Items of known dimension
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Ever need to measure something and don’t have a ruler or any other tool on hand? Here is a list of common mass produced and standardized objects and their dimensions:

!note: 10mm = 0.3937“, 1“ = 25.4mm

in putting together this list, at the very end, I found this amazing website that’s like this blog post but so much more! Go check out Dimensions.com!!!

Batteries

  • AA:

    • 14.50mm (0.571“) wide
    • 50.50mm (1.988“) from flat to nipple
    • 49.20mm (1.937“) barrel length
    • data sheet

  • AAA:

    • 10.50mm (0.413“) diameter
    • 44.50mm (1.752“) from flat to nipple
    • 43.30mm (1.705“) excluding the nipple
    • data sheet

  • 9volt:

    • 26.50mm (1.043“) wide
    • 17.50mm (0.689“) thick
    • 48.50mm (1.909“) tall from flat to terminals
    • 46.40mm (1.827“) tall from flat to flat
    • data sheet

Paper items

ISO sizes

interestingly the ISO A series sizes are defined by all having an aspect ratio that is the square root of two. A0 has an area of 1m sq. A1 half that, and so on. The B series is the same aspect ratio, but is defined as having an area that is the geometric mean between the steps in the A series. A-series chart B-series chart

  • A3: 297mm by 420mm (11.7“ by 16.5“)
  • A4: 210mm by 297mm (8.3“ by 11.7“)
  • A5: 148mm by 210mm (5.8“ by 8.3“)
  • B4: 250mm by 353mm (9.8“ by 13.9“)
  • B5: 176mm by 250mm (6.9“ by 9.8“)

see the full list on wikipedia

USA common photo sizes

  • 4“ by 4“
  • 4“ by 6“ (common post card size also)
  • 5“ by 7“
  • 6“ by 8“

other paper things

  • USA letter: 216mm by 279mm (8.5“ by 11“)
  • credit cards: 85.60mm by 53.98mm (3“3/8 by 2.125“)
  • USD dollar: 156mm by 66.3mm (6.14“ by 2.61“)
  • post it notes: common post it is 3“ by 3“ but some of the special ones like the transparent post-its are 2“7/8
  • receipt paper: 2“1/4 (57.15mm) or 3“1/8 (79.375mm) wide in the USA

Other

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