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Bettesworth Construction
3/8 inch

What Is .375 on a Tape Measure?

.375 inch is 3/8 inch: the sixth sixteenth mark after zero on a standard tape, or 9.525 millimeters.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read

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.375 inch is 3/8 inch. On a standard tape marked in sixteenths, it sits at the sixth small mark after zero, halfway between the 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch lines. In metric terms, .375 inch equals 9.525 millimeters, or 0.9525 centimeters.

Why .375 equals 3/8 inch

.375 is a decimal fraction of an inch. Reduce 375/1000 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 125, and you get 3/8. Minnesota’s official table of decimal equivalents of common fractions in inches (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, “4715.4100 — Decimal equivalents of common fractions in inches,” 2014 version) pairs 3/8 with .375 directly.

Finding .375 on a tape measure

Most tapes that show sixteenth-inch graduations let you locate .375 by counting. Because 3/8 equals 6/16, the mark is the sixth interval after the inch’s zero point.

  1. Hook the end of the tape on the edge of your material and pull it to the start of the measurement.
  2. Find the nearest whole inch below the target length, then move up to the 1/4-inch line. That line is 4/16.
  3. Count one more sixteenth past the 1/4-inch line. The 3/8-inch mark is the one you reach after two more sixteenths from 1/4 inch, which is 6/16.
  4. Confirm you are between the 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch lines, closer to the 1/4-inch mark than to the 1/2-inch mark only if your reading is just above 1/4; at exactly .375 it sits midway between them.

The count depends on the tape’s subdivision, so the same mark is located differently on different tapes:

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CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Marketing, Retractable, Manual-Locking Blade (CMHT37443S)
  • 13 ft. Of reach*: allows for easy measurements when working alone (*based on maximum extension of average professional user)
  • Compact size: easy to grip and store in any tool belt
  • Easy grip design: extensive rubber overmold provides a comfortable grip and impact resistance
  • Easy read fractions: fractions printed on the blade in alternating colors and heights for quick, easy measurements
  • Includes: (1) CMHT37443S Tape Measure
Tape subdivision Position of 3/8 inch (.375) How to read it
Sixteenths 6/16 Sixth small interval after the inch’s zero point
Eighths 3/8 Third interval after zero
Thirty-seconds 12/32 Twelfth interval after zero

Read the graduations on the tape you actually have. Subdivision and the look of the hash marks vary between tapes, so the count above assumes the common sixteenth-inch layout.

Converting .375 inch to metric

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in its “Approximate Conversions from U.S. Customary Measures to Metric” table, gives 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. Multiply:

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DEWALT Atomic Compact Series 30 ft. Tape Measure (DWHT38130S)
  • 20% more compact grip**: For improved ergonomics and control
  • Integrated finger brake: For improved blade control
  • Fractional blade graphics for quick and easy measuring
  • Durable blade coating for longer blade life
  • 0.375 × 2.54 = 0.9525 centimeters
  • 0.9525 centimeters × 10 = 9.525 millimeters

Keep the unit attached to the number. A bare .375 can mean another quantity, so write it as “.375 inch” or “3/8 inch” when you pass it on.

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How accurate a tape’s marks are

A tape’s marks are calibrated, but the tape is not always exact. NIST’s page “How Do You Ensure That a Tape Measure Is Accurate?” (undated, accessed 2026) describes how tape hash marks are calibrated. It also states that, for buying and selling goods, a 1.82-meter (6-foot) tape should be accurate to within 0.79 millimeters (1/32 inch), according to NIST Handbook 44. That tolerance applies to that tape type in a commercial setting. It does not describe every tape, and it is not a guarantee for household or hobby tapes. For construction layout where a 1/32-inch error matters, check the tape against a known reference length before relying on it.

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Rank #3
Amazon Basics Retractable Tape Measure with Metric and SAE Measurements, 16 ft / 192 in, Turquoise
  • 16-foot retractable measuring tape for personal or professional use
  • Provides both SAE and metric measurements
  • Wide 3/4-inch blade with easy readability
  • Convenient belt clip and lanyard for easy access
  • Molded, impact-resistant case with easy grip-ability

This article reads the mark. It does not establish how precisely any specific tape is printed.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Marketing, Retractable, Manual-Locking Blade (CMHT37443S)
CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Marketing, Retractable, Manual-Locking Blade (CMHT37443S)
Compact size: easy to grip and store in any tool belt; Includes: (1) CMHT37443S Tape Measure
$12.98
SaleBestseller No. 2
DEWALT Atomic Compact Series 30 ft. Tape Measure (DWHT38130S)
DEWALT Atomic Compact Series 30 ft. Tape Measure (DWHT38130S)
20% more compact grip**: For improved ergonomics and control; Integrated finger brake: For improved blade control
$16.49
Bestseller No. 3
Amazon Basics Retractable Tape Measure with Metric and SAE Measurements, 16 ft / 192 in, Turquoise
Amazon Basics Retractable Tape Measure with Metric and SAE Measurements, 16 ft / 192 in, Turquoise
16-foot retractable measuring tape for personal or professional use; Provides both SAE and metric measurements
$5.84
Bestseller No. 4
CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Markings, Retractable, Self-Locking Blade (CMHT37225)
CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Markings, Retractable, Self-Locking Blade (CMHT37225)
QUICK & EASY MEASUREMENTS: Fractions printed on the blade; ADDED GRIP: Rubber overmold for added grip
$14.98
SaleBestseller No. 5
Stanley FMHT74038A FatMax 25 Foot Tape Measure 2PK
Stanley FMHT74038A FatMax 25 Foot Tape Measure 2PK
11-foot Standout; 16-inch and 19.2-Inch stud center markings simplify framing jobs; Blade arm our coating on the first 3" maximizes durability of the blade
$39.00
Best Value
Sale
Stanley FMHT74038A FatMax 25 Foot Tape Measure 2PK
  • 11-foot Standout; 16-inch and 19.2-Inch stud center markings simplify framing jobs
  • Blade arm our coating on the first 3" maximizes durability of the blade
  • Mylar polyester film extends life of entire blade
  • Top-forward blade lock makes locking and unlocking easy
  • High-impact ABS case with durable rubber-holds up to heavy use
Rank #4
CRAFTSMAN 25-Ft Tape Measure with Fraction Markings, Retractable, Self-Locking Blade (CMHT37225)
  • QUICK & EASY MEASUREMENTS: Fractions printed on the blade
  • ADDED GRIP: Rubber overmold for added grip

Sources

  • Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, “4715.4100 — Decimal equivalents of common fractions in inches” (2014 version).
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology, “Approximate Conversions from U.S. Customary Measures to Metric.”
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology, “How Do You Ensure That a Tape Measure Is Accurate?” (undated, accessed 2026).

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