A tape measure is one of those essential household items that every home toolkit should have, as it can be used for sewing, taking body measurements, surveying, building work and more. That's why we've created this handy buying guide to help you pick the right one for the task at hand, whether you're a professional or a DIY enthusiast.
We've also ranked the 10 best tape measures to buy online at Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and eBay, to make sure your measurements are on point every time ― regardless if you work in cm or inches! From metal retractable tape measures to laser gadgets that provide digital readings, our list of recommendations comes from market-leading brands like Stanley, Milwaukee, Hanmer and Am-Tech.
For those after a quick look, here is our Top 5:
For a more in-depth look at the comprehensive top 10 selection, make sure to read on to learn more about the different types of tape measure available and understand how our ranking was determined.
Image | 1 ![]() Stanley | 2 ![]() Prym | 3 ![]() Hanmer | 4 ![]() Am-Tech | 5 ![]() Milwaukee | 6 ![]() Alfya | 7 ![]() Draper | 8 ![]() Tolson | 9 ![]() LiteTour | 10 ![]() Coral |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | FatMax Tape Measure | 150 cm/60 inch Tape Measure | Laser Tape Measure | Surveyor Tape | Magnetic Tape Measure | 2 Soft Tape Measures | Fibreglass Surveyor's Tape | 5 m Tape Measure | Body Measure Tape | Tough Lock Tape Measure |
Features | A Lightweight Premium Tape Measure for the Dedicated Builder | Features Coloured Decimetric Zones and a Handy Press Stud | A Rechargeable 40 M Laser With 5 M of Tape | An Affordable, High Quality 30 M Surveyor's Tape | 8 M of Metric Tape With a Strong Magnetic End | A 2-Pack of Flexible Fibreglass Tapes | An Extra Long Surveyor's Tape Available in 50 or 100 M | A Pocket-Sized Tape With a Sturdy Nylon-Coated Steel Blade | A Retractable Tailoring Tape for Body Measurements | A Lockable 5 M Tape That Uses the Metric System |
Price | £35.95 | £2.28 | £32.99 | £6.82 | £26.38 | £3.99 | £11.90 | £3.99 | £3.99 | £5.92 |
Type | Sewing | Surveyor | Sewing | Surveyor | Body, tailoring | |||||
Tape Material | Mylar-coated steel | Polyester blend | Nylon-coated steel | Fibreglass | Nylon-coated steel | Fibreglass | Fibreglass | Nylon-coated steel blade | Plastic | Steel |
Tape Length | 10 m | 150 cm | 5 m | 30 m | 8 m | 150 cm | 50 m or 100 m | 5 m | 150 cm | 5 m |
System of Measurement | Metric, imperial | Double-sided - metric, imperial | Metric | Double-sided - metric, imperial | Metric | Double-sided - metric, imperial | Double-sided - metric, imperial | Metric, imperial | Metric, imperial | Metric |
Laser Meter | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Weight | 160 g | - | 400 g | 400 g | 360 g | 20 g | 600 g | 280 g | 30 g | 220 g |
Link |
Tape measures come in varying shapes, sizes and types to suit the different ways that people need to measure items or spaces. Tradespeople and those working outside will likely require a surveyor's tape, which is perfect for measuring long distances.
Probably the most popular type for general use is the pocket tape, which is ideal for DIY enthusiasts as well as professional builders. This small tape usually features a stiff blade enclosed in a protective outer case with a clip, allowing it to be hung from tool-belts and bags.
Lastly, tapes designed for sewing or tailoring are incredibly lightweight and easy to use, due to their flexibility and lack of a case. If the tape you buy does happen to come with a case, make sure you check its weight as you don't want it to be too heavy when sizing up awkward items and checking body measurements.
Need a new tool belt? We've got plenty of suggestions!
Tape measures can be made from a variety of materials. Those with a stiff steel blade are popular with builders and DIY enthusiasts as they provide excellent durability and value for money. Steel blades are usually wrapped in a bright-yellow nylon coating for added strength. Where possible, look for a stainless steel blade as this will minimise corrosion.
Next, we have fibreglass tapes which are ideal for surveying work. This material is renowned for its flexibility, strength, and heat and abrasion-resistant qualities, so it's great for use outside as well as in a workshop.
Lastly, sewing tapes come in less rigid materials such as PVC, plastic, polyester or fibreglass. These can all withstand a lot of use but are also flexible enough to be placed around body parts if needed.
Always in the mood for DIY? Check out our favourite cordless drills to buy online.
When shopping for a tape measure, one of the most important factors to consider is the length of the tape itself. This can range from 150 cm to 100 m and as you'd expect, different lengths work best for certain situations.
Sewing tapes are generally the shortest of the bunch, with 150 cm being the industry standard, whereas basic pocket tapes for home use start at 3 m. Those designed for professional use can range from 5 to 10 m.
Surveyor's tapes are the go-to option for anyone who requires some serious distances measured, such as scoping out that new garden feature or even a football field down the park. They're usually around 30 m in length but can go up to 50 or even 100 m.
These days, it's more than likely that you'll find both the imperial and metric systems on your tape measure. Although the imperial system was the standard for the UK for well over 150 years, the French metric system was adopted here in 1965 and has mostly outgrown the imperial system in terms of popularity and practicality.
So, if you need to work with both systems, be on the lookout for double-sided tapes that feature inches on one side and centimetres and millimetres on the other.
Laser meters are rechargeable tools that offer plenty of measuring possibilities and length. They work by projecting a red line towards a wall or object and giving you a digital reading of the total distance.
Hence, they're a brilliant tool for figuring out a room's square metres, volume or simply checking the total distance between two points. With the lights dimmed, they can produce a workable line of up to 40 m, but this distance is considerably less when used in a bright space or outdoors.
If you like the sound of a laser meter but don't want to lose out on a regular tape measure's benefits, you're in luck ― many laser meters come with blade tapes too. This dynamic duo will keep your measurements razor-sharp and means your work will always be accurate.
To ensure your next home improvement project goes smoothly, invest in a spirit level.
This ranking has been compiled by the writing team at mybest UK via careful evaluation of the points made in the buying guide and thorough research of each product and comparing multiple verified customer reviews across the EC sites used.
£35.95
Type | |
---|---|
Tape Material | Mylar-coated steel |
Tape Length | 10 m |
System of Measurement | Metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 160 g |
£2.28
Type | Sewing |
---|---|
Tape Material | Polyester blend |
Tape Length | 150 cm |
System of Measurement | Double-sided - metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | - |
£32.99
Type | |
---|---|
Tape Material | Nylon-coated steel |
Tape Length | 5 m |
System of Measurement | Metric |
Laser Meter | Yes |
Weight | 400 g |
£6.82
Type | Surveyor |
---|---|
Tape Material | Fibreglass |
Tape Length | 30 m |
System of Measurement | Double-sided - metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 400 g |
£26.38
Type | |
---|---|
Tape Material | Nylon-coated steel |
Tape Length | 8 m |
System of Measurement | Metric |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 360 g |
£3.99
Type | Sewing |
---|---|
Tape Material | Fibreglass |
Tape Length | 150 cm |
System of Measurement | Double-sided - metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 20 g |
£11.90
Type | Surveyor |
---|---|
Tape Material | Fibreglass |
Tape Length | 50 m or 100 m |
System of Measurement | Double-sided - metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 600 g |
£3.99
Type | |
---|---|
Tape Material | Nylon-coated steel blade |
Tape Length | 5 m |
System of Measurement | Metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 280 g |
£3.99
Type | Body, tailoring |
---|---|
Tape Material | Plastic |
Tape Length | 150 cm |
System of Measurement | Metric, imperial |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 30 g |
£5.92
Type | |
---|---|
Tape Material | Steel |
Length | 5 m |
System of Measurement | Metric |
Laser Meter | No |
Weight | 220 g |
Written and researched by Connor Macanally
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications