Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Photo: Francesco Mosto
Dial Caliper (for small distances)
Best for: Measuring outside and inside diameters of pipes, screws, and drill bits.
Look for: 6-inch caliper, which can handle most household needs; dial readout that gives measurement in sixty-fourths or hundredths of an inch (metric models also available).
Shown: 6-inch dial caliper, from General Tools, $32.
Folding Rule (for small distances)
Best for: Measurements inside door and window frames, bookcases, cabinets, and other built-ins.
Look for: 6-inch metal slide, the most reliable way to get an accurate inside measure. After you've unfolded as many segments of the rule as you can, extend the slide and add on its measurement.
Shown: Folding 6-foot rule with slide, from Lufkin, $20
Metal Rule (for small distances)
Best for: Measuring and cutting roll and sheet materials, such as wallpaper, glass, and plastic.
Look for: Rigid, thick metal rule, which makes a great straightedge when cutting materials; metric and English measurements.
Shown: 36-inch heavy-duty aluminum straightedge, from Empire Level, $6.50.
Digital Tape Measure (for small distances)
Best for: General measuring without the hassle of reading fractions.
Look for: Tape that can convert fractions to decimals and compensates for the size of the tape case on an inside measure.
Shown: Starrett electronic digitape, $35.
Tape Measure (for small distances)
Best for: General measuring.
Look for: 25-foot or longer tape that's at least 1 inch wide so it can extend without bending, and/or a narrow 10-foot tape, which fits easily in a pocket; fractions and feet clearly marked; 16-inch intervals (stud centers) noted in
color or bold type.
Shown: Stanley FatMax 25-foot tape measure, $23.
Rafter Square (for angles)
Best for: Measuring angles on rafter pitches, stair slopes, and miters.
Look for: Aluminum square; markings for angles as well as roof pitch (expressed in whole numbers 1 to 12).
Shown: 12-inch Speed Square with layout bar and stop bolts (not shown), from Swanson Tool Co., $18.
Electronic Protractor (for angles)
Best for: Measuring and copying angles.
Look for: Adjustable tool that can determine an angle to 0.1 degree; digital readout; calculator that can figure miter-saw settings for crown molding.
Shown: Miterfinder digital protractor, from Bosch Tools, $120.
Sonic Measure (for long distances)
Best for: Measuring rooms and interior spaces up to 50 feet across.
Look for: Laser pointer so you can see exactly where you're measuring; accuracy to 1 percent or better.
Shown: Zircon ultrasonic measure, $50.
100-Foot Tape Measure (for long distances)
Best for: Measuring long distances, as in foundations, house exteriors, and garden plots.
Look for: Durable fiberglass or steel tape.
Shown: Stanley FatMax 100-foot tape rule, $25.
Walking Wheel (for long distances)
Best for: Long exterior measurements, such as lot boundaries or driveway layout.
Look for: Large wheel (12-inch diameter or more); odometer-style or electronic counter that goes up to 10,000 feet and subtracts when wheeled backward; kickstand.
Shown: Roadrunner professional long-distance measuring wheel, from Keson, $70.
