Measurement Tips and Tricks

What do you do when you are out shopping for new home furnishing and you realize that you forgot to bring a tape measurer? Use these quick tips to figure out approximate dimensions.

1. A Quarter

A quarter is aboutn an inch in diameter. If you start with Washington's profile right side up and roll it in a striaght line until Washington's head is in the same position as when you started, you have measured approximately 3 inches.

2. A Dollar Bill

Standard United States paper currency is 2 1/2 inches by 6 inches. Paper money can wrap around objects, so it can be a handy tool for measuring small curved items.

3. A Credit Card

A typical credit card is 2 inches by 3 1/2 inches. The distance on the back between the magenetic strip and the bottom edge is 1 1/2 inches.

4. A Shoe

A man's size 10 1/2 show is about 12 inches long, a woman's size 8 is about 10 inches. Walking heel to toe, you can measure distance by counting how many steps you take.