Printable Ruler
Print a ruler that measures true. Choose inches with marks down to 1/8, 1/16 or 1/32 in, centimetres with millimetre marks, or both on one ruler (inches on the top edge, cm on the bottom). Start from one of 13 ready rulers (6 in, 12 in, 15, 20 and 30 cm, a 36 in yardstick, a 1 m stick and sewing tape measures) or type any length from 1 in to 120 in or 1 cm to 300 cm. A US Letter page holds about 9.5 in of ruler in one piece, so longer rulers are cut into pieces with a grey glue tab and a lettered blue joint line, and every mark stays in the right place across the join. Every page has a calibration square and the print-at-100% note, so you can check the print before you trust it. Download a vector PDF, 300 DPI PNGs or an SVG. Nothing is uploaded.
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Print at 100% (Actual size), not Fit to page, then measure the square in the corner: it must be exactly 1 in (or 2 cm). Cut along the outline. A ruler longer than the page comes in pieces: glue the grey tab under the next piece so its cut edge sits on the blue line with the same letter. Card stock makes a stiffer ruler.
Ruler
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Runs in your browser with our own code: nothing you type is uploaded or saved. You may use what you make here, including commercially, with no credit needed.
How to print a ruler at the right size
- Pick a ready ruler, or choose the scale, the smallest inch mark and the length.
- Choose the paper (US Letter or A4) and how many rulers per page.
- Download the PDF and print at 100% (Actual size). Turn off Fit to page.
- Measure the calibration square in the corner: it must be exactly 1 in (or 2 cm).
- Cut along the outline. For a ruler in pieces, glue each grey tab under the next piece with its cut edge on the blue line of the same letter.
What you can use it for
- Measuring when there is no ruler to hand
- Classroom sets: a page of 6 in or 15 cm rulers
- Sewing and craft: a paper tape measure in inches or cm
- Checking a printer prints at true size
- Ring, bracelet and paper-size checks
- Woodwork and model marking templates
The ready rulers
| Ruler | Scale | Smallest mark | US Letter (landscape) | A4 (landscape) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in ruler, 1/16 in | Inches | 1/16 in | 2 pieces, 2 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 6 in ruler, 1/16 in | Inches | 1/16 in | 1 piece, 5 per page | 1 piece, 5 per page |
| 12 in ruler, 1/8 in (easy to read) | Inches | 1/8 in | 2 pieces, 2 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 12 in ruler, 1/32 in | Inches | 1/32 in | 2 pieces, 2 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 30 cm ruler (mm) | cm + mm | 1 mm | 2 pieces, 3 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 15 cm ruler (mm) | cm + mm | 1 mm | 1 piece, 6 per page | 1 piece, 5 per page |
| 20 cm ruler (mm) | cm + mm | 1 mm | 1 piece, 6 per page | 1 piece, 5 per page |
| 12 in + 30 cm on one ruler (both edges) | Inches + cm | 1/16 in + 1 mm | 2 pieces, 2 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 30 cm + inches on one ruler (both edges) | Inches + cm | 1/16 in + 1 mm | 2 pieces, 2 per page | 2 pieces, 2 per page |
| 36 in yardstick (tiled) | Inches | 1/8 in | 4 pieces, 1 per page | 4 pieces, 1 per page |
| 1 metre stick (tiled) | cm + mm | 1 mm | 5 pieces, 1 per page | 4 pieces, 1 per page |
| 60 in tape measure for sewing (tiled) | Inches + cm | 1/8 in + 1 mm | 7 pieces, 1 per page | 7 pieces, 1 per page |
| 150 cm tape measure (tiled) | Inches + cm | 1/8 in + 1 mm | 7 pieces, 1 per page | 6 pieces, 1 per page |
Pieces = how many parts one ruler is cut into to fit the page. Every page also has a calibration square and the print note.
Marks on the inch scale
| Mark | Spacing | Mark length | On 1/8 in rulers | On 1/16 in rulers | On 1/32 in rulers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole inch | 25.4 mm | 9 mm | yes | yes | yes |
| 1/2 in | 12.7 mm | 7 mm | yes | yes | yes |
| 1/4 in | 6.35 mm | 5.5 mm | yes | yes | yes |
| 1/8 in | 3.175 mm | 4.5 mm | yes | yes | yes |
| 1/16 in | 1.588 mm | 3.5 mm | no | yes | yes |
| 1/32 in | 0.794 mm | 2.5 mm | no | no | yes |
From 0 to 1 in a 1/8 in ruler has 9 marks, a 1/16 in ruler 17 and a 1/32 in ruler 33 (both ends counted). Whole inches are numbered.
Marks on the metric scale
| Mark | Spacing | Mark length | Numbered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | 10 mm | 8 mm | yes |
| 5 mm | 5 mm | 5.5 mm | no |
| 1 mm | 1 mm | 3.5 mm | no |
From 0 to 1 cm there are 11 marks (both ends counted). Every centimetre is numbered.
Longest ruler in one piece
| Paper | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| US Letter, landscape | 9.5 in | 24.5 cm |
| US Letter, portrait | 7 in | 18.2 cm |
| A4, landscape | 10.25 in | 26.3 cm |
| A4, portrait | 6.75 in | 17.6 cm |
Longer rulers are cut at whole inches or whole centimetres into pieces that join with a glue tab, so no mark is lost at a join.
Which tool to use
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| A ruler on paper, any length, inches or cm | Printable Ruler (this page) |
| A ruler on your screen, sized to your display | Online Ruler |
| Squares to measure and draw on | Graph Paper |
| To convert a measurement | CM to Inches or MM to Inches |
To measure on screen instead, use the Online Ruler. To convert a reading, try CM to Inches, MM to Inches or Inches to MM. For squared paper, see Graph Paper.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the printed ruler accurate?
Yes, when you print at 100% (Actual size). Every mark is placed at an exact multiple of the inch (25.4 mm) or millimetre from zero, and our tests read the PDF back and check every mark to within 0.2 mm on US Letter and A4. Your printer is the last step, so measure the calibration square on the page first.
How do I print a ruler at actual size?
Open the PDF and choose Actual size or 100% in the print dialog; turn off Fit to page, Shrink oversized pages and Scale. Then check that the square in the corner measures exactly 1 in (or 2 cm). If it does not, the printer scaled the page.
Why is my 12 inch ruler in two pieces?
A US Letter page is 11 in on its long side, and the page keeps 1/2 in margins, so about 9.5 in fits in one piece. A 12 in ruler comes in 2 pieces: glue the grey tab of the first piece under the second so the second piece’s cut edge sits on blue line A.
What do the lines on a ruler mean?
On the inch scale the longest marks are whole inches, then 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16 and 1/32 in, each shorter than the last. A 1/16 in ruler has 17 marks from 0 to 1 in; 1/16 in is 1.588 mm. On the metric scale the long marks are centimetres, the middle marks 5 mm and the short marks 1 mm.
Can I get inches and centimetres on one ruler?
Yes. Choose Both: inches run along the top edge and centimetres along the bottom edge, from the same zero.
Can I print a 30 cm ruler on A4?
Yes. On A4 a 30 cm ruler comes in 2 pieces with a glue tab, because the long side of the page is 297 mm before margins.
What paper should I use?
Card stock makes a stiffer ruler that lasts longer. Paper works for a quick measure or for a sewing tape you can bend round a curve.
Can I print a tape measure?
Yes. Pick the 60 in or 150 cm tape measure, or type your own length. It prints in pieces you glue end to end into one long strip.
Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The rulers are drawn by JavaScript in your browser and nothing you type is sent anywhere.