Are you trying to figure out how long 7 inches is? A ruler might come in handy, but if you don’t have one, 7 inches is the same as 17.78 centimeters. Still confused? Don’t worry—that’s why this guide exists! Today, you’ll learn about several everyday objects that you can use to guesstimate 7 inches.
The following objects can be used as references for measuring 7 inches:
- Ear of corn
- Garden trowel blade
- 2-3 hamsters
- Banana
- ½ clothes hanger
- Hoagie sandwich
- 2 chalk sticks
- Mousepad
- ½ chip bag
1. Ear of Corn
The vegetable we all know as corn goes by another name—maize. In reality, the difference between them is that maize is mainly used for non-use purposes, whereas humans and animals consume corn. Whatever you call it, if you slather a ton of butter on it, it becomes an enjoyable meal for all.
Any agricultural product has variances in size, but the average length of an ear of corn is between 6-1/2 and 7-1/2 inches. A single ear of corn is roughly half the production of a cornstalk, of which you can fit 40,000 into an acre of land.
2. Garden Trowel Blade
While we’re on the subject of agriculture, one of the handiest tools you can use to dig up the earth is a trowel. These are handheld tools that have a sharp blade for digging into the ground and creating a shallow hole to drop seeds into. This simple yet effective tool has been around for at least 10,000 years.
Trowels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with some blades measuring over a foot long. A good size to work with, especially if you’re a backyard gardener, is 6 inches or just an inch shy of the 7-inch size we want to measure.
3. 2-3 Hamsters
Hamsters are a species of rodents that people take care of. There are over 20 species of these adorable rodents, with the Syrian hamster being among one of the most popular pets. Hamsters are super-cute and super-cuddly, which makes it sad that they only live an average of 2 years.
Enter any pet store and you’ll find dozens, if not hundreds, of furry hamsters in cages. They vary in length, usually between 2 and 3 inches. So, 2 to 3 of them, depending on their lengths, will get you somewhere near 7 inches.
4. Banana
If you enjoyed cereal this morning, you probably had a few banana slices on the side. Bananas are grown in tropical countries like Indonesia and Columbia before being shipped to countries all over the world. These funny-shaped fruits are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, but they’re mainly known for being chock-full of potassium.
With over 1,000 banana varieties, it’s important that we know which banana we’re using as a measurement. The cavendish banana, which we enjoy in the States, typically measures between 5 and 10 inches.
5. ½ Clothes Hanger
The modern clothes hanger was designed by genius Albert J. Parkhouse back in 1903. However, there were several models that predated his patented hanger, including one design by the one and only Thomas Jefferson. Clothes hangers come in all sorts with unique features, including clips and rotating necks.
The typical hanger measures 16-1/2 inches from elbow to elbow, so splitting it half would yield around 1-1/4 inches more than the 7 inches we’re looking for. You can also use the height of the hanger—i.e., the top of the head to the base of the center of the bar (8 inches)—as a reference.
6. Hoagie Sandwich
One of the classic US sandwiches is the hoagie, which is also known as a sub. This sandwich consists of a large loaf of bread split down the center, with all sorts of fillings. Classic Italian hoagies have meat and cheese, but there are also other types, including meatball, cheesesteak, and vegetarian.
The length of a hoagie depends on the type of bread being used. The most common is a baguette that measures 6 inches long. Add another inch, and you’ll have a good idea of what 7 inches of a delicious sandwich looks like.
7. 2 Chalk Sticks
Do you remember when teachers used to write on blackboards with chalk? The chalk stick they used was mainly made up of limestone. It’s ground into a fine powder before it’s mixed with water and a clay binder. Some manufacturers also add dyes to give the chalk a different hue.
You can find chalk sticks in all sorts of sizes, but the traditional classroom size is 3-1/8 inches long. Imagine placing 2 chalk sticks end to end, and you’ll end up with slightly under 7 inches.
8. Mousepad
Mousepads have been around since the dawn of, well, computer mouses. They provide a smooth, consistent surface for your mouse to glide on, allowing your cursor to move across your screen in a predictable manner. Contrary to what some may think, the color of the mousepad doesn’t matter. If your mouse cursor behaves erratically, it’s most likely due to the mouse itself.
Any gamer or basic computer user knows mousepads are available in all sorts of sizes. The most common is 8 inches on all sides. Basically, it’s only an inch more than what we’re trying to measure, but it’s close enough.
9. ½ Chip Bag
Is anyone feeling hungry? Why not grab a bag of chips from your pantry as we near the end of this guide? Everyone has a personal preference when it comes to chips. Whatever your chip of choice is, they all have one thing in common—they’re not good for you. Will this stop us from filling our gullets with these salty delights? Not a chance.
But if you’re going to gorge on chips, the very least you can do is use the bag as a makeshift measuring tool. Party-size chip bags are 15 inches high, so halving it will get you somewhere in the ballpark of 7 inches.
