The top edge of a measuring tape typically contains the imperial measurements. These are divided into feet, inches and smaller increments. Each numbered mark i.e. 1, 2, 3 are set an inch apart with red marks typically representing each 12 inches with a foot mark. Past the ‘1ft’ mark each inch is marked with a smaller marking i.e. 1-5 to inform that the mark is 1 foot and 5 inches.

Each inch is broken down into sixteenths of an inch with the eighth of inch mark being longer than the sixteenth, the quarter of an inch mark is longer than both and the half inch mark is the longest of all. This helps make it easier to identify the different marks.