best of 2022" series and was originally published on May 17, 2022. Our recommendations haven't been updated…yet. Keep an eye out for our 2023 update!
Overall Best Tape Measure
Crescent Lufkin Shockforce Nite Eye G2
When we look for the best tape measure, we want it all: durability, prominence, accuracy, visibility, hook grip, ergonomics, and functionality. While there are several good options, for us the Crescent Lufkin Shockforce G2 Nighteye stands out the most. It's not the best in every category, but it does everything well, and the blade color is fantastic for those of us with less than perfect eyesight.
25ft Price: $27.98 (L1225B-02)
best heavy duty tape measure
DeWalt Tough Series Tape Measures
Over the past few years, there have been some excellent heavy-duty tape measures on the market. Milwaukee's Stud, DeWalt's XP and subsequent Tough line, Crescent Lufkin's Shockforce and other brands have been pushing durability expectations to new levels. So which one is the best?
In our opinion, this is the DeWalt Tough Series tape measure. The solid shell construction combined with thick overmolded layers to protect it can withstand just about anything we can throw at it, including clipping it as high as it can and letting it drop onto the asphalt. Nothing more than a scratch for our efforts, it's a tough measure.
25ft Price: $28.97 (DWHT36925S)
best tape measure
Milwaukee Stud Tape Measurements
Crescent's Shockforce and DeWalt Tough series both have magnetic options that we heartily recommend. However, the most commonly purchased stallions in our store are second generation Milwaukee stallions. It starts with a durable Exo360 nylon blade coating that resists cracking well, and it's mounted in a durable frame. The magnetic hooks grip firmly on steel surfaces, and our team loves the finger brake feature for both extension and recoil control on the return.
25ft Price: $30.97 (48-22-9725M)
Skil 65ft Laser Measure on Wheels
There are a lot of great laser rangefinders to choose from, but not all of them have tape measure functionality. If you want to take traditional measurements without objects bouncing off the laser, you'll need a wheel instead of rolling on the surface. For that functionality, check out Skil's laser rangefinder.
When you need more than tape measure functionality, you can measure 65 feet in real time or calculate area for a quick estimate. You can get it all with an accuracy of ±1/8 inch.
For a more in-depth look at laser distance measurement, check out our recommendations here.
Price: $49.99 (ME9821-00)
Optimal Tape Value
Stanley FatMax Tape Measure
Value is not just price. This is value for money, and it considers the entire package: functionality, durability, readability, prominence, and more. Time and time again, we hear from professionals in the field and from our readers that the Stanley FatMax is the only measuring tape they use. Why? Because it's accurate, reliable and affordable.
Still under $20 for a classic 25ft tape measure, it's made in the USA using global materials and we believe it's the best value for the money.
25ft Price: $16.99 (33-725)
The best tape measures from more brands we trust
Best HART Tape Measures
HART's impressive line of tape measures includes keychain, standard and chrome models. Our top pick is the Pro Grade model, which is available in lengths from 16 to 30 feet, but only in 25 feet, both magnetic and non-magnetic.
With 11 feet of protrusion, easy-to-read score markers (printed on one side) and better overmold protection than many of the tapes we use, it's also easy on your wallet in the sub-$15 class.
25ft Price: $14.35 (HHTMPN25)
best klein tape measure
Whether you're an electrician or not, Klein makes some durable measuring tapes, and the magnetic models are stronger than most. Seriously, we've used Klein tape measures in the past as magnetic grabbers to pick up dropped fasteners and small hand tools. They only have a non-magnetic model (25ft) that also covers 16, 25, and 30ft lengths, and a 7.5m model on the metric side for the magnetic option.
The Standout is excellent at 13 feet, and the magnetic model has dual hooks for better top grip, and the nylon-coated blade has printing on both sides. Because of Klein's focus on electricians, they also have a conduit bending table and a 3-phase layout guide on the back of the blade.
25ft Price (Magnetic): $26.97 (9225R)
Best Komelon Tape Measures
Komelon measuring tapes are popular due to their affordability. They are great to have around the house and on people who lose them often. They also have a Contractor line that is more suitable for typical jobsite use, which is what we recommend.
It is available in 16, 25 and 40 foot lengths with only the 25 foot length with magnetic hooks. Their nylon-coated blades are 20% thicker than Komelon's cheaper tape, and they have stainless steel springs to help them last longer.
25ft Price: $18.99 (M25LR)
Best Ox Tools Tape Measure
Ox Tools isn't very deep in the measuring tools category yet, but we like what we've seen from the Pro Tuff tape measure. It's solid at 13 feet tall and feels better in our hands than the clunky version from a few years ago. What really opened our eyes was the increased durability of the casing and nylon-coated blade.
25ft Price: $19.98
Best Ryobi Tape Measures
Ryobi doesn't do much in the hand tool department, but they do have a very affordable 25' tape measure. Surrounded almost entirely by overmolding, it's a compact model with a smaller blade and a somewhat docile 7-foot protrusion. You can pick up a few for less than $8, though, so you'll have it where you might need it.
Price: $7.98 (RTM25)
Best Stabila Tape Measures
Stabila is known for the quality of its spirit levels, which might make its tape measure fly under the radar a bit. Between the BM 100 and BM 300 series, we prefer the more durable 300 series. Its solid shell benefits from extensive overmolding. The blade is nylon coated, printed on both sides, and capable of projecting up to 10 feet. Stabila also added a unique hook handle on the underside to help prevent slipping. It is available in 16' or 26' lengths.
26ft Price: $25.00 (30526)
The Best Tape Measures Buying Guide
accuracy
Before you worry about anything else, the tape measure needs to be accurate. If not, nothing else matters. Almost every name-brand tape measure is reliable in this department. Inaccurate ones usually have a curved hook that you attach to the Lixer tape measure calibration tool.
durability
Once you know your tape is accurate, durability is the next major concern. Most tape measures can withstand dozens, if not hundreds, of drops from bench height onto concrete. Falling from greater heights is where we start to see the difference.
For the best durability, look for a tape measure with at least four attachment points on the case and lots of overmolding to protect it. Also keep an eye out for at least three rivets that hold the hook in place, the nylon coating throughout the blade, and the extra coating on the first foot.
length
The best tape measure length depends entirely on your needs, but we've found that a 25-foot tape measure is the most comprehensive. If you're looking for something more compact, go for the 16'. Select 35 feet if you consistently measure distances greater than 25 feet.
clip design
Having a good clip can make or break your tape measure experience. After all, we usually clip our tape measures to our belts when they're not in our toolbox or on our workbench. The strength of the clip is part of the equation, another design that slides on and off the belt effortlessly.
You can test the strength of the clip at the store by simply pulling it in the package. The ease of sliding and closing is a bit tricky, but we found that clips with flared bottoms tended to work best.
visibility
You just need to be able to read the markings if it's accurate and tough. When looking for the best tape measure, there are some fun ways to increase your visibility. You can use bolder markings, reverse contrast, or even buck the traditional black and yellow trend. Everyone sees differently, luckily you can easily see the difference for yourself in store.
stand out
Manufacturers love to tout how great their tape measures are, and there are plenty of job site jokes to go along with it. It's important for our team to play well – until around 9 o'clock. We're happy as long as the good performance gets you past the length of the paper material. You can definitely make an argument for the 10' – 16' lumber you might use, but most of the time you're sliding hooks on those longer pieces.
Closely related but rarely discussed is tape measure throwing. Since the goal is not to have to walk from one end of the material to the other, you can throw the blade of tape as far as possible. Many pros toss it there and continue to extend the blade over the top of the material until they reach the end. The downside of throwing blades is that you often lose protruding length to the action.
Simplify it for better highlighting or discard it to work faster? This is your call. The best tape measure will have a balance between protruding and throwing, and our pros like to use 8 feet as the minimum of both. Still, the more the merrier.
hook design
The tape measure absolutely must hook easily to the top and bottom. The best tape measures will let you hook securely to the side and even turn naturally so that the edge of the blade is flush with your material. Most of the time, the bigger the hook, the better, but you can also overdo it. Too much mass will flip the hook over when you try to grab the sides.
ergonomics
The ergonomics of tape measures has less to do with weight and more to do with how naturally they fit in your hand. Since everyone's hands are different, there are many different opinions on which size feels best.
price and value
Not that long ago, spending over $20 for a tape measure was expensive. These days, good quality tape can cost $30 or more. You'll of course get better durability and features for the higher price, but it's up to you to decide what's worth it.
bonus features
magnetic hook
Magnetic hooks are helpful when you're laying out or measuring around steel. But there are also times when you might not want to.
Nylon blade coating
The nylon coating on the blade helps reduce the amount of wear that eventually starts to rust and peel.
finger brake
Some of the springs in these tape measures can seriously pinch your fingers if you're not careful.
double sided blade printing
Printing on both sides of the tape can be helpful when you are working on different scenarios.
auto lock
Love it or hate it, the auto-lock mechanism stops the tape as you extend it instead of forcing you to use the thumb lock.
Bonus Marks and Scales
Some of these tapes offer extra scale for certain applications, giving you more bang for your buck.
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