The Clever Tape Hack For Measuring Something Without A Ruler In A Pinch

Not having a measuring tape or a ruler to hand can be very annoying when you've got your mind set on doing a basic DIY home improvement task. What's even more frustrating is trying to measure the circumference of something circular, like a coffee table or a mirror, but not being able to think of a way to do it accurately. A typical measuring tape is quite stiff, which makes it nearly impossible to measure something curved or round. However, there is an easy hack for solving these common DIY issues, and all it requires is a roll of tape, a pencil, and a Stanley knife.

Different types of tape will work better than others for this, and we'd suggest using either painter's tape or masking tape. Neither one has the same sticking power as other tapes, which would make it harder to work with, plus they are both easy to tear. Another bonus is that painter's or masking tape is easy to mark with a pen or pencil. 

To measure the circumference of a circle, take your roll of tape and wrap it tightly around the object. Allow it to overlap slightly, so you can be sure you won't cut your tape too short. Take your Stanley knife or pair of scissors and cut where the two ends of the tape meet, remove and measure the strip of tape using a traditional tape measure, and there you have your measurement. This hack will take you less than a minute to do, so it's not only accurate, but it'll save you lots of time as well. 

Another genius painter's tape hack can help you easily measure the hanging points on a picture frame. Use tape and a pencil to mark out where the two hanging points are on the frame. Next, place the tape on the wall where you want your frame to hang. Take some time to make sure the tape is level by using a trusted spirit level. Finally, nail in your screws and remove the tape — voila, a picture-perfect way to hang a frame.