Have you ever wondered what the hash marks, black diamonds, and red squares on a tape measure mean? We'll help crack the code—and show you how to use the tool.

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbols The odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbols The odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...

This retractable metric tape measure is from Starrett, a Massachusetts-based maker of precision instruments that's been around since 1880. Their 5-meter tape measure features a double-nylon-coated ...

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbols The odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbolsThe odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbols The odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...

"I thought there could be a better way to take, store and transfer measurements using a tape measure," said an inventor, from Chula Vista, Calif., "so I invented the SMART RETRACTABLE TAPE MEASURE.

This retractable metric tape measure is 10 meters (roughly 33 feet) long, making it handy for larger projects, like building a deck. Like Stanley's auto-lock model above, ...

The retractable, lockable tape measure wasn't an immediate success. Tradesmen tend to like doing things the way they've always been done and carpenters continued to use folding wooden rulers, ...

Interpreting the numbers, lines and symbolsThe odds are good that most households have at least one retractable tape measure, either in a toolbox, a junk drawer or on a garage shelf. These ...