How to Measure Height Without a Measuring Tape

Marking Your Height on the Wall

Remove your shoes and any hair accessories that might get in the way. You’ll be measuring from the crown of your head, so let down your hair from any high ponytails or braids that might boost your height. Also take off your shoes, which can add several inches to your height depending on the style. If you're wearing thick socks, remove those as well.

Stand with your back against the wall on non-carpeted flooring. Your feet should be together and flat on the floor. Your heels should also be flush against the wall. It’s easiest to have another person measure your height, but you can also do this alone. Do not stand on a carpet or a rug, which will sink a bit when you stand on it and may affect your measurement. Also avoid walls with molding or radiators along the bottom, which will make it impossible for you to stand fully flush against the wall.

Position a book at a right angle with the wall above your head. You can also use another common household item that is flat and firm—for example, a cutting board or a cardboard box. If you have a partner, have them hold the headpiece. If you are measuring alone, it may be easier to use an aerosol can such as a shaving cream can or air freshener. Press the bottom flat against the wall, which will ensure a right angle.

Slide the headpiece down the wall until it touches your head. Regardless of what item you are using to measure, it should be firmly in contact with the crown of your head. Make sure it stays at a right angle with the wall as you or your partner move it down to touch your head.

Mark where the bottom of the headpiece meets the wall with a pencil. If you have a partner, they should do this while you’re still standing against the wall. If you’re alone, hold the headpiece in place while you turn and mark the location. Use a pencil so you can erase the mark from the wall when you’re done. Paula J. Myers-McDevitt Paula J. Myers-McDevitt, Apparel Industry Veteran and Technical Design Authority While a measuring tape is the most accurate way to determine height, reasonable approximations can be made using common household objects as references. For example, a standard doorway is about 6 feet 8 inches high. Having the subject stand next to the doorway and marking their height with a pencil allows for a quick hand measurement.

Using Common Objects to Measure Your Height

Measure the distance from the floor to the mark with a ruler. Place one end of the ruler flat on the floor and position it so it's pressed vertically against the wall. Mark the top end of the ruler with a pencil. Then, move the ruler up so the bottom aligns with that pencil mark and mark the new top edge. Repeat this process until you’ve reached the mark for your height. It may be easiest to keep track of each individual measurement on a separate sheet of paper so you can easily add them all together at the end. This is the simplest and most accurate way to measure your height without a measuring tape.

Print out a ruler for a more accurate makeshift measuring tool. There are a number of 12 in (30 cm) ruler templates that you can download online and print. Then, use the printed ruler just like a wooden or plastic ruler to measure the distance from the floor to your marked height. Other than an actual ruler, this will provide the most accurate measurement of your height. There are also ruler apps that you can download to your phone if you don’t have a printer accessible.

Use an American dollar bill to measure the distance to the mark. A dollar bill in the United States is 6.14 inches (15.6 cm) long and 2.61 inches (6.6 cm) tall. Press the bill flat against the wall and slide it down so one short edge of the bill is flat against the floor. Mark the top edge of the bill on the wall with a pencil. Move the bill up so the bottom edge is now flush with your original mark, then mark the new height. Continue until you’ve reached the mark you made recording your height. You may need to use the height of the bill—2.61 inches (6.6 cm)—to measure the final few inches of your height. You can also fold the dollar bill in half to measure approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm), or in quarters for 1.5 inches (3.8 cm).

Create a makeshift measuring tool with a piece of printer paper. A standard sheet of letter paper is 8.5 inches (22 cm) wide and 11 inches (28 cm) long. Use this sheet of paper to measure the distance between the ground and the mark you made by the crown of your head. Fold the paper in half or in quarters to create more precise measurements, which you can mark with a pencil to create a makeshift ruler. Make sure you’re using a standard sheet of printer paper. Other sizes of paper have different dimensions.

Translate your shoe size into inches or centimeters. If you know your shoe size, you can roughly translate that number into a measurement. Look up a sizing chart online to estimate the length of your foot based on your shoe size. Then, place your foot on a sheet of paper and mark the distance. Use this to measure the wall between the floor and your marked height. For example, with European shoe sizing, size 35 is roughly 9 inches (23 cm) and 40 is 10 inches (25 cm). You could also cut a piece of string the size of your foot, then use the string to measure the distance from floor to marking.