Starrett Exact Retractable Imperial/Metric Pocket Tape Measure with Nylon Coating, Self Adjusting End Hook, and Steel Belt Clip - 1/2" Width x 12 ft. Length - KTX12-12ME-N

Top quality. Easy to read. Fits in you hand.

The tape measure is every bit as good, sturdy, and easy to use as my trusty Stanley and proving to be more useful. I've been doing a lot of work on my house and so much of figuring out the work is easier in metric. E.g.: How to space balusters evenly on a long deck railing? Metric makes it simple. Yep, lumber is in inches, but the conversion from Imperial/American to metric is a snap. Base 10 is tons easier than what is essentially base 12.

One day in the 1980s I wanted a replacement board that would exactly fit a space I measured at 26 and 21/32”. I cut a replacement exactly an inch too short. Identifying the 21/32 mark had so preoccupied me that I’d been on the wrong side of the 26” mark.Now I realized that the metric system was more reliable because the scale was simpler. In this case I’d needed 677mm. That was easY: two marks past 675. It’s also an easier number to write and read.Tapes with millimeters on one edge were common, but you can’t always measure with the edge you prefer. I bought an 8 meter tape from Craftsman. It was such an improvement that I bought a second in case something happened to the first.I helped a former carpenter who wanted a small L-shaped board to repair rot in a roof valley. He measured, went down the ladder, cut the piece, returned to the roof, and found it was wrong. Had he really expected to remember four measurements involving eighths of an inch? I offered to write the measurements. For simplicity, I would have used my metric tape. He refused. It took him four tries to cut the piece he needed. He’d wasted time, energy, and a whole sheet of plywood.I’ll use an inch tape if whole inches are close enough. If somebody needs more precision, it’s easier to write the millimeters, then convert with a calculator.I saw a neighbor putting imitation stone siding on the underpinning of his house. Because the yard wasn’t perfectly level, he needed to know the required height at each end of a piece besides the length. That was simpler than the four measurements for an L, and quarter inches were precise enough. Still, he kept making mistakes. Metric measurements made it simpler, and there were no more mistakes.In a couple of cases, we had to cut holes to insert vents. Working from edges, we’d measure to one corner, then add or subtract to mark the others. It’s much simpler to add and subtract millimeters than inches and fractions.Eventually, the first tape was damaged. I wanted another backup. Craftsmen no longer sold tapes marked in millimeters on both edges. I’ve kept an eye on Amazon. When I saw that they had one, I bought it.There’s one disappointment. Between 5 and 10mm marks, there are four lines: 1 through 4 or 6 through 9. On the Craftsman, the first and fourth were shorter than the second and third. That meant I didn’t have to count to know which mark I was looking at. On the Starrett, they’re the same length.To make an inside measurement, the case of a steel tape may say to add 2 or 3 inches, but it can be hard to see at what mark the tape goes into the case. When I bought the my first metric tape, I made a spacer to give me a precise reading 100mm smaller than an inside measurement. I keep it handy under the belt clip. The photos show a similar spacer for the Starrett. I extended the tape, latched it, and made sure there was no end play. I would normally have taken the tape out of the box to place the spacer. It shows 346, so I know the distance is 446mm.I used an audio CD box to calibrate the spacer. The sides are rigid and square to the bottom. It’s big enough for the tape and small enough for a 6” caliper. The caliper said 121.5mm. I extended and latched the tape, then shaved and sanded the spacer until it came to 21.5mm on both edges of the tape.

Everything about it. Very accurate

Solid and beautiful tape measure, but I'm not sure how Starrett expects people to pry it from the impregnable fortress of packaging they place it in before they ship it out. They should probably curate a youtube tutorial on how to open the package without damaging oneself or the actual product. Then if anyone can follow the tutorial successfully out in the wild, they should win a t-shirt at least, because WOW. Be ready to really earn this tape measure after it arrives -- find some gloves, safety glasses, and scissors that you're prepared to part with after this job because this job will chew through its blades. Take your time getting it open to minimize damage to the unit itself.

First off, this is a *metric-only* tape measure. That's exactly what I wanted, and that's exactly what I got. If you want a tape measure that measures in both Imperial units and metric, this is not the tape measure for you. If you want a tape measure that measures in inches, feet, attoparsecs, centismoots, or microfurlongs, don't buy this tape measure. That's not what it's for.I was a little uneasy at first when I saw that the metal cleat at the end of the tape (the thing that allows you to hook the tape over a corner) moves. But then I realized that it moves *exactly* the thickness of the cleat so that it's accurate whether you're pulling the tape or pushing it. The thought behind that and accuracy of how that's set up impressed me.Other than that, it's a tape measure. It's in metric on both edges of the tape, so it's easy to read however you measure stuff. It locks. It's a pretty basic tape measure, which is exactly what it looks like. I bought this tape measure so I'd have something other than calipers or converting from an Imperial tape measure for measuring things for 3D printing (3D printing is largely done using millimeter units). It works great for that, and was happy to see that this is a metric-only tape measure. But know that you are buying a metric-only tape measure.

Much better option than the ones printed with metric and imperial on one tape, since this one allows measurement on both sides.This tape is good quality. Worth the money.Having a metric tape keeps you from having to use Google for imperial equivalents when specs are metric.

What can I say? It is a Starett. I have wanted one for a couple years. I have a bunch of Stanley tape measures and they get the job done quite well but this Starett has a metric side and is just smoother and seems to extend a little farther then my old Stanleys. Honestly, it may just be snob appeal but I do enjoy grabbing this tape out of my box at work.

Use it every day for work

Relación calidad precio muy buena

This is a nifty little tape measure, it is really smooth when it retracts back into the case and it's not bulky at all so fits easily into my pocket. I also like the fact that it only has metric measurements on it so that it prevents any confusion :)

Une tres bonne measure. Solid, je utilize beaucoup et laissez tomber avac pas De problem. Je recommend.

Je suis ébéniste, j'utilise un mètre toute la journée. J'ai fait confiance à la marque et ce produit m'a déçu ! Je pensais vraiment acheter du matériel pro, mais le ruban à pris un pli en deux jours. Nul, à éviter.