Exactly how long is 5 inches compared to an object?

5 inches is a length that is commonly used all over. Have you ever considered measuring 5 inches without a ruler or tape measure?

You might be surprised to learn that we can measure things without using a ruler or tape measure. If you need to estimate the size of something, you can do so by using common objects around you. How is this possible? Let’s explore.

Before we begin, I would like to emphasize that these are all non-standard units of measurement. They’re not standard units of measurement.

First, let us look at the differences between standard and non-standard units.

Standard unit vs Non-standard unit

There are two types of measurement for length: non-standard units of measurement and standard units of measurement.

The standard units of measurement are those that remain constant throughout the world. Standard units are common units that people use, so they can describe measurements in the same way.

The United States uses the imperial system, or US standard unit, to measure lengths. In the Imperial system, things are measured in inches, feet, and miles.

Sometimes, when you don’t have a ruler or measuring tape around, you can use non-standard units for measuring.

When you use something besides a ruler or measuring tape, it’s called non-standard measurement. It gives us a rough guess about the length of things.

How long is 5 inches?

Due to the size of objects, different units of length were developed. Length helps us to identify the size of an object.

Inches are the most appropriate unit to measure relatively short object.

  • 5 inches = 127 millimeters (mm)
  • 5 inches = 12.7 centimeters (cm)
  • 5 inches = 0.416667 feet (ft)
  • 5 inches = 0.127 meters (m)

5 inches is equivalent to adding 5 measures of 1 inch.

Whatever group of items you choose to measure with will work as long as they are all the same size.

You can use the following objects as temporary measuring tools to measure 5-inches in length:

3×5 Index card

Index card, 3 inches by 5 inches
Image by b0red from Pixabay

The most common size for index cards in the USA, and in the UK, is 3 inches by 5 inches, often referred to as a 3×5 card.

A 3×5 index card is a rectangular piece of cardstock that measures 3 inches wide and 5 inches long. This size is commonly used for taking notes or organizing information.

This 3×5 index card measures 3 inches in width and 5 inches in length, so with its length, it can quickly determine whether or not an object is 5 inches in size.

Lay the index card flat on the object you want to measure. Align one edge of the card with one end of the object to detect its length.

There are other standard sizes available in the USA besides the 3×5:

  • 4 inches by 6 inches (4×6)
  • 5 inches by 8 inches (5×8)

You’ll find all these size options at most office supply stores and stationery stores in the USA.

Giant Tarot

Giant Tarot card (7 1/16" x 5 inches)
Image by Jean-Didier from Pixabay

We are familiar with tarot cards and their uses. People love to play with tarot cards. These tarot cards are available in different sizes.

You can use it as a non-standard tool to detect the sizes of object. We all know these cards are available in many sizes, so you can use it as per your measuring requirements.

Large tarot cards come in at seven to one sixteenth by five inches (7 1/16″ x 5″), so it is handy to measure 5 inches in length.

I am giving here the sizes of different cards that can be used as non-standard measuring tools when standard tools are not around.

Length by width (in inches).

  • Tiny Oracle: 2 1/2 X 1 3/4
  • Mini-Tarot: 3 3/16 X 2
  • Bridge: 3 1/2 X 2 1/4
  • Poker: 3 1/2 X 2 1/2
  • Sport: 3 1/2 X 2 1/2
  • Len Ormand: 3 15/16 X 2 7/16
  • Standard tarot: 4 3/4 X 2 3/4
  • Postcard: 5 1/2 X 3 1/2
  • Large Oracle: 6 X 4 1/4
  • RWS Giant: 6 3/4 X 3 15/16
  • Visconti Cary Yale: 7 3/4 X 3 7/8
  • Giant Tarot: 7 1/16 X 5

Card sizes may vary in some cases.

Standard playing card (player card)

Two Poker Cards have 5 inches width

Standard playing cards are also known as “poker cards.”

The poker deck is the standard one that most people use. A poker card is 2.5 inches in width (63.5 mm) and 3.5 inches in length (88.9 mm).

The standard poker deck, designed for male players, is two and a half inches wide.

Place two poker cards flat on the object you want to measure. Two poker cards combined have a width of 5 inches, making them ideal for measuring 5 inches.

A small paper clip

1 inch, size 5 paper clip
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

A small paper clip is approximately 1 inch long, and you can easily calculate the 5 inch length using these 1 inch paper clips.

When you align these five paper clips in a straight line, you get an exact 5-inch measurement.

To ensure precise measurements, arrange the paper clips in a straight line with no gaps between them.

Line up paper clips along the side of an object to see how many paper clips long it is.

Each small paper clip is one inch long, so five paper clips together are five inches long.

Quarter Dollar

5 quarter-dollar dimensions

Quarter-quarter big and bold, you’re worth 25, I’m told.

The quarter is the United States’ 25-cent coin.

The diameter of the US quarter is approximately equal to 1 inch (0.955 in), which makes it one-fifth of 5 inches.

When you align these five quarters in a straight line, you get an approximate 5-inch measurement.

Each US quarter dollar is approximately one inch (0.955 in) long, so five quarters together are around five inches long.

US Dollar Note

Two Dollar Bill

Have you ever thought about the overall size of the US dollar? Actually, all bills have exactly the same-sized rectangle.

The standard dollar note measures approximately 6.14 inches in length and 2.61 inches in width.

(Technically, the definition of length is the longest dimension, so i consider here the dollar-shortest site as width.)

The width of a dollar note is useful to measure the 5-inch length. Let us find out how.

A dollar note width is 2.61 inches, which is equivalent to 66.294 mm.

The combined width of two dollar bills is 132.588 mm, which is just 5 mm more than 5 inches (127 mm).

The width of two dollar bills combined makes it easy to guess the length of any object that is 5 inches in length.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5

Galaxy Z fold5 dimensions

The Galaxy Z fold5 is a popular flagship phone from Samsung.

When unfolded, this phone has the following physical specifications:

  • Height: 154.9 mm (equivalent to 6.098 inches)
  • Width: 129.9 mm (equivalent to 5.114 inches)

If you notice that the Galaxy Z fold5 has a width of 129.9 mm and you know that 5 inches equals 127 mm,.

The Galaxy Z fold5’s width is only 3 mm more than 5 inches, making it one of the best non-standard tools for measuring 5-inch length.

The latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 (launched in 2024) has a width of 132.6 mm, which is 5 mm more than 5 inches (127 mm).

Apple iPad mini 6

Apple iPad Mini 6 Height and Width

In the United States, Apple’s iPad Mini 6 is a popular product with a large user base.

The Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) has a height of 7.69” (195.4 mm) and a width of 5.3” (134.8 mm).

A double prime or double quote (″) is used to represent the inch.

The iPad mini 6’s physical width is 134.8 mm, or 5.3 inches, which is just slightly wider than 5 inches.

You are aware that five inches is equal to 127 millimeters. Thus, there is a mere 7 mm discernible difference between the 5 inches and the Apple iPad 6 width.

If you want to know whether something is five inches long or not, use the iPad’s width to measure it.

The width of the Apple iPad Mini (6th Generation) makes it simple to estimate the length of any object that is 5 inches in diameter.

Remember that this estimation only provides a rough estimate of the object’s length, as non-standard units never provide an exact measurement.

Standard units, such as a ruler or measuring tape, are required for accurate measurements.

Apple iPhone 13 Mini

iPhone 13 Mini physical specification

This phone’s size is perfect for determining a 5-inch length. It’s length and width are both useful to measure the 5-inch size. Let’s find out how.

The Apple iPhone 13 Mini has a height of 5.18 inches (equivalent to 131.5 mm) and a width of 2.53 inches (equivalent to 64.2 mm).

We all know 5-inches is equivalent to 127 mm, and the iPhone 13 Mini has a height of 131.5 mm, which is merely 4 mm shorter than 5-inches.

This phone height can fulfill our purpose of determining 5-inch length without the help of a standard measuring tool.

Now, I think you can easily guess how we can use its width to measure 5 inches. If you make it twice its width, it reaches approximately 128 mm, which is only 1 mm more than 5-inches (equivalent to 127 mm).

Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 Mini in 2023, but promised to support it until 2028 (software updates and service).

Lawn Tennis Ball

Lawn Tennis Ball size as per ITF

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) established the size of a tennis ball according to its standard sizing method: A tennis ball must have a diameter of 2.57 inches (equivalent to 65.278 mm) to 2.70 inches (equivalent to 68.58 mm).

Considering the width of the tennis ball, two tennis balls combine to fulfill our criteria of 5 inches.

If you align two tennis ball side by side with no gap, you can get approximately 5 inch length.

tennis ball is handy to temporarily measure the 5-inch length in absence of standard measuring tools.

Letter (paper size)

US Letter (Paper size)

The US paper (letter size) measures approximately 8 and a half inches by 11 inches (8.5″ x 11″).

Fold the US paper (letter size) in half, starting from the bottom up, and crease it in the middle by matching both edges. It will give you half of the 11 inches, which is five and a half inches (5.5″).

5 and a half inches is not exactly 5 inches, but this folded sheet of paper gives you a rough idea of whether the length of the object is around 5 inches or not.

Please note that if you fold the paper (letter size) from side to side, the measurement will be less than 5 inches.

Conclusion

In this article, I have discussed almost all common objects that can be used as a non-standard tool to measure 5 inches in length.

The items listed above are not standard measuring tools, so be sure to select the appropriate length object for the best results.

For the most precise result, use only standard measuring tools, such as a tape measure and ruler.