Have you ever found yourself trying to measure the length of something without a ruler? Well, how about measuring 10 meters without a measuring tape or laser measure? 10 meters, which is the same as 10.9361 yards or 32.8084 feet, can be difficult to guesstimate by eye. Unless, of course, you use everyday objects as size references.
Here are 9 items that can help you figure out how long 10 meters is:
- 6-1/2 sofas
- 5 queen/king mattresses
- 7 towels
- 6 snowboards
- 2/3 garden hose
- 5-1/2 fishing rods
- 5 massage tables
- 8-1/4 golf clubs
- 12 ironing boards
1. 6-1/2 Sofas
Many of us see sofas every day. In fact, you’re probably sitting on one right now. Something you may not know about sofas is that they date back to 1686. Whether they were as comfortable as they are today is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s for certain: they don’t have the smart features that modern-day sofas have.
A typical sofa measures 90 inches across, which is the same as 2.29 meters. This figure correlates with 3-cushion sofas, so your sofa’s size may vary. If you were to place 6-1/2 90-inch sofas side by side, you’d have a total length of roughly 10 meters.
2. 5 Queen/King Mattresses
If you’re in dire need of a good night’s sleep (50 to 70 million of us are), then you should head to bed right away. Just make sure you have a comfortable bed—preferably something made within the last decade—and not one of the first models made of animal skins. Bonus points if you have a queen or king mattress since they can be used to measure 10 meters pretty easily.
A queen or king mattress differ in width, but their lengths are 80 inches. This is equal to 2.032 meters, meaning that 5 of them will only be slightly longer than 10 meters.
3. 7 Towels
The common towel is a pretty amazing invention. Not only do they absorb the moisture off our bodies, but some of them are made with hypoallergenic materials so you don’t have a sneezing fit. They also come in all sorts of sizes, but if you’re like most sane people, you probably only have 1 towel somewhere on your bedroom floor.
Bath towels typically measure 140 centimeters long. To measure 10 meters in terms of towels, you would need at least 7 of them laid flat and in a line lengthwise.
4. 6 Snowboards
With winter coming to an end, we all await the friendly chirping of birds, the light showers, and the expulsion of pollen to tickle our sinuses. So, enjoy the snow while it lasts, and there’s no better way than to hop on a snowboard and shred the hills. Just make sure your snowboard is the right size for you!
The average person will ride a 167-centimeter snowboard. 6 of them will give you a clue of how long 10 meters is. If you happen to own the world’s longest snowboard (304 centimeters), you’d still need slightly more than 3 of them to get to 10 meters.
5. 2/3 Garden Hose
Garden hoses are great for a lot of things. They help you spray water on your car when it gets dirty, and there’s nothing better than drinking water straight from the hose after a long jog. Believe it or not, the advent of hoses can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago, with the first models being made of—wait for it—animal intestines.
Luckily, we don’t have to grapple with the innards of an animal any longer. Instead, what we have are 50-foot-long pieces of rubber or plastic with a fibrous lining. Take 2/3 the length of that hose, and you’ll see just how long 10 meters is.
6. 5-1/2 Fishing Rods
Teach a man to fish, and he’ll never go hungry, or so they say. That’s probably why man has been around for thousands of years, seeing as how inscriptions of fishing rods have been found in Ancient Egypt and China. However, it’s doubtful whether ancient fishermen used nylon fishing line.
A typical fishing rod measures 6 feet and under. 5-1/2 of these common-sized rods will get you to 10 meters. If you own a 14-foot pole for whatever reason, about 2-1/4 of them should do the trick.
7. 5 Massage Tables
Massage therapy as a treatment has been around for thousands of years, but the portable massage table is a pretty recent invention. The first portable massage table was made of wood and had minimal cushioning. It didn’t have face holes, so they couldn’t see their masseuse’s feet while they worked. Oh, they also had to turn their heads to breathe.
Portable massage tables come in various sizes, with the largest common size being 196 centimeters. Place 5 of them end to end, and you’ll end up with only slightly under 10 meters.
8. 8-1/4 Golf Clubs
Golf clubs are good for a million things, such as shooing away would-be burglars and hitting golf balls to the other side of the planet. There are a handful of different golf club types, each with specific designs and purposes. Most beginner-friendly golf club sets come with a driver.
The shaft of a driver can measure 48 inches long, which is about 1.2192 meters. About 8-1/4 of them placed in a line will give you 10 meters. In case you’re wondering, the longest usable golf club on the planet measures 14 feet 5 inches or about 4.4 meters long.
9. 12 Ironing Boards
If you’re serious about ironing, then you need an ironing board. These things make ironing a lot more bearable, even though you have to stand throughout the entire process. Most ironing boards come with an iron rest—a wire rack on the end of the board for placing your hot iron.
Like most things in life, ironing boards aren’t a one-size-fits-all type of thing. They come in various lengths, but 32 inches or 81.3 centimeters is pretty common. A dozen of these boards is a decent visual representation of what 10 meters looks like.
