Which Brand Makes the Best Tape Measure? Durability & Accuracy Test

I bought 13 Tape measures, and put them head to head in various tests to find out which one is the best.
I firstly tested the accuracy of each tape measure before trying to break them in multiple tests, and to see which one will last the longest.
The Tapes we tested are from the brands Milwaukee, Dewalt, Wolf, Stanley, Empire, Bacho, Craftright, Trojan and Lufkin.

[@quagmire5783]

I have a Stanley fat max my dad bought me when I first got into woodworking it’s still amazing just needs new rivets on the front don’t use it much now as I have a different one but it’s always with me. Rip dad ❤️🕊️

[@Stuartcandy08]

When you tested how far the tapes would go out, they snapped not where you read but where your right hand was. So depending on how far your hand was from your body the reading would be different.

[@stevenallen4123]

I’ve used everyone of those throughout the years. The toughbuilt tape and hammer I have has lasted me the longest so far.

[@andrewpritchard5328]

impressed by the thought thats gone into the methodology for these tests, insofar of what can be controlled on a construction site.

[@itinerantwayfarer1904]

Good video! Although I don't completely agree with your perspective on the reach test, I did appreciate the visual representation of laying the tape on the ground.

[@chrxx4327]

For me luftkin is number one, the reason I like it the most is design of the hook end, it has a textured material that just grabs better than any other tape. I think Milwaukee tapes have the best ergonomics. I love the belt hook design Milwaukee has and the cut out for your finger to stop the tape is a nice feature.

[@dmaster20ify]

I love when the tape locks in place until you press the button. Else you have to fight with the tape.

[@Tez_R]

Lufkin has a shockforce night eye model that has a normal lock release mechanism and out of all the tapes I've tried that's top dog.

[@l-_-sage-_-l]

Yeah that’s what I was thinking… I like this one but if he doesn’t they make both regular & night eye normally as well… I’ve been waiting for a night eye with the features of the one in this video to come out

[@hytekrednekbama4400]

Fisco, with the quick draw type holster/clip. I been using these for many years. My first was a rebrand by Johnson level and tool called the Big Johnson! Later I ordered a dozen 16 foot and and a couple 25 foot Fisco branded versions called the Fisco BIG T. Most handy, reliable, durable, and accurate tapes I ever tried. I tried many in my cabinet and furniture making years. The 16 foot Big-T Fisco, made in England, is my preferred and favorite by a huge margin. They replace 12 and 16 foot old school Lufkin tapes. The Lufkin's are still wonderful, just not my go-to any more. I use tapes for cabinet making, furniture making, antique repairs, and general household maintenance and repair.

[@brandosbackyard]

I'm a big fan of the lufkin fluoro lock - i use that every day as a cabinet maker. I do like the stanley fatmax too and use that for a lot of stuff outside of cabinet making but the fluoro lock feels super comfortable and smooth

[@auntytizza]

Most tapes are made very accurately! The most important thing for accuracy is a sharp pencil! Ive been using a 2mm pacer pencil with H4 leads ! Harder lead means they dont break when dropped and stays sharper for longer.

[@SpiritIsSpirit]

Some of these tests contradict one another. Shouldve done the drop test very last and when you ran over the tapes with the ute, the first and last one had way more pressure on them than the others. Also, the twist test meant nothing, the only reason the cheaper tape "did well" is because the blades are thinner and more pliable. Theyll be guaranteed to fall side to side more often than a milwaukee or lufkin wife blade because the material is better quality.

[@interceptor7905]

You need to try Komelon tape!Beats every other brand!

[@scottanthony1892]

Great review. Lufkin for me. Reliable always.

[@miketofriends]

Stanley makes a double sided fat max and it’s their best. Would have loved to see that one compared to

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

I’ve never seen any shops stock that tape before. Not sure why because I’d love to use it!

[@WhosLeadingYou]

@@DaveDoesCarpentryBunnings Item number: 0311356. I think this is the one he is talking about. Love the video, reminds me of Project Farm but as Aussie version.

[@MrCoal16]

It’s shit anyway to big and bulky for fine work it makes it uncomfortable

[@lamdog24]

@@DaveDoesCarpentryAll Bunnings should stock them.

[@bobbob-vw1yw]

You can get Lufkin tape from hogans witch has an inside dimension for when you are measuring tight between walls. I find it very helpful

[@cblack1863]

Most tape measures have that Lufkin feature for butting the tape and adding... If you look closely, a lot of tapes have that size molded into the housing on the beck (usually around 3") it's more accurate than bending it and estimating due to parallax agle of viewing.

[@miketofriends]

To test the twist capacity of each tape evenly you could connect each head to a drill and put the drill on its lowest gear setting, stopping once the chuck starts giving way to the resistance of the twisted tape. That way you’d have an accurate representation of each tapes twist capacity no matter the thickness

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

That’s a great idea. Would have been the perfect test!

[@adamali2886]

These videos are superb

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

Thanks!

[@danimalistic27ify]

I know you can't possibly get every tape out there, just too many to even find them all but I really think you should have tried the Stabila bm300. I absolutely love it, only issue may be on the durability side but I treat my tools extremely well and haven't had any issues but I can see if someone is rough on their stuff it may not last as well as a fatmax or something similar.

[@ACitizenOfOurWorld]

Makes me jealous seeing the straightforward mm measurements printed on those tapes and the simple math involved compared to the USA when figuring out the center of a 7ft- 3/16" length.

[@dunno551]

Should stick them all in a bucket of water for a week and let us know the results, wet weather gets the best of tapes in some countries

[@planespeaking]

I have a chrome fatmax which is metric only (had to special order it 🙄). For indoor stuff I like the hultafors tape which had a tail bit so you can accurately measure internally corner to corner.

[@SH19922x]

What? The yellow fatmax is metric too and alot better amd lighter than the chrome ones Why did you special order it?

[@planespeaking]

@@SH19922x Because all of the local stores have inches on one side too.

[@planespeaking]

It is a little bulky. You're right about that. Which is why I will probably get hultafors stainless next time. Learning that smaller is better for many things wrt measuring devices, squares, speed squares etc.

[@hytekrednekbama4400]

Why no folding rules tested? I use my Lufkin folding rule in combination with my Fisco Big-T 16 footer. The folding rule is awesome for inside measurements, like inside of a door jamb so you can size the door to fit correctly, with accuracy. The folders are very handy. I only regret that so few ever try them out. Our grandfathers, and their fathers too, used these folding rules to a high degree of precision and craftsmanship, way before most reading this were even born, or conceived.

[@wsullivan]

no excuses for short cuts now mate! haha

[@Knackers_Oreilly]

The Dewalt tough is a very good tape but just a tad chunky. Only seen them in a 8 meter and a 5 meter would be fantastic like the fat max. Great review on what not to do with your tape.😂

[@SH19922x]

100% mate the Yellow black fatmax is the best by a mile, I've used every lufkin tape and they are great for 2 or so months then they split every single fuckin time and they don't retract well if they are slightly wet and dirty.

[@1979mjcarter]

lufkin hands down for me !stopped using fatmax years ago they just kept breaking and splitting but each to their own

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

I’ve switched between both numerous times, but have had a few issues with the Lufkin tapes. One of the tapes measured 3mm wrong (which after seeing these results I’m guessing it was a one off) and another one bended like it did on the last test, but only after a couple of weeks.

[@1979mjcarter]

@@DaveDoesCarpentry I’ve also never noticed the lock feature not fully locking I mean it holds the tape in place for me but I did just check and when locked it does push in with a bit of force but never moved on site ! Either way most tapes in that price range are very similar great video though

[@justdougie6418]

Im a big fan of lufkins night eye tapes

[@1979mjcarter]

@@justdougie6418 I call it night mode like on phone but that’s the one I run

[@Simon-Simon-Simon]

LUFKIN fluro Last 20 years compact in pouch and rivots last longer Chunky tapes when tape recoils and splits the tape

[@jackoftw3398]

Why does everyone rate lufkin tapes? I went through 3 of the night eye ones in 6 months (chippy). As soon as they get a little wet they’re cooked, they don’t slide back all the way and the measurements rub out, and they split easily. Yeah they look cool but they’re the worst tape measure i’ve ever used, and they have shit reviews on bunnings. Fat max’s on the other hand have never let me down

[@SH19922x]

I'm a boily and Lufkin isn't even worthy of being in the shop the splitting dogs, fatmax or nothing, nothing else even comes close to standing up against rust on the tape and anti splitting Edit: and I mean the yellow and black 5m/8m ones that cost around $30 odd, not the silver one

[@steveo4031]

Yeah fat max the way to go for sure

[@agathahearth]

I automatically omit lufkin as a choice. Used someone’s lufkins and hated it

[@funnyman8691]

Thx for advice.

[@TheRealJP777]

I had the same issue with Stanley. Ran it across wet ground, and 7-8 feet wouldn't roll back up in the body anymore. Completely shot and had to throw it out. Absolutely stupid. Also, the Stanleys I've used, if you roll it out near the max length, it never fully rolls back in again. Maybe that's also a problem with other brands -- not sure -- but it frustrates me to no end, and makes me never want to buy any tape measure.

[@gl9412]

Super informative, though I reckon a test at 4m (or even 8m) is far more sensitive.

[@tuomasmoi]

Magnum 8m compact. Its not expensive and its good, it also fits in my pocket.

[@silkyfox7603]

I’m at the very start of the video so I’m either shooting myself in the foot or this is the prediction of the week but I’m hoping Stanley wins as they’re the only take measures that have lasted for me

[@dunno551]

The double sided chrome fatmax is a mean tape and the compact dewalt tape

[@wesallen5903]

Lufkin for me. Can extend it the furthest

[@nrhoofcare7724]

Lufkin G2 for the win.

[@morganazzopardi2187]

Shoulda done a water test. For when working in crap weather

[@dodgysquirel]

The cheaper stanley is the way to go if it gets wet get a new one and your not worries about getting damaged. Iv dropped one countless times of multiple stories onto concrete and been fine. You can but 5 of them for same price of a fatmax.

[@randomguy6556]

Holy shit i didn't know they made 8 mile long tape measuringtapes? 😲

[@somerandomgoogleuser3374]

You guys in the West Island - Auss'trail'leea ( Kiwi/New Zealander here giving our brother neighbours a ribbing!!! 😂😂😉😉😆😆) don't obviously get the "Komelon" brand of Tape Measure or their other shiv, like 1m folding ruler, 25mm blade craft ( box to U.S. viewers) knife. The Komelon MX82 is awesome, wide ass blade, seem to survive forever - wet weather & grit getting inside kills tapes in a very short time period, no matter the brand.... Alot of Chippys in N.Z. use Komelon or Fat Max - these two are the most popular by far. Komelon at Bunnings is about $38.00 N.Z. $ & the Fat Max is up to ~ $45.00. I use to use Lufkin narrow blades year & years ago & have used Fat Max but been using Komelon for probably 10+ years now.... I guess I'm a "Homeelon for the Komelon!!!" 😂😂

[@vasily1986]

Why is there no Stabila brand in the trials?

[@milann8558]

Stanley fat max extreme is the way to go imo

[@maizhou4640]

the best one is the one that you didn't buy, Klein tape measure is on another level

[@Palmhavenhome]

Has to be fatmax for me have used the flash lufkin tapes all of them and they break easily.

[@jonasbellchambers8142]

ive been using lufkin for years. the last three have all either kinked or ripped the blade. longevity is def an issue with the lufkin blades.

[@davework5922]

I bought both fatmax 8 and 10m tapes maybe 6 years ago. Both have done little to no work as they just don't retract properly. Absolute pain in the arse

[@roshanmunda7132]

I'm from India and How can I buy this product

[@blairfwilloughby]

Why no Stanley FATMAX Next Gen or Stanley FatMax Xtreme?

[@SH19922x]

Because they are subpar compared to the yellow black ones

[@georgeferrari5913]

Yo...why would you allow the tape to break at your right hand, but read 4' back on your left hand? If it breaks at your hand that's where you measure...also, that test should really be done much more towards level for a true representation

[@DaveDoesCarpentry]

In a real world application that’s how I would be extending a tape to reach over an object. I wanted to test the tape how it’ll actually be used

[@lochietiffin1241]

All the paint comes off the luftkin after a few weeks unfortunately

[@scottaddison8071]

DeWalt is the BEST

[@tombeever6309]

The Lufkin tapes go floppy after a week and don't last. Absolute crap, had 2. Fatmax tend to last me the longest

[@coconutsandmore2576]

For me milwaukee tape is the best, last test was kind of ridiculous, any tape twisted like that is ready for garbage can

[@momouppa]

Lufkin is shit now, my favourite tape is no longer made and the Chinese version is crap. Can't beat the cheap 8m stanleys from bunnos thesedays.

[@SlowExpensive]

Clicks.. no tajima... Nothing to see here folks.

[@adaptor-acdc]

no tajima in australia?

[@dusanmilojevic3017]

Milwaukee is expensive crap.After few uses mine have scratches and damages like cheap Chinese ones.

[@willdavis6350]

Milwaukee makes great tools. Their tape measure, though, is complete crap.