The team here at The Tape Store have put this page together to give you what is hopefully all the information you'll need to make a properly informed choice. Either scroll through this page to find what you need or, alternatively, why not simply click on one of the following links and be taken to the relevent section?
Please note that this section only focuses on tape measures and does not provide guidance on laser measures. You can find information on choosing the perfect laser measure in our Ultimate Buyer's Guide to Leica Disto Laser Measures.
The Brands
We pride ourselves in stocking only the best brands that produce the very highest quality of products. As a result you can rest safe in the knowledge that absolutely everything you buy from The Tape Store will live up to your expectations.
Whilst this can change from time to time, the brands we frequently stock include...
You can search for a particular brand of tape measure by using the main site navigation on the left of this screen.
The Products
The Tape Store stocks an incredibly wide range of tape measures for use in all manner of situations by almost any trade you can think of. We don’t just supply to plumbers, carpenters, builders and engineers, we also supply to land surveyors, tree surveyors, IT specialists, electricians, setting out engineers, school caretakers, DIYers... you get the picture!
As the UK's leading online supplier, we take the quality and reliability of our products very seriously. Each and every type of tape measure we sell has been inspected, tested and used in anger by our staff just to make sure that it's fit for purpose. It goes without saying, therefore, that we're justifiably proud of our product range and the brands that we stock... firms such as Stanley, Irwin and Fisco but also including smaller but equally innovative firms like Advent.
To make choosing the right tape as easy as possible we've provided a structured product page to include the following information...
- Manufacturer
- Model name
- Manufacturer's part number/SKU
- Measurement type (metric, imperial or both)
- Weight
- Case dimensions
- Case material
- Blade length
- Blade width
- Blade material
- Standout
- Locking mechanism
To further assist, we've then included a brief description of the product, expanding on the details above including the various features and benefits of that particular tape. See below for examples of a sample product...
Tape Measure Features or Attributes
There are a number of things that you should look out for when choosing one of our tapes... some of these will be more or less important to you depending upon your trade and what you'll be using your tape for. Below you'll find a list of some of the most important characteristics that most of our customers look for when buying a tape.
Length
Possibly the single most important factor to most of our customers, the length of our tapes can range from 3m/10ft to 100m/330ft with countless choices in between. The length you choose depends almost entirely upon quite what you need your tape for. Simple DIY, carpet fitting or carpentry? A 5-10m 'Short Tape' would probably be ideal. Setting out of structures or landscaping on a large scale, however, would most likely demand one of our 'Long Tapes', a term that encompasses almost all tapes over the length of 10m/33ft.
You can search for a particular lenght of tape measure by using the main navigation on the left of this screen.
Measurement Types
By 'measurements' we're referring to the types of increments you see along your tape's blade. In days gone by (pre-decimalisation) all tapes would be divided into inches and feet; the same is still true today in the United States. In mainland Europe, however, there has been a difinitive move towards metric divisions, e.g, milimetres, centimetres and metres. The UK, on the other hand, takes a somewhat more confusing approach to measurements!
Whilst the process of metrication started officially in the UK way back in 1965 there are still trades (and individuals) who still prefer to work using imperial measurements. As a result, many tapes made for the UK market are sold with both metric and imperial measurements running down the length of the tape on opposite sides, much as you can see in the image below...
Blade Material
There are three materials commonly used in the manufacture of tape measure blades; namely steel, stainless steel and fibreglass. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and only you will know quite which one is best for your trade and requirements. We've put together a short summary of the pros and cons of each material to help you make the right choice...
- Steel - The most communly used material for blade construction, the vast majority of tapes for sale will have a steel blade. Not only is steel durable and practical it also usually offers fantastic value for money for the average user. Steel tapes almost always come with a bright yellow, high-visibility coating and feature conventional black and red markings along their length. Additional coatings are becoming increasingly common (e.g. Stanley's Tylon and Mylar) and bring with them a range of benefits from reflectivity, durability and resitance to abrasion. View our range of Steel Tapes here.
- Stainless Steel - Ideal for those working in wet or muddy environments, stainless steel tape measures do generally come at a small premium over a conventional steel tape. That said, they can prove considerably better value for money when you consider that they are almost entirely resitant to corrosion. For someone working in a damp or salty environment this can mean the difference between a new tape every few months and a new tape every few years. View our range of Stainless Steel Tapes here.
- Fibreglass - FIbreglass tapes generally fall into the 'Long Tapes' category and have a loyal following across a wide variety of trades and industries. Fibreglass tapes are appreciated for their high tensile strength, flexibility, their resistance to heat and abrasion and, thanks to the use of open reel cases, their ease of cleaning. View our range of Fibreglass Tapes here.
You can look for a tape made from a specific material by using the 'browse by material' navigation on the left of this screen.
Case Material
A tape measure's case or 'body' is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a tape. Whilst we won't stock anything that won't stand up to the rigours of every day use, some tapes are more robust than others! Most tape cases are constructed from high quality, impact resistant plastic whilst others have stainless steel cases to help avoid corrosion.
These days, however, more and more high quality tapes have a bi-material case made from two materials. The first will either be steel, stainless steel or plastic for ruggedness whilst the second will generally be a rubber-like material designed not only to absorb impact but also to fit comfortably into your hand. The more frequently you use your tape the more important this should be to you.
Accuracy
In The UK we tend to classify tape accuracy according to the European Weights and Measures Regulations. Under these rules tape measures can fall under the classification of either Class I, Class II or Class III. The vast majority of products sold by The Tape Store are either Class I or Class II tapes. Whilst, as you would imagine, Class I tapes are the most accurate, for most uses a Class II tape is more than accurate enough.
The Tape Store will always display a tape measure's accuracy on each product detail page making it easy to identify the type of tape you need.
The following table should provide you with an idea as to just how accurate a Class I, II or III tape will be at a certain length. The measurements below indicate the error you can expect to see in mm (+/-). Please note that these tolerances have been predetermined at a 20°C and a power/load of 50N.
Coming soon to The Tape Store, you will be able to choose your tape measure based on its accuracy (Class I, II etc.) using our left hand menu.
Blade Diameter
Another important factor to consider when choosing a tape measure, the wider the blade the longer the standout... generally! What's more, a wider blade allows for larger, clearer markings and a tape that can be easier to read.
Locking Mechanism
The locking mechanism is a vital part of almost any tape, allowing the user to 'lock off' or hold the tape at a fixed point. Not only does this prevent the tape from getting in the way, bent or damaged when taking measurements, it also allows the user to mark a specific point on the tape, i.e. the tape can be locked to mark the end of a measurement.
Whilst some tapes are automatically held in place when extended (the Stanley Leverlock range, for example) the majority of pocket tapes use an 'auto lock' function whereby a small button on the body of the tape can be held or locked into place to keep the blade in position. An example of this can be seen below... note the tape held in place by the locking mechanism.
The Hook
A tape measure's hook, as you might imagine, is the small part at the very tip of the blade that allows the user to 'hook' the tape over an object. Whilst the hook is essential to almost all tape measures (apart from tailors' or fabric tapes), they come in particularly useful when working alone. With noone to help hold the tape, a large, protruding hook (such as that on the Stanley FatMax Xtreme tape pictured above) can be a very real advantage over a smaller, more conventional hook.
Measuring Using the Hook
The accuracy of a tape measure is partly dependent upon the hook being moveable to take into account the thickness of the hook itself. Obviously the hook has a thickness in itself - not compensating for this would lead to inaccuracies. When measuring towards an object, presure should be applied towards the object, thereby moving the hook ever so slightly towards it, taking up the slack and maintaining accuracy. When measuring away from that same object the user should always pull the tape towards them once securely 'hooked'... this in turn pulls the hook away from the tape and, once again, maintains accuracy.
Hook Material
The majority of hooks are made from metal (steel or stainless steel) but can occasionally be constructed from plastic - it will generally be either the cheaper end of the market or non-conductive tapes that fall into this category. Tape manufacturers also occasionally coat part of the hooks in rubber for added grip. Some manufacturers even use magnetic hooks which are particularly useful when measuring metallic objects. An incredibly useful feature for many but one that can (albeit only slightly) hamper accuracy due to the hook being 'pulled' towards the nearest metallic object rather than adjusting to compensate.
There are exceptions to the rule, however... the Stanley FatMax Xtreme pictured above uses a clever system whereby the magnet and the hook operate indpendently of each other. Not only do you get the obvious benefits of a magnetic hook, you also achieve accuracy to EC Class II.
Hook Direction / Orientation
The final thing to bear in mind when considering which hook type to choose is the direction or orientation of the hook in relation to the measurements. Most tapes (as with the Stanley Tylon pictured on the left below) use 'bottom hooks' that face downwards when taking a measurement from above. More advanced tapes such as the Stanley FatMax Xtreme pictured on the right now feature top hooks. These allow the tape to be read from above whilst hooked onto an object above it. Such tapes can also include side hooks which allow the tape to be securely hooked onto an object to either side of the blade without the blade slipping.
Standout
Put simply, 'standout' is the distance a tape measure's blade can be extended before it bends or 'snaps'. As most of you will be only too aware, the longer the standout the better. Using a tape with insufficient standout when working alone or measuring long or tall objects simply isn't an option. You can find each tape's standout length listed under the 'Product Information' section of each page.
Further Information
How can I choose the perfect tape measure?
With so many products available on the market sometimes it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Perhaps you're a builder and need a rugged, Professional Tape that will stand the test of time... but are overwhelmed by the range of tapes on sale. Or perhaps you're a plumber who's fed up with throwing away tapes every few months through corrosion... you know you need a Stainless Steel Tape but aren't sure quite which.
To make life easier we're currently working with tradesmen of all types to produce what we feel is the 'Ultimate Buyers Guide to Tape Measures'... available to veiw online or download from our site, this document will walk you through the whys and wherefores, dos and don'ts of buying a tape measure and the pros and cons of each general type.
in the meantime, however, we've developed a couple more tools that will make your life easier. The first is a 'Tape Assistant'. Made up of four simple multiple choice questions, this widget makes choosing the right tape as easy as 1-2-3. Simply answer these questions and, in a matter of seconds, you're faced with a nice, tight selection of tapes perfectly suited to you and your needs. The second is a tape measure comparison tool that displays the attributes of up to three tapes against each other simultaneously making a fair comparison incredibly simple. To use the comparison tool simply click 'compare' underneath a maximum of three tapes in any category and then hit 'compare products'... a button that appears at the top right of the page.
I need more info than you can give me... Help!
The Tape Store stocks a huge range of tape measures, from Budget Tapes suitable for measuring the odd pair of curtains to heavy duty Surveyors Tapes or Professional Tapes for tradesmen. Whilst we do our best to provide you with all the information you could possibly need there's only so much that one website can give! When it comes down to it the best source of information on a product is almost always its manufacturer.
As a result we've put together a list of contact details - phone numbers, website or email addresses - that will allow you to get in touch with our products' designers and manufacturers. Anything that we can't answer the chances are they can! Why not take a look at our Technical Help page?
The History of Tape Measures
The very first record of a tape measure sees the Romans using strips of leather with markings scored into its sides. The first commercially viable Steel Tape, however, was patended by Hiram Farrand of Berlin, New Hampshire in 1922. This product was later sold to Stanley Works, a firm that is still a byword for quality and reliability even today.
Further information on the origin and history of tape measures can be found on Wikipedia right here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tape_measure.
