The Best Tape Measure
The Stubbornest – Crescent Lufkin
The Crescent Lufkin won our shootout for the best, most durable tape measure because of it’s rugged design, great hook and strong spring back. We also like the black and green markings, but the typical yellow is an option as well.
DURABILITY
More rugged and durable than the rest
COST
A good value in the middle of the price range
ACCURACY
Measurements are spot on.
Pros
Cons
Also Great – Milwaukee
The Milwaukee came in a close second in our testing. It has the additional feature of a magnet on the hook that can stick to a steel surface.
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VIDEO REVIEW
Our video review of the best tape measures, showing how we tested.
CANDIDATES
Because there are so many tape measures out there, we started by scouring reviews, looking at materials, and looking for suggestions in the BuyItForLife Subreddit (BIFL). We narrowed it down to 11 different models to buy and test. Our engineers looked at durability, materials, measuring accuracy, grip comfort, hook effectiveness, and spring back, as well as cost and user reviews to help you make an informed decision when buying your next tape measure.
We compared tape measures from several prominent brands: Stanley, Craftsman, Irwin, Crescent (Lufkin), Gatortape, Klein, Milwaukee, Spec Ops, DeWalt, and Komelon.
1 – Crescent
Summary: After hours or research and testing, we determined that the Crescent Lufkin is the best buy it for life tape measure. It passed our 2000 cycle durability test and the black and green markings were the easiest to read of all the tapes in our shootout. It has markings on both sides and an extra large hook. The Lufkin also had a protective film over the first 7 inches of the tape, which is the most prone to wear. We were surprised at how much we liked this tape measure.
5 – Stanley Fat Max
Summary: The Stanley Fat Max is often touted as the best and most rugged tape measure. We think it is great, but just not quite up to the top tape measures in our shootout. We thought the numbers were not big enough or as readable as our top picks, and the hook size was on the small side.
6 – Craftsman
Summary: Craftsman is an old and trusted name in tools. This tape measure is good, and came in the middle of the pack in our testing. It does come with a “Limited Lifetime Warranty”, which brought it up in our rankings. However, we don’t think it will last a long time and the Craftsman warranty has gotten harder to implement.
7 – DeWalt
Summary: The DeWalt was also a fine tape measure in the middle of the pack . It was double sided and had a protective film over the first couple inches to keep this section from wear.
8 – Komelon
Summary: The Komelon tape had an interesting auto-lock feature. Instead of springing back automatically, it stays locked in place until you release it. This is great for hands free use. Plus, it came with some handy tables and reference info printed on the back for quick access. We liked this tape.
9 – Spec Ops
Summary: We had high hopes for the Spec Ops. It touts being a rugged tape measure and they donate some of the proceeds from each purchase to veterans. The Spec Ops had the largest hook, measuring 1.45 by 0.56 inches. Overall it was a thin and weak tape that didn’t perform well.
10 – Stanley PowerLock
Summary: The Stanley PowerLock looks like an old school metal tape measure. It’s not. The plastic case is covered in cheap chrome that chipped during our testing. It was a basic cheap tape measure, that we think you should avoid.
11 – Gatortape
Summary: The Gatortape stood out the most with its unusual design. It has a window in the housing, allowing you to see the measurement when factoring in the tape measure’s body, which can be useful in tight spaces where it’s hard to get a straight view. Overall it was hard to read and not accurate.
ANALYSIS
Here’s the final ranking matrix from all of our tests. The lower the score, the better the performance. The Crescent Lufkin takes the top spot with a score of 10, and what’s great is that it’s right in the middle of the price range, offering excellent value. Coming in close behind are the Milwaukee and Klein tapes, which performed really well but come with a higher price tag. The Stanley Fat Max, a fan favorite, finished in fifth place in our testing.
Our findings in the table above include the Stubborn Gear Anvil Score and the price at the time of testing.
We tested each tape measure for the following characteristics:
DURABILITY
For our durability test, we built a linear motion device that repeatedly draws and retracts the tape measures. We put each of the 11 tapes through the machine for 30 minutes, which adds up to about 2,000 cycles per tape. Before and after the test, we measured the spring back speed and checked for any wear marks on the tape to see how they held up.
We were surprised that most of the field passed this test. The only ones that had difficulty were the Spec Ops and the Gator Tape, which showed noticed degradation in the spring force. All the rest appeared unaffected. We hope to do a longer test of ten thousand cycles in the future and report back our findings.
HOOK SIZE
Hook size is another measurement we used to rank the tapes. We measured both the width of the hook and the height from the bottom of the steel tape.
Hooking a tape measure onto the edge of a board or wall is definitely easier when the hook is larger. Some people argue that a hook that’s too big can catch on clothing or get in the way, but we didn’t find any of the tape measures in our test to have hooks that were overly large.
The Spec Ops had the largest hook, measuring 1.45 by 0.56 inches, while most of the tapes fell in the 1.2 inch width and 0.35 inch height range. The smallest hook was on the Stanley PowerLock.
A few tapes came with some extra features on the hook as well. For example, the Milwaukee has a magnet that helps it stick to steel surfaces, and several of the tapes have hooks on both the top and bottom for added convenience.
THICKNESS
We used a micrometer to get precise measurements on the thickness of each tape. Out of the 11 tapes, seven of them measured in at 7 mils thick, which is pretty standard. The thickest tape we tested was the Klein, which came in at 7.5 mils, offering a bit more durability. On the thinner side, we had the Spec Ops and Komelon tapes, which were the slimmest in the group.
When it comes to durability, we think thicker steel tends to last longer, especially in tough conditions. Thicker tapes are usually more resistant to kinking, which can be a problem over time if you’re constantly using and retracting them. A thinner tape may be a bit more flexible, but it might not hold up as well in the long run, especially when exposed to rough or frequent use. So, if you’re looking for a tape that’s going to withstand daily wear and tear, thickness is definitely something to keep in mind.
ACCURACY
If a tape measure isn’t accurate, it’s not worth having. We tested the accuracy of each tape by comparing them to a calibrated caliper (say that 10 times fast) over lengths of 6 to 12 inches. Nine of the tapes in our shootout were spot on. However, the Stanley PowerLock and Gatortape were both off by 1/32 of an inch. While that might sound minor, small inaccuracies like that can really add up when measuring over longer distances, potentially throwing off your entire project.
VISIBILITY
Ranking the visibility of the numbers on a tape measure can be a bit subjective, as it depends on personal preference and lighting conditions. Most of the tapes we tested followed the standard design of yellow backgrounds with black markings, which tends to provide solid contrast and makes reading the numbers fairly easy. However, two of the tapes in our lineup stood out with a black background and green markings, giving them a unique look. The Spec Ops tape was the outlier, featuring a white background with black markings, which also worked well for readability.
In general, we found that all the tapes were clear and easy to read under normal conditions. But if we had to give an edge to any one of them, it would be the Lufkin. Its markings seemed to pop a little more, making it just that bit easier to read, especially in less-than-ideal lighting. So, while visibility might come down to personal preference, the Lufkin tape stood out just a bit more in terms of clarity.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Some of the tape measures we tested had unique features that set them apart. The Lufkin, Irwin, Milwaukee, and DeWalt tapes all had markings on both sides of the tape, which is especially handy if you’re measuring overhead or using the tape upside down. It keeps you from twisting and turning to get a clear read.
The Gator Tape stood out the most with its unusual design. It has a window in the housing, allowing you to see the measurement when factoring in the tape measure’s body, which can be useful in tight spaces where it’s hard to get a straight view.
The Komelon tape had an interesting auto-lock feature. Instead of springing back automatically, it stays locked in place until you release it—great for hands-free use. Plus, it came with some handy tables and reference info printed on the back for quick access.
Another nice touch came from the Craftsman, DeWalt, and Lufkin tapes, which had a protective film over the first few inches. This extra layer helps protect the markings from wear and tear, giving a bit more durability to the part of the tape that sees the most action.
REVIEWS
After narrowing down our choices, we scoured the internet for good quality reviews. These can be very hard to find now that fake and paid-for reviews are everywhere.
Sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot analyze reviews with their algorithm to eliminate suspicious ones and give an updated score.
The Crescent Lufkin that is our winner had only 181 ratings on Amazon as of the time of this review. Fakespot review analysis gave it a score of A, showing that the reviews are accurate and high quality.
AMAZON RATING
4.3
ADJUSTED RATING
4.3
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