The right tool for measuring the lengths of things is a ruler or tape measure. However, the longer the measurement becomes—say, 9 meters—the more difficult it becomes to use manual tools. So, if you don’t have a laser measure to measure 9 meters (which is about 29.5276 feet), the next best thing is to use a combination of your imagination and the lengths of everyday objects.
Are you trying to figure out how long 9 feet is? It’s the same as 3 yards or 2.7432 meters, but we’re still stuck at the same question: how long does 9 feet look? If you’d like to visualize 9 feet, you can use everyday objects as references.
If you’re trying to gauge what 7 feet looks like, a tape measure can be of some assistance. But what if you don’t have one on hand? You may know that 7 feet is the same as 2-1/3 yards or 2.1336 meters, but that doesn’t help much with visualizing 7 feet. To see 7 feet in your mind’s eye, you need a reference point.
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.
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.
Are you trying to figure out how long 7 meters is? It’s about the same as 22.9659 feet or 7.65529 yards. Still confused as to how long 7 meters looks? No surprise there—without a ruler, these numbers can’t help much when visualizing lengths. But what can help is using everyday objects as size references.
Rulers allow us to measure short lengths simply by placing the tool next to an object. But what if you want to get a measurement, say 5 inches, without said tool? Saying 5 inches is the same as 12.7 centimeters won’t help us much in this scenario. For such cases, your best bet is to use everyday objects you know measure about 5 inches long.
13 inches is 1 inch longer than a foot or 33.02 centimeters. While these conversions may help with math problems, they don’t do much if you’re trying to gauge 13 inches in your mind’s eye. Luckily, there are countless everyday objects we can use as references.
The great thing about measuring tools like rulers is that they tell you the size of things easily. The problem is, most rulers are 12 inches tall, and measuring something as tall as 4 feet can be a hassle. Of course, 4 feet is the same as 4 rulers, 3-1/3 yards, or 1.2192 meters, but how tall is that visually?
Are you trying to measure 15 centimeters without a ruler? Good luck! You could know that 15 centimeters is equal to 5.90551 inches, but that doesn’t help visualize this length, does it? What you can do instead is use common objects as a reference.
If you’re trying to get a feel for what 6 centimeters looks like without a ruler, you’re going to have a tough time. 6 centimeters, which is about 2.3622 inches, is a tiny measurement. That’s where tiny everyday objects can come in handy as size references!
Have you ever tried measuring an object by eye? It becomes a lot more difficult when the thing you’re trying to measure is humungous like, say, 40 feet high. You may or may not know that 40 feet is equal to 13-1/3 yards to 12.192 meters, but these numbers don’t accurately represent this measurement’s appearance. What you can do is use everyday objects as reference for your mind’s eye.