The best tape measures 5m, compared.
Top pick: Milwaukee 4932498769, 5 m Best value: OX Trade 5 m twin pack – Best value at £9.00 for two, Class 2 on the listing, and 4.6 from 11,418 reviews. Reviews dispute the dual scale, and no standout is stated. Updated 22 October 2026.
A 5 m tape measure is the short steel pocket tape for furniture, door linings and indoor DIY. You judge a suitable one by blade width and solo standout, by whether the scale is metric only or dual, by whether a magnetic hook is real, and by whether Class II is actually printed. A 19 mm blade is the pocket tool, 25 mm is the mid width, and 30–32 mm is what you want when nobody holds the far end. Dual metric and imperial is normal in Britain. Inches on the upper edge are the awkward edge when you mark millimetres. The hook should move by about its own thickness so inside and outside readings agree. A magnet helps on steel and does nothing on timber. Class II under the Measuring Instruments Regulations 2016 is an allowance at 20 °C for trade measures, not a home test. A printed class is not proof you may sell by length. How to read the scale is in the [how to read a 5 m tape](/hub/measuring-and-marking-tools/tape-measure-5m/sub/tape-measure-5m-how-to-read) guide.
A 5 m tape measure is the short steel pocket tape for furniture, door linings and indoor DIY.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will anyone hold the far end?
The Milwaukee 4932498769 is £17.99, with a 30 mm blade, a plastic case, and a listed weight of 410 g. The bullets say a strong magnetic end hook and 4.5 m standout. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 44 reviews, and the saved listing holds 16 review blocks. The accuracy field says 2, which is not written as Class II and is not a millimetre tolerance. One review says the blade starts to bend around 240 cm and to collapse around 350 cm. Reviews praise a finger-stop cutaway. A 4.7 average on 44 ratings is a thin file next to tapes with thousands of reviews, so the magnet and the standout stay claims to check on the tape you receive.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 30 mm tape whose bullets claim a magnetic hook, and you accept a review count of 44.
Less suitable: You need a named class, or a standout that the reviews in this file do not pull back from 4.5 m.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade and is the hook magnetic?
The bullets say a 30 mm blade and a strong magnetic end hook. The weight is 410 g and the case material is plastic.
What does the accuracy field say?
It says 2. The bullets do not say Class II or give a millimetre tolerance.
Do the reviews match the 4.5 m standout claim?
The bullets claim 4.5 m standout. One review says the blade starts to bend around 240 cm and to collapse around 350 cm. The saved listing has 16 review blocks against a listing count of 44.
The OX Trade twin pack is £9.00 for two 5 m tapes. Each blade is 25 mm and nylon-coated in the bullets, the case is rubber, and the pack weight is 520 g. The accuracy field says Class 2. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 11,418 reviews, and the saved listing ranks the listing 1 in Tape Measures. The title and the bullets say metric and imperial, while several of the first 50 reviews say the tape is metric only. A standout distance is not stated, and the listing does not claim a magnetic hook. It is the best value here when you want two Class 2 tapes and you will look at the scale before you trust the title.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a spare 25 mm tape in the van as well as one on your belt, at £9.00 for the pair.
Less suitable: You need inches that the reviews confirm, or a stated standout for measuring a room alone.
Specifications
Common questions
How many tapes are in the pack?
Number of items is 2. The included-components line says a 5 m Trade tape twin pack. The price in the saved listing is £9.00.
Is the blade metric only?
The title and bullets say metric and imperial. Several of the first 50 reviews say the tape is metric only.
What class is printed?
The accuracy field says Class 2. Blade width is 25 mm. A standout distance is not stated.
The Amazon Basics self-lock is £3.50, with a belt clip and a wrist strap in the bullets, and a listed weight of 200 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 10,372 reviews. The title and the bullets say 5 m, while the blade-length field says 16 feet and the model number is DS-TAM12-16ft. The blade-material field says ABS, which is a case-like material rather than a steel blade. Reviews praise the self-lock and also say the blade returns quickly once the button is pressed. Some reviews describe a 10 m tape. The accuracy field says MID and does not give a class or a millimetre tolerance.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap self-lock tape with a belt clip and you will check the blade length on the one in your hand.
Less suitable: You need a stated blade width, a class, or a listing whose length fields agree.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the blade 5 m or 16 feet?
The title and the bullets say 5 m. The blade-length field says 16 feet, and the model number is DS-TAM12-16ft.
How does the lock work?
The bullets say the tape self-locks as it extends and a push button lets it retract. Reviews praise that, and they also say it comes back quickly once the button is pressed.
What does MID accuracy mean on this listing?
The accuracy field says MID. The saved listing does not state Class I, II, or III, or a millimetre tolerance.
The Stanley FatMax 0-33-719 is £14.42. The title states a 32 mm blade, Class II, and 3.3 m standout, with a listed weight of 390 g and a plastic case. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 4,740 reviews. Reviews praise that standout, including one that cites eight or nine feet, and they also call the tape heavy, bulky, and the lock stiff. The title says Magnetic Hook End. Many of the first 50 reviews say the hook is not magnetic. It is the top pick in this comparison when you want a wide Class II blade for measuring alone and you do not need a magnet. The colour field is printed as Mutli.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You measure rooms or carcasses on your own and you want a 32 mm Class II blade with a stated 3.3 m standout.
Less suitable: You need a hook that reviews agree is magnetic, or a 19 mm tape that stays in a pocket.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the hook magnetic?
The title says Magnetic Hook End. Many of the first 50 reviews say the hook is not magnetic.
What standout and class are printed?
The title says 3.3 m tape standout. The accuracy field says Class II. Blade width is 32 mm and the weight is 390 g.
What do reviews say about the size?
Standout is praised, including one review that cites eight or nine feet. Other reviews call the tape heavy, bulky, and the lock stiff.
The Stanley FatMax FMHT0-33864 is £20.72 for a 32 mm metric-only tape at 390 g. The bullets describe a magnetic end hook, and the accuracy field says +/-0.5 mm to 1 m, which is not an allowance stated at 5 m. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 1,962 reviews. Reviews say there are no imperial marks. They praise a strong magnet when it is fitted, and they also say the magnet comes off or is missing. The case field says metal and the bullets say a bi-material case. It is the magnetic row with a large review count in this set, if you can accept that some buyers received a hook whose magnet did not stay on.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You work on steel and you want a 32 mm metric FatMax whose listing and many reviews describe a magnet.
Less suitable: You need inches, a magnet the reviews never report as missing, or a lighter pocket tape.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this tape metric only?
The item type name says metric only, 32 mm. Reviews say there are no imperial marks.
Does the magnet stay on?
The bullets describe a magnetic end hook. Reviews praise a strong magnet and also say the magnet comes off or is missing.
What accuracy figure is printed?
The field says +/-0.5 mm to 1 m. It does not state the allowance at 5 m. The case field says metal and the bullets say a bi-material case.
The Stanley Powerlock 0-33-553 is £9.51 for a 19 mm, 5 m/16 ft pocket tape at 209 g. The bullets say metric and imperial, and a review describes red marks at each 10 cm and each 12 in. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 1,931 reviews. The case-material field says plastic, the bullets say a durable chrome case, and reviews say the chrome look is plastic. A review mentions a three-rivet hook. No accuracy class is stated, and lock complaints appear in the reviews. It is a named pocket tape with a dual scale in the bullets, not a wide blade for a room you measure on your own.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 19 mm Stanley in a pocket, with metric and imperial marks claimed in the bullets, at £9.51.
Less suitable: You need Class II printed, a metal case, or a 32 mm blade that stands out across a room.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Powerlock case metal?
The case-material field says plastic. The bullets say a durable chrome case. Reviews say the chrome look is plastic.
Which scales are printed?
The bullets say metric and imperial on a 5 m/16 ft blade. A review describes red marks at each 10 cm and each 12 in. Width is 19 mm.
What accuracy class is stated?
None. The accuracy field in the saved listing does not give a class or a millimetre figure.
The Stanley FatMax 0-33-720 is £16.52, a 32 mm metric tape at 380 g in a thermoplastic-rubber case. The accuracy field says Class 2, and the highlight names a Tru-Zero hook and a belt clip. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 1,629 reviews. Reviews repeatedly say there are no inch marks, which matches the metric item name, and they say there is no magnetic end. The bullets say the blade stays rigid up to 3.3 m, while the item highlight says 4.2 m reach. Reviews also call it bulky. Choose it when the job is in millimetres and you can live with two reach figures on the same listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 32 mm Class 2 FatMax that the reviews agree is metric only, with a belt clip.
Less suitable: You follow instructions in inches, or you need one standout number rather than 3.3 m and 4.2 m.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this FatMax show inches?
The item type name says metric. Reviews repeatedly say there are no inch marks.
Is there a magnetic hook?
The saved listing does not claim a magnet in the bullets. Reviews say there is no magnetic end. The highlight names a Tru-Zero hook and a belt clip.
Which reach figure is on the listing?
The bullets say the blade stays rigid up to 3.3 m. The item highlight says 4.2 m reach when working alone. Both are in the saved listing.
G4GADGET is £4.99. The bullets claim metric and imperial scales, a blade that stays rigid up to 2.8 m, and a three-way lock with two hold buttons plus a top slider. The listed weight is 150 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 4,543 reviews. Blade width is not a specification; the colour field includes the text 19 mm. The case-material field says metal, the bullets say a rubberized shell, and one review calls the case plastic. The model number ClearTape-Pk-of12-8 looks like a multipack, while the unit count is 1. Some reviews report an early break, and the accuracy line is only standard measuring accuracy.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want dual scales and a three-button lock at £4.99 and you can confirm you were sent one tape.
Less suitable: You need a case material and a blade width that the listing states once, in one field.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a pack of 12?
The model number is ClearTape-Pk-of12-8. Number of items and unit count are 1. The title describes one tape.
What standout do the bullets claim?
The bullets say the blade stays rigid up to 2.8 m. That is a listing claim. Blade width is not a specification; the colour field includes the text 19 mm.
Is the case metal or rubber?
The case-material field says metal. The bullets say a shock-resistant rubberized shell. One review calls the case plastic.
The Rolson 50535 is the £2.38 pocket tape in this set: 5 m by 19 mm, a plastic case, and a listed weight of 181 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 13,831 reviews, and the saved listing ranks it 7 in Tape Measures. The accuracy field says High, which is not Class I, II, or III. Many of the first 50 reviews treat it as fine for light DIY, and they also report snaps within a minute, after a month, or after about five months. One review compared two of the same tape and found about 1.8 mm of difference at 5 m. The lock is an auto lock with a wrist strap in the box. A 19 mm blade is a pocket tool, and this file does not state a standout distance.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light 19 mm tape for a drawer at £2.38 and you have read the snap reviews.
Less suitable: You need a printed accuracy class, or a blade you can hold out across a room on your own.
Specifications
Common questions
How long and how wide is the Rolson blade?
The title and the specifications say 5 m by 19 mm. The case is plastic and the weight is 181 g.
Does the listing state an accuracy class?
No. The accuracy field says High. It does not say Class I, II, or III.
What do the reviews repeat about life?
Many of the first 50 reviews call it fine for DIY at £2.38. Separate reviews say it broke within a minute, after a month, or after about five months. One review found about 1.8 mm difference at 5 m between two of the same tape.
The Stanley FatMax Xtreme FMHT38215-5 is £21.50, the dearest tape in this file, listed at 450 g with a chrome case. The accuracy field says ±1.6 mm/5 m, and the blade-width field says 1.5 cm. amazon.co.uk shows 4.0 from 34 reviews, with 13 review blocks in the saved listing. One bullet says 11 metre maximum reach on a title that is 5 m/16 ft, which a 5 m blade cannot do. Some reviews say it lasts, and others say the end snapped within two months. The dimensions field prints 10 x 10 mm, which does not describe a pocket case. Treat the millimetre tolerance as the useful line and the 11 m bullet as a listing error.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You specifically want the ±1.6 mm/5 m line printed, and you will ignore the 11 m bullet.
Less suitable: You want a clean specification sheet, a large review file, or a blade width wider than the 1.5 cm field.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this 5 m tape reach 11 m?
One bullet says 11 metre maximum reach. The title is 5 m/16 ft. A 5 m blade cannot extend to 11 m. Treat the bullet as a listing conflict.
What accuracy is stated?
The accuracy field says ±1.6 mm/5 m. It does not name Class I, II, or III. The blade-width field says 1.5 cm and the weight is 450 g.
What do the few reviews say?
The saved listing has 13 review blocks and a listing count of 34 at 4.0. Some say it lasts; others say the end snapped within two months or not to waste the money.
B0009VX200 is only an amazon.co.uk URL in the saved listing. There is no title, no price, no blade width, no scale, no accuracy class, and no star line. The saved listing has no review text and no image URL, so this comparison cannot describe the hook, the lock, or the case. A score of 0 records that empty file. It is not a judgement of a tape the listing body never described. Until that body is in the file, this row cannot be a top pick or a best value, and the ASIN alone is not a reason to invent a model name.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Nobody, until the amazon.co.uk listing states a title, a price and a blade.
Less suitable: Any job, because price, length, width and reviews are all missing.
Specifications
Common questions
What product is B0009VX200 in this file?
The saved listing contains the amazon.co.uk URL. It does not contain a title, a price, specifications or reviews.
What is the price and the star rating?
Neither is stated. The saved listing has no star line and no shelf price.
Is there a product image URL?
No. The saved listing has no image URL, so no photograph was stored for this ASIN.
Scores were already on the display file. Each one starts from the amazon.co.uk star line, times 14 and capped at 70, then adds points for the size of the review file. A named class adds 4, or a millimetre tolerance with no class adds 3. A blade width in a specification field adds 3. A standout shorter than the blade, and not contradicted, adds 3. A magnetic hook the reviews do not contradict adds 2. One buyer-facing conflict subtracts 5. A break theme subtracts 3. A case-material conflict on its own subtracts 1. A saved listing with no title, price or rating scores 0. Where two rows tied, the row with a class and a standout that reviews praise gained 1. The top pick is the highest score. Best value is the separate award for price against a named class and a very large review file. This is not a laboratory test, and Class II is not a score.
Amazon stars
40%The star line is multiplied by 14 and rounded, with a cap of 70. A 4.6 becomes 64. A 4.7 becomes 66. A 4.0 becomes 56. Stars are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. They are not an accuracy class.
Review-file size
20%10,000 reviews or more adds 14. 4,000 to 9,999 adds 11. 1,500 to 3,999 adds 8. 30 to 99 adds 2. Under 30 adds 0. A 4.7 average on 44 reviews therefore adds less than a 4.6 average on several thousand.
Width, standout and class
25%A named Class 2 or Class II adds 4. A millimetre tolerance with no class adds 3. Those two do not stack. A blade width in a specification field adds 3. A width that appears only inside a colour string does not. A standout shorter than the blade, and not contradicted by a second reach figure or by a review, adds 3.
Hook and listing conflicts
15%A magnetic hook the reviews do not contradict adds 2. One buyer-facing conflict subtracts 5: a length fight, a scale the reviews deny, a magnetic title the reviews deny, a magnet reviews say falls off, or a reach longer than the blade. A break or snap theme subtracts 3. A case-material conflict on its own subtracts 1, and only when the row has not already taken the 5-point deduction.
Choose width, scale and a printed class before the shelf price. A 19 mm blade is the pocket tool. A 25 mm blade is the mid width. A 30–32 mm blade is for measuring alone. Dual metric and imperial is normal in Britain. Metric-only blades exist, and reviews complain when inches are missing. Standout figures on listings disagree, including an 11 m reach bullet on a 5 m title, which a 5 m blade cannot do. The scores are a reading of amazon.co.uk listings and the review notes already stored.
A 5 m tape measure is the short steel pocket tape for furniture, door linings and indoor DIY. It is not a 4.8 m tape, an 8 m site tape, a surveyor’s reel or a laser distance meter. You judge a suitable one by blade width and solo standout, by whether the scale is metric only or dual, by whether the hook is really magnetic, and by whether Class II is actually printed. Width sorts the job. A 19 mm blade is the pocket tool for a drawer or a belt.
The hook should move by about its own thickness so an inside reading and an outside reading agree. Pinning it solid throws one of those readings. Add the case length on an inside measurement only if you know that length. None of these saved listings state one.
A magnet helps on steel stud and pipe. It does nothing on timber. The FatMax 0-33-719 title says the hook is magnetic, and many of the first 50 reviews say it is not. FMHT0-33864 reviews praise a magnet and also say it comes off. Do not treat the title as the hook in your hand.
Listings disagree: 2.4 m, 3 m, 3.3 m, 4.2 m and 4.5 m appear for similar tapes. The FatMax 0-33-720 prints 3.3 m and 4.2 m. An 11 m reach bullet on the 5 m FatMax Xtreme is a copy error. A kinked blade is replaced, not bent back into calibration.
Width is the first cut. A 19 mm blade is the pocket tool. In this set that is the Rolson 50535 at 181 g and the Stanley Powerlock 0-33-553 at 209 g. A 25 mm blade is the mid width, here the OX Trade twin pack, with no standout stated. A 30–32 mm blade is what you want when nobody holds the far end. The FatMax 0-33-719 and 0-33-720, and the magnetic FMHT0-33864, are 32 mm. The Milwaukee bullets say 30 mm. Wide tapes here weigh about 380–450 g. Standout metres on listings disagree.
Dual metric and imperial is normal in Britain. Metric-only is what the FatMax 0-33-720 and FMHT0-33864 item names state, and reviews say the inches are missing. The OX title says both, and several of the first 50 reviews say metric only. The UK Metric Association notes that dual tapes often put inches on the upper edge, which is the awkward edge for marking millimetres. The Powerlock bullets say metric and imperial, and a review describes red marks at each 10 cm and each 12 in.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a light 19 mm tape for a drawer or a belt. The Rolson 50535 is £2.38, 181 g, with 4.4 from 13,831 reviews. The accuracy field says High, which is not a class. Reviews also report early snaps, and one pair disagreed by about 1.8 mm at 5 m.
Nobody holds the far end, so you want a 30–32 mm blade and a stated standout. The Stanley FatMax 0-33-719 is the top pick: 32 mm, Class II, 3.3 m standout in the title, £14.42, 4.6 from 4,740 reviews. The title says the hook is magnetic. Many reviews say it is not.
You want two 25 mm tapes rather than one wide blade. The OX Trade twin pack is best value at £9.00 for two, with Class 2 on the listing and 4.6 from 11,418 reviews. Reviews say the scale is metric only, against bullets that say both. No standout is stated.
The top pick is the Stanley FatMax 0-33-719 at £14.42. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 4,740 reviews. The title states a 32 mm blade, Class II and 3.3 m standout, which is the condition for measuring alone. The same title says the hook is magnetic, and many of the first 50 reviews say it is not. It is not the most accurate tape here, and it is not best value. Best value is the OX Trade twin pack at £9.00 for two, with 4.6 from 11,418 reviews, a 25 mm blade and Class 2 on the listing. Reviews say that scale is metric only. No standout is stated. ASIN B0009VX200 has no title, price or rating in its saved listing, so it is not a pick.
OX Trade 5 m twin pack
Best value at £9.00 for two, Class 2 on the listing, and 4.6 from 11,418 reviews. Reviews dispute the dual scale, and no standout is stated.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources from the digest first, then the Stanley pages. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. The score method is dated 20 October 2026. The digest notes a 19 October 2026 scrape. This is not a laboratory test.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures already stored for this set. This is not a laboratory test.
