The Best Measurement Kits

Have you heard the saying “measure twice, cut once?” While it’s most pertinent to carpentry, this is a best practice for basically any job that requires using a device to determine the size, amount or weight of something. If you don’t measure properly, you can end up messing up your project. That’s why it’s vital to have a measurement kit handy at all times.

You can buy many different measurement kits for a variety of purposes — and probably have several in your home already. One of the most common measuring kits people have at home includes a retractable tape measure and a sewing tape measure. Retractable tape measures are stiff and sturdy, so they are ideal for measuring large distances such as the length of a wall or the height of a door. Sewing tape measures are soft and flexible to measure curved surfaces, such as waist size or the circumference of a round pillow.

A set of measuring cups for the kitchen is another common measuring kit everyone needs to have at home. Whether you’re baking a cake, making a salad dressing or mixing a fancy cocktail, having cups with exact measurements will help you get the job done right.

For those who make and sell jewelry, an accurate ring-sizing kit can be useful. After all, rings are not always adjustable by the wearers — it’s not like going up or down notches on a belt. A ring-sizing measuring tool can help users pick the size that fits best and assist jewelers with custom projects.

• With so many different varieties of measuring kits available, it’s important to start by thinking about what you need it to do. Keep in mind that some measuring kits are more versatile than others, but you may not be able to get along without measuring tools for specific items. For example, a sewing tape can be used to measure many different things while a measuring cup is only useful for cooking tasks — but that cup measure is absolutely necessary if you bake.
• While measurements are generally shown in standardized units, it’s important to know that there are two main systems of measurement commonly used: metric and imperial. The metric system is used in countries all over the world and includes units that are interrelated. The main units of measure in the metric system is the meter for distance, the kilogram for mass and the liter for volume. The imperial system is primarily only used in the United States. Instead of everything linking to one base unit, the imperial system uses multiple, unrelated units such as inches and miles for distance or ounces and gallons for mass. Ensure that any measuring kit you buy has the system you need to use. On some measuring kits, one side will include the metric system while the other side will include the imperial system.
• Be sure to check that the markings on your measurement kits are clear, easy to read and won’t rub off over time. If you can’t read the markings, then the measurement kit will not be very useful. Look for large numerals that are marked in a contrasting color to the rest of the kit.