Just think of 4 inches. Isn’t it a sneaky, perfectly sized length that sneaks into your life far more than you realize? Look around, you will spot a number of things that are 4 inches long. I have prepared a list of 13 things that fit this length. Stay connected to know more about it.
4 inches sits at a sweet spot at just over 10 centimeters, 10.16 cm to be precise. The length is long enough to feel solid and useful, yet short enough to disappear into a wallet or drawer, or toolkit without complaint. This list of such items is long. Here is a compilation of 13 things.
13 Things That are 4 Inches Long
These examples come from everyday household, office, and personal items, perfect for quick mental references when you need to estimate 4 inches without a ruler. Sizes can vary slightly by brand or type, but they are reliably close. Here are the 13 things that are 4 inches long:
A Standard Computer Mouse
A standard computer mouse is a classic everyday example of something approximately 4 inches long. A computer Mouse measures 4 to 4.7 inches in length for many basic or medium-sized models. Even though sizes vary slightly by design, they are a reliable, quick reference for visualizing 4 inches. So, you can take a standard computer mouse as a reference to measure 4 inches.
The Width of an Average Adult Hand
Have you ever thought about the width of your hand? If you are an adult, your hand from the palm across the knuckles measures 4 inches. So, it is a reference for visualizing 4 inches that you have with you all the time. You just spread your fingers slightly and measure across the knuckles for a quick 3 to 4 inch estimate.
A Long Golf Tee
A long golf tee, often called an “extra long” or “driver tee,” is approximately 4 inches in length, thereby making it one of the best everyday examples of something exactly or very close to 4 inches. It is important to highlight that 4-inch-long tees are designed for modern large-headed drivers like 460cc models, allowing you to tee the ball higher for optimal launch and distance.
Standard Playing Card
Other than being a source of entertainment, standard playing cards can be an effective and viable measuring tool. The standard size of a playing card is 3.5 inches in height and 2.5 inches in width. If you don’t have a measuring tape or a dedicated device with you, you can use a playing card as a measurement tool to gauge the dimensions of an object.
Height of Two Credit Cards
You might be well aware of a debit card or a credit card. If you want to measure an inch item, you can use two credit cards. The height of a credit card is 2.125 inches. You just need to get two credit cards and place them side by side to get the 4-inch measurements. However, the exact measurement can get slightly over 4 inches, but that is negligible.
4 Us Quarters
1 US Quarter roughly measures 1 inch. To measure 4 inches, you can use 4 US quarters and place them on a surface with edges meeting each other; the distance covered is 4 inches. This method is quite helpful when you don’t have a measuring tape and have to gauge something small.
Note: The exact diameter of a US Quarter is 0.955 inches.
2 Erasers
Eraser, in a sense, has been your companion since childhood. You might have different types of erasers. They come in different sizes and shapes. For adults, the standard erasers are about 2 inches long. So to measure 4 inches, you have to place 2 erasers side by side, and the distance covered by them is 4 inches.
A Tube of Lipstick
A tube of lipstick, standard full-size bullet style, closed with a cap, is typically 3 to 3.5 inches long, making it a solid everyday reference that is very close to 4 inches. Many luxury or taller designs push closer to 3.75 to 4 inches. It is one of the most portable and ubiquitous items for estimating length. It is perfect if you carry makeup.
A Toilet Paper Roll
The toilet paper roll, specifically the empty cardboard tube or core inside a standard household roll, is typically 3.9 to 4.5 inches long, thereby making it an excellent and very common reference for exactly 4 inches in most cases. It is one of the most universal household items for quick length estimation. Next time you are out of tape measures, just grab an empty roll from the recycling.
Half of a Standard Brick
In America, the standard length of a brick is 8 inches. It means that you take half of the brick to measure 4 inches. This is a viable makeshift tool to measure objects of a similar length. If you want a reference for 4 inches and don’t have an alternative, get hold of a brick; half of the brick is 4 inches.
Four Paper Clips
A small paper clip, the most common #1 size, measures about 1–1.25 inches in overall length. When linked in a straight chain, each additional clip adds roughly its full length, with minimal overlap, so four come out to 4–5 inches. Four chained standards are a spot-on pocket reference for 4 inches. You just need to grab some from your desk drawer next time to measure 4 inches.
iPhone 5
iPhone launches a new model every year. Every year, something new is introduced. You know, the iPhone 5s was launched back in 2012. The diagonal length of the iPhone 5 was exactly 4 inches. If you have the said model of iPhone, pull it out to confirm what 4 4-inch display looks like.
A Popsicle Stick
During hot summers, a Popsicle Stick is a household item. It is used to have a respite from scorching heat. Have you ever given a thought to how long the stick is that you hold in your hand? The average size of a popsicle stick is about 4.5 inches, a tad more than 4 inches. It is a viable reference for 4-inch measurements.
Conclusion
So it has come to light that there are several everyday items and commonly used things that measure 4 inches. It is a ubiquitous length that hides in plain sight throughout our daily lives. It’s just long enough to feel substantial yet compact enough to slip into pockets, drawers, or toolkits without a second thought.
Whether it is four paper clips lined up, two golf tees end-to-end, the palm-spanning width of an average adult hand, or the precise diameter of a toilet paper roll, 4 inches repeatedly shows up as a practical Goldilocks size, not too big, not too small.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly is 4 inches in other units?
4 inches equals 10.16 centimeters, 101.6 millimeters, roughly one-third of a foot.
2. Why do so many everyday objects end up being around 4 inches long?
It is a sweet spot for ergonomics, portability, and manufacturing standards. Many items are designed to fit comfortably in an adult hand, slide into pockets, or stack neatly in drawers
3. How can I quickly estimate 4 inches without a ruler?
Spread your hand (palm width), pull out a credit card and imagine doubling it, or line up four paper clips from your desk drawer.