Steel Tape Measures

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As The UK's Tape Measure Experts, our selection of steel tape measures is second to none! The vast majority of tape measures sold in the UK, regardless of type, have a steel blade. They come in lengths ranging from 3m to 50m and in metric only or metric/imperial forms. Not sure which one's right for you? Why not get in touch through our contact page?

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137 product(s) found

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137 product(s) found

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Steel Tape Measures

Steel (or steel bladed) tape measures are by far the most common type of tape measure on sale at The Tape Store... and throughout the World for that matter! Think of a tape measure and the chances are you've pictured a conventional pocket or reel tape in an enclosed plastic or metal case, a slightly curved blade with a metal hook or 'tang' at its tip. Almost all tapes of this type come with steel blades, chosen for its durability, strength and ability to 'stand out' for considerable distances before bending or 'snapping'.

When chosen carefully and bought wisely, a high quality steel tape measure can last you for year after year, decade after decade... depending upon how heavily you use it, of course! Many of us know people who are still using the same steel tape now as they were 10, 20 or even 30 years ago. Perhaps they only use it now and again for a bit of DIY but it's still going strong, providing the same first class service today as it was all those years ago. If looked after even those tools used day in, day out in dirty, rough environments can still provide countless years of use. Picking a tape from a first-rate manufacturer such as Stanley, Fisco or Bahco, for example, increases those chances even further.

The steel tape measures sold at The Tape Store, come in a variety of guises with the following attributes making them more or less suitable for different trades...

  • Length - perhaps the most important factor when choosing a tape measure, our steel tape measures come in lengths ranging from 2 or 3m pocket tapes all the way up to 30m long or surveyors' tapes
  • Blade diameter - important for ease of measurement and for standout, on the whole the larger the blade width the better
  • Hook - Different tapes come with different types of hook and different numbers of rivets holding the hook to the blade. Hooks can be steel, stainless or plastic (amongst other things), can be magnetic, can move in/out to adjust for internal or external measurements, can have traditional bottom hooks, side hooks or even top hooks... the list is endless.
  • Case material - this ranges from simple plastic to ABS impact-resistant plastic, stainless steel and bi-material case for added durability and comfort.
  • Standout - one of the few occasions where bigger really is better. Standout is essentially the distance that a tape can be extended before it bends or 'snaps'... vital for those tricky long or vertical measurements, especially when working alone.
  • Accuracy - all tapes sold in the UK are tested according the EC (European Union) standards of accuracy. The vast majority of tapes sold through The Tape Store are classified as either EC Class I, Class II or Class III. Further information about EC classifications can be find on our Product Info page.
  • Weight - frequently an indication of tape length (the longer the tape is the heavier it will be), weight can also be an indication of solidity and quality. Stanley's range of FatMax Xtreme tapes, for example, can be quite a bit heavier than some of their counterparts.

All of the information above and more is listed in each tape measure's product page... to make it easier to choose which product's right for you we've created a couple of simple and easy to use tools. The first is our 'Tape Comparison Tool'... How do you use it? Well, when looking at a list of products simply click the button marked 'compare' next to a maximum of three products. Once that's done a button marked ' compare products' will appear at the top right of the list. Just click that and you're away! All the product attributes will be listed alongside those of the other tapes making it easy to compare one against the other.

Not able to find what you're looking for in this section? Perhaps it's not a steel tape measure you're after? Take a look through our whole range of tape measures...