How to Read a Ruler
![Wooden rulers are used to take measurements and draw straight lines](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/wooden-ruler-624x69.jpg)
What is a Ruler
A ruler is a device with measurement markings on it used for measuring drawing straight lines. Students, engineers, contractors, and makers use rulers for math, construction, architecture, sewing, landscaping, and more.
According to Dictionary.com, a ruler is a strip of wood, metal, or other material having a straight edge and usually marked off in inches or centimeters, used for drawing lines, measuring, etc.[1]
Several types of rulers include wooden or metal rulers, yardsticks, seamstress tapes, tape measures, carpenters rules, and architects scales.
Rulers have measurements in imperial and metric, imperial-only, or metric-only. Get more information on rulers, including different types and uses, or use one of our free printable rulers.
How to Use a Ruler – Standard Imperial Measurements
![illustration showing the measurements for all fractions markings on a ruler](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-fraction-measurements.jpg)
The markings on a standard ruler represent the fractions of an inch. The markings on a ruler from the start to the 1″ mark are: 1⁄16“, 1⁄8“, 3⁄16“, 1⁄4“, 5⁄16“, 3⁄8“, 7⁄16“, 1⁄2“, 9⁄16“, 5⁄8“, 11⁄16“, 3⁄4“, 13⁄16“, 7⁄8“, 15⁄16“, and 1”. If the measurement is over 1″, simply use the number on the ruler and add the fraction. For instance, if you’re two ticks past the number 3 tick, then the measurement is 3 1⁄8“.
What Do the Markings on a Ruler Mean
![Inch markings on a ruler are the longest ticks. There are usually 12 inches on a ruler.](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-inch-markings.jpg)
![The large ticks on a ruler between the inch markings represent a half inch.](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-half-inch-markings.jpg)
![The ticks in the middle of an inch tick and a half inch tick are the quarter inch ticks.](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-quarter-inch-markings.jpg)
![The smaller ticks are for an eighth of an inch. On some rulers the eighth-inch ticks are the smallest ticks.](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-eighth-inch-markings.jpg)
![The smallest ticks on a ruler are the sixteenth-inch ticks](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-sixteenth-inch-markings.jpg)
How to Use a Metric Ruler – Metric Measurements
![The larger ticks on a metric ruler represent centimeters](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-centimeter-markings.jpg)
![The smallest markings on a metric ruler are for millimeters](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ruler-millimeter-markings.jpg)
Watch for More Information on Reading a Ruler
Ruler Measurements: Inch Fractions on a Ruler
These are the measurements and fractions that are on a ruler and the decimal and millimeter metric equivalents. If you need to convert larger inch fractions to decimal or metric, use our inch fraction calculator.
![Inch fractions down to 1/64"](https://www.inchcalculator.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/inch-fractions.jpg)
Fraction, Decimal, and Millimeter Equivalent Measurements
Fraction | Decimal | Millimeters |
---|---|---|
1⁄16“ | 0.0625 | 1.5875 |
1⁄8“ | 0.125 | 3.175 |
3⁄16“ | 0.1875 | 4.7625 |
1⁄4“ | 0.25 | 6.35 |
5⁄16“ | 0.3125 | 7.9375 |
3⁄8“ | 0.375 | 9.525 |
7⁄16“ | 0.4375 | 11.1125 |
1⁄2“ | 0.5 | 12.7 |
9⁄16“ | 0.5625 | 14.2875 |
5⁄8“ | 0.625 | 15.875 |
11⁄16“ | 0.6875 | 17.4625 |
3⁄4“ | 0.75 | 19.05 |
13⁄16“ | 0.8125 | 20.6375 |
7⁄8“ | 0.875 | 22.225 |
15⁄16“ | 0.9375 | 23.8125 |
1″ | 1 | 25.4 |
References
- Dictionary.com, Ruler, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/ruler