Exactly how long is 2 inches compared to an object?
How long is 2 inches? Do you ever try to measure it with the help of a common object instead of using a tape measure or ruler?
It is small (2 inches), so we will obviously need small objects to measure it. Those objects have a length or width of 2 inches, or both sides are approximately 2 inches, making it possible to measure 2 inches.
Let’s see which everyday items are helpful to measure 2 inches.
How big is 2 inches?
Before I list the items, I would like to clarify a few key points that may help you understand this topic.
- When you use something besides a ruler or measuring tape to measure, it’s called non-standard measurement.
- Non-standard measurement does not provide precise length, but it gives us a rough guess about the length of things.
- We use various non-standard units to measure the length of different objects.
Shorter objects are measured using the inch, centimeter, or millimeter unit.
- 2 inches = 50.8 millimeters (mm)
- 2 inches = 5.08 centimeters (cm)
- 2 inches = 0.166667 feet (ft)
- 2 inches = 0.0508 meters (m)
List of items that are 2 inches long
Here are a few items that will help us estimate 2 inches of length.
- AA batteries
- A credit card
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Clothespin
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
- Two small paper clips.
- Two Quarter Dollars
- 4×6 index card
- Two bottle caps
All of these items are referred to as non-standard units of measurement because they provide only an approximate estimate of an object’s length.
AA batteries
An AA battery is one of the best non-standard items to measure 2 inches when there is no tape measure or ruler nearby.
In the United States, most companies’ alkaline, lithium, and rechargeable AA battery sizes are consistent in length. Their length is typically around 1.99 inches (50.5 mm). The 1 mm size difference is negligible, so 1.99 inches is nearly 2 inches.
Credit Card
Every individual carries a debit card and credit card in their wallet/purse.
Most of the credit and debit cards used the same size in the United States.
The standard size of these cards is 3.375 inches (85.6 mm) by 2.125 inches (54 mm).
The width of these cards is 54 mm, which is only 3 mm more than 2 inches (50.8 mm). So these cards can be a good tool to measure 2 inches in the absence of a tape measure and ruler.
Technically, the definition of length is the longest dimension, so I consider here the dollar-shortest site as width.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
The Apple Watch Ultra 2, being a newer and higher-end model, is quite popular amongst everybody.
It has a 49 mm titanium case size, which is very close to 2-inch. This is just 1.8 mm less than 50.8 mm (2 inch).
The size of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is as below:
- Height: 49mm
- Width: 44mm
- Depth: 14.4mm
Are you excited to learn that we can use this watch as a non-standard tool to measure 2-inch length?
Small Clothespin
Small clothespins are usually about approximately 2 inches in length.
It’s height is very close to 2 inches, so it is a good tool to measure 2-inch length in the absence of a ruler.
These smaller clothespins are often used for crafts, decorations, or lightweight tasks rather than heavy-duty clothes hanging.
Galaxy Watch Ultra
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s most recent premium smartwatch release. Many people have fallen in love with this gorgeous smartwatch.
This Galaxy Watch Ultra, like the Apple Watch Ultra 2, has a 47mm titanium case that is almost 2 inches in size. Obviously, it is 3.8 mm shorter than 50.8 mm (2 inch), but it serves the purpose of estimating 2 inch length.
The physical specification of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is as below.
- Case Size: 47mm
- Body Dimension (HxWxD ,mm)
47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1 - Body Weight (g): 60.5
Paper clip
Paper clips are available in different sizes and are used in schools, offices, as well as in our home to bond papers and documents together.
Measuring objects with the help of paper clips is easy.
A small paper clip is approximately 1 inch long. If the length of the object is 2 paper clips long, it means the object is 2 inch long.
When we measure with paper clips, connect each paper clip in a straight line to make measurement.
2 inches is equivalent to adding 2 measures of 1 inch.
If we used 2 inch jumbo paper clips to measure, one paper clip is enough to measure 2 inch length.
Quarter Dollar
The United States Quarter Dollar is worth 25 cents.
The diameter of a quarter is 0.955 inch, which is equal to 1 inch. So this quarter dollar is very useful to measure one inch as well as two inches and vice versa.
When you line up two quarters horizontally in a connected position, you get an exact two-inch measurement.
The quarter dollar is a very handy non-standard unit of measurement because almost every American carries it in their pocket.
4×6 Index card
A 4 by 6 index card is a small piece of cardstock. This index card has dimensions of 4 inches in width and 6 inches in length.
You may be wondering how this odd measurement number card can measure two inches. Let’s find out.
To obtain an exact 2-inch measurement, fold it in half from the 4-inch width side in the middle.
This 4×6 index card is one of the most useful non-standard units of measurement for measuring 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch, and 3-inch length.
Index cards are available in different sizes, such as:
- 3 inches by 5 inches (3×5)
- 5 inches by 8 inches (5×8)
Two bottle caps
A bottle cap is approximately one inch in size.
When we place two bottle caps next to each other, they will measure approximately 2 inches long.
Bottle caps are readily available items; we can use them to measure small lengths such as one inch, two inches, or three inches, and vice versa in the absence of a ruler and tape measure.
Conclusion
Non-standard unit measurement—it might be, or it also might not be precise, but its very close to the desired measurement, which is why we call it an estimate. It is like a good guess, or you can say it is a rough guess. Whatever it is, it is incredibly useful for measuring in the absence of a ruler and tape measure.
