Stanley 033932 Powerlock Tape 5m Top Reader

Product Information

The dual-sided hook helps keep the blade in place when measuring without an assistant. The belt clip easily attaches to a belt or strap, but this measuring tape is a bit bulky for the designated tape measure holder on some tool pouches. Overall, we found this to be a very accurate, durable, and useful tape measure for professionals, DIYers, and around-the-house users alike.

Wide Range of Applications: The GATORTAPE measuring tape is perfect for any trade where accurate measurements are crucial. It excels in tasks where precise and repeatable measurements are required. However, its versatility knows no bounds, making it an invaluable addition to your toolkit for various applications. It's like having a telescopic measuring rod, but with the convenience of a retractable tape measure, all at a fraction of the price. Once all testing was completed, the testers assigned each tape measure a score of 1 to 5 in categories of accuracy, durability, ease of use, performance, and value. These scores were added to the testing results and the numbers were tabulated to choose the top-scoring tape measures.

Choosing where to buy Tape Measures

Introducing the GATORTAPE Retractable Measuring Tape - a revolutionary tool designed to make your measurements more accurate, ergonomic, and hassle-free. Whether you're a professional tradesperson or a DIY enthusiast, the GATORTAPE is your go-to tape measure for all your measuring needs. Here's why it stands out: Overall, the DeWalt is a good buy for frequent use because it’s so easy to read—but for occasional DIYers, it might feel like overkill due to its heavy-duty design. The 16-foot tape measure had an average standout of 9 feet and 7 seven inches during testing, surpassing the advertised 9 feet of standout. However, testers felt that the tape was a bit flimsy, making it difficult for measuring at a distance.

Wear clothing that fits well. Loose clothing or accessories can get caught in a tool’s moving parts, which could result in dire consequences. Some tape measures have a magnetic hook, which is useful when measuring steel or other magnetic metal items but can potentially be a nuisance, as the magnet can attach itself to various nearby metal items other than what you want to measure. The DEWALT Tough Series has a removable magnetic tip, so you can take it off when not needed.

The Stanley FatMax has a decent standout that will suffice for most projects, but it didn’t quite meet its claims. In our tests, we found that the standout was approximately 10 feet, 6 inches for the 16-foot version and 12 feet, 6 inches for the 25-foot version. We really like its smooth recoil, which allows the blade to retract in a controlled manner rather than flop around. But we did encounter some difficulties when we tried to pause recoiling and then start again. Even though it has fewer features than some other tape measures, this one from Milwaukee is still a solid option for most home renovators who don’t want to splurge. It has an average standout of 8 feet, 9 inches, which isn’t anything exceptional, but we think it’s enough for most uses around the house. The 1/8-inch markings are clear and not too cluttered, which helps ensure accuracy while reading the measurements. Tape measures with standard scales rather than metric scales are easiest to read. Tape measures that list the number of each fractional increment (like ¼ or ⅛) are usually easier to read than tape measures that only have lines to mark each increment. The tape measure held up impressively after our drop test—it had no scratches or damage after being dropped three times from a 12-foot ladder. However, testers said the body of the tape measure was somewhat long, making it more difficult to fit into a tool belt.