Trying to figure out the measurements of something without a ruler or measuring tape can be a nearly impossible task. You may know that 3 meters, or 300 centimeters, is the same as 9.84252 feet or 3.28084 yards. These conversions, however, will not help you visualize the distance of 3 meters. But everyday objects can help you with your conundrum!
Some of the most common things that measure around 3 meters long are as follows:
- Basketball rim
- 3 wine barrels
- 2 school lockers
- Shuffleboard table
- Kayak
- 1-1/2 twin beds
- 1-1/2 pickup trucks
- Pool table
- 3-1/2 baseball bats
- 16 bricks
1. Basketball Rim
Can you dunk a basketball? Not many people can. In fact, you need to be one of the tallest people in the world to dunk it, or you could have the athleticism of 5-foot-6 Spud Webb. The reason we’re telling you this is that you need to be able to dunk a basketball if you want to know how high 3 meters is.
In reality, basketball rims are 10 feet off the ground or roughly 3.05 meters. The top of the backboard is around 40 inches higher than that. If your goal is to visualize 3 meters, just stare at the rim from the ground like the rest of us.
2. 3 Wine Barrels
The history of wine barrels goes all the way back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Oak, which is a common material used in wine barrels, adds flavor and longevity. After 6 to 18 months, the wine is poured out of the barrel into bottles before being shipped off to supermarkets across the country.
Wine barrel sizes vary, but 59-gallon barrels are commonly used. These barrels measure roughly 40 inches (1.016 meters) high, so 3 of them should get you to only slightly over 3 meters.
3. 2 School Lockers
Think back to your high school days. You were probably assigned a locker somewhere in the building, where you’d place all your books so you didn’t have to bring them home to study. Lockers usually line the halls of junior and high schools in the US, and each student received one, whether they used it or not.
Lockers height vary, but they’re usually somewhere between 62 and 70 inches (1.5748 to 1.778 meters). That means 2 lockers stacked one on top of the other will give you a collective height of around 3 meters.
4. Shuffleboard Table
Shuffleboard originated in 15th-century Great Britain. Players can play shuffleboard by sliding pucks across the table and landing them in scoring zones. It’s sort of like curling but without the ice and the chaotic sweeping of ice. The player with the higher points wins the game, similar to almost every sport out there.
The next time you’re at a bar or on a cruise ship, take a good look at the shuffleboard table. These shuffleboard tables range in size from 9 to 22 feet (2.7432 to 6.7056 meters), so a shorter table should get you close to the 3-meter mark.
5. Kayak
If you’re somewhat of a daredevil, then you might want to take up kayaking. If you prefer floating across calm ponds, then kayaking might also be right up your alley. Basically, there’s a kayak for everyone, and everyone should give kayaking a try at least once.
The first thing you should know about kayaking is that kayaks aren’t a one-size-fits-all ordeal. Kayak sizes typically range from 8 to 12 feet (2.4384 to 3.6576 meters) long, but if you want one closer to 3 meters, a whitewater kayak measuring 9 feet (2.7432 meters) will get you pretty close.
6. 1-1/2 Twin Beds
Mattresses come in a variety of sizes, with twin mattresses being reserved for the lonely souls out there. They’re called twin beds, even though they’re only enough for a single person, because hotels usually place 2 of them in a room.
Twin beds measure 75 inches (1.905 meters) long. If you imagine placing 2 of them lengthwise and slicing one in half, the collective length will be somewhere around 3 meters.
7. 1-1/2 Pickup Trucks
Pickup trucks are the kings of the road. They have poor mileage compared to other car types, but who cares about fuel economy when you can bully sedans and hatchbacks on the freeway? These trucks have beds in the back for hauling anything from groceries to hay bales.
Depending on the model and trim of your pickup truck, 1-1/2 of them side by side will give you a collective width of around 3 meters. The Ford F-150, which happens to be the best-selling pickup truck in the US, is also among the widest available (around 80 inches).
8. Pool Table
Pool tables are not related to swimming pools. They’re rectangular tables with velvet lining and pockets in the corners and sides. The goal of playing pool is to sink the balls into the pockets before your opponent gets the chance. You hit the pool ball with a cue ball, which you hit with a pool cue.
You can find pool tables in various sizes, with 9-foot pool tables being the most common. The length of this table should get you pretty close to 3 meters. You can also tack on 5 pool balls (2.06 inches in diameter) onto the end of the table to get a closer idea of what 3 meters looks like.
9. 3-1/2 Baseball Bats
America’s pastime is slowly becoming America’s long-forgotten sport. Sure, MLB players are among the highest-paid athletes in the world, and the hotdogs in baseball stadiums are second to none, but there’s no point trying to bring the sport back to life. Actually, it’s still enjoyed by young children and amateur players all over the country.
One of the most essential pieces of baseball equipment is the bat. These bats vary in length, but they usually measure 34 inches (0.8636 meters) long. That means placing 3-1/2 baseball bats end to end will get you somewhere in the ballpark of 3 meters.
