11 Common Things That are 10 Inches Big (+Pics)

Ten inches is equal to 25.4 centimeters or 0.833 feet — a relatively modest measurement.

Yet, it can be surprisingly difficult to picture exactly how long ten inches is.

That is, until you think of it in terms of everyday objects that are approximately this size. By visualizing these familiar items, you’ll get a clearer sense of what ten inches looks like in real life.

In this post, we’ve rounded up a list of 11 common objects that are roughly ten inches long.

From office supplies to household items, these examples will give you an easy reference to grasp the size of ten inches whenever you need it.

How Long are 10 Inches on a Ruler?

On a standard ruler, 10 inches is typically marked clearly on the 12-inch side (or 30 cm side for metric rulers).

Each inch is divided into smaller units, with the most common divisions being into 1/8th or 1/16th inch segments.

So, the 10-inch mark on a ruler will be the tenth full inch from the start, just two inches shy of the end of a typical 12-inch ruler.

If you’re using a ruler that shows both inches and centimeters, 10 inches will correspond to exactly 25.4 centimeters on the metric side.

Everyday Objects at 10 Inches: A Surprising Look at Common Items

Now that we’ve got our measurements straight let’s explore 11 common things that measure up to this versatile length.

📦 Item	📏 Actual Measurement
🥤 Two Standard Beverage Cans	10 inches (stacked)
💳 Three Debit Cards	About 10 inches (end-to-end)
🃏 Three Standard-Playing Cards	10.5 inches
📱 Samsung Galaxy Tab A7	10.4 inches
🏌️ Five Golf Tees	10 inches
📄 A Sheet of Legal Paper	8.5 inches wide (writing space about 10 inches)
🥪 Subway Sandwich	10 to 11 inches
📚 Amazon Kindle Oasis	10 inches diagonally
🍽️ Standard Dinner Plate	10 inches diameter
💻 iPad Air	10.9 inches (display)
🧻 Standard Paper Towel Roll	10 inches wide (excluding cardboard)

1. Two Standard Beverage Cans

You’re at a summer barbecue, and someone challenges you to guess the height of two soda cans stacked on top of each other. If you say 10 inches, you’d be spot on!

Standard beverage cans, whether they contain your favourite soda, energy drink, or beer, typically measure about 4.83 inches in height.

Stack two of these shiny cylinders, and you’ve got yourself a neat 10-inch tower.

This fun fact isn’t just trivia. It’s a handy measuring tool when you’re in a pinch. Need to measure something quickly and don’t have a ruler?

Grab two cans from your fridge and line them up. Voila! You’ve got yourself a makeshift 10-inch ruler.

2. Three Debit Cards

Open your wallet and pull out your debit card. Seems small, right? But line up three of these plastic rectangles end-to-end, and you’ve got another 10-inch measure hiding in your pocket.

Standard debit cards (and credit cards, for that matter) are 3.37 inches long. This uniform size ensures they fit neatly into ATMs and card readers worldwide. Put three together, and you’re just a hair’s breadth short of 10 inches.

This little-known fact can come in handy in unexpected ways. Need to measure a small object but leave your ruler at home?

Your wallet might just save the day. It’s like carrying a tiny, fragmented measuring tape wherever you go!

3. Three Standard-Playing Cards

From poker nights to solitaire sessions, playing cards are a staple of entertainment. But did you know they can also serve as impromptu measuring tools?

Standard playing cards measure about 3.5 inches in length. Line up three of these, and you’re looking at 10.5 inches – just a smidge over our target measurement.

This slight overage actually makes them ideal for estimating 10-inch lengths, as you can easily account for the small difference.

Next time you’re playing Go Fish or building a house of cards, remember: you’re not just holding a game in your hands, but a potential measuring device too!

See also :  How Big Is 7 Inches Compared to An Object?

4. Samsung Galaxy Tab A7

In the realm of technology, 10 inches takes on a whole new significance. Enter the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7, a tablet that exemplifies the perfect balance between portability and screen real estate.

With its 10.4-inch display, the Galaxy Tab A7 falls right into our 10-inch category.

This size has become increasingly popular for tablets, offering a screen large enough for comfortable viewing of movies, e-books, and websites while still being compact enough to slip into a bag or large pocket.

The popularity of 10-inch tablets isn’t just about convenience. This size hits a sweet spot for human interaction with touch screens.

It’s large enough to type comfortably with two hands in landscape mode yet small enough to hold and operate with one hand when needed.

5. Five Golf Tees

Golf tees might seem insignificant, but these little pegs play a crucial role in the game of golf. They’re also unexpectedly useful for our 10-inch exploration.

Standard golf tees come in various sizes, but the most common length is about 2.125 inches. Line up five of these little helpers, and you’ve got yourself another 10-inch measure.

But the significance of golf tees goes beyond their collective length. These small wooden or plastic spikes are designed to elevate the golf ball slightly off the ground, allowing golfers to achieve better contact with the ball and send it soaring down the fairway.

The length of a golf tee can actually affect a player’s game. Longer tees allow for higher tee heights, which can be beneficial for drivers with larger clubheads.

Shorter tees are often preferred for iron shots or when playing in windy conditions.

Interestingly, golf tees have found uses outside the golf course too. Gardeners sometimes use them to mark plant locations or create small holes for seeds.

Crafters have incorporated them into various DIY projects. And in a pinch, they can even serve as impromptu toothpicks!

6. A Sheet of Legal Paper

When it comes to paper sizes, most of us are familiar with the standard 8.5 x 11-inch letter size. But step into any law office or courtroom, and you’ll encounter a different standard: legal paper.

Legal paper measures 8.5 x 14 inches, but it’s the width we’re interested in here. At 8.5 inches wide, legal paper is just shy of our 10-inch mark.

However, the margins typically used on legal documents often reduce the actual writing space to almost exactly 10 inches.

This 10-inch writing width has become a standard in the legal profession for a reason. It provides ample space for detailed text while still fitting comfortably in file folders and briefcases.

The extra length compared to letter-size paper allows for more content per page, reducing the overall number of pages in often lengthy legal documents.

7. Subway Sandwich

Fast food has given us many cultural icons, but few are as recognizable as the Subway “footlong” sandwich.

However, this supposed 12-inch sub actually fits perfectly into our list of 10-inch items!
In 2013, Subway faced a controversy when it was discovered that their footlong sandwiches often measured only 11 or even 10 inches.

While the company has since made efforts to ensure their sandwiches measure up to the advertised foot, the incident brought attention to the actual size of these popular subs.

The story of the Subway sandwich is a reminder that measurements in everyday life aren’t always as precise as we might expect.

It’s also a testament to the power of marketing – the term “footlong” has become so associated with Subway that many customers didn’t even notice the size discrepancy.

Despite the controversy, Subway’s almost-footlong sandwiches remain a popular lunch option worldwide.

8. Amazon Kindle Oasis

In the world of e-readers, the Amazon Kindle Oasis stands out with its 7-inch display. But don’t let that fool you – the entire device, from edge to edge, measures almost exactly 10 inches diagonally.

This 10-inch size makes the Kindle Oasis a perfect fit for many bags and large pockets, striking a balance between screen size and portability.

It’s large enough to display a comfortable amount of text yet small enough to hold comfortably with one hand for extended reading sessions.

The Kindle Oasis’s 10-inch form factor is no accident. Amazon has carefully designed this premium e-reader to mimic the feel of a real book as closely as possible.

The asymmetrical design, with one edge thicker than the other, is meant to shift the centre of gravity to your palm, just like when you’re holding a physical book.

9. Standard Dinner Plate

Walk into any restaurant or open your kitchen cabinet, and you’re likely to find a perfect example of our 10-inch theme: the standard dinner plate.

While plate sizes can vary, the 10-inch diameter has become a common standard for dinner plates in many parts of the world. This size offers a generous surface area for main courses without being overwhelmingly large.

Interestingly, the size of dinner plates has grown over the years, paralleling the increase in portion sizes. In the 1960s, the average dinner plate was only 9 inches in diameter.

The shift to 10 inches and sometimes even larger sizes has been linked to the obesity epidemic, as larger plates can unconsciously encourage larger portions.

However, the 10-inch plate remains a versatile size for home cooks and professional chefs alike. It provides enough space for artistic plating and a balanced meal while still fitting comfortably in most dishwashers and cabinets.

10. The iPad Air

In the world of tablets, the iPad has long been a trendsetter. The iPad Air, with its 10.9-inch display, is another perfect example of how the 10-inch measurement has become a sweet spot for personal technology.

This near-11-inch screen (which still falls within our 10-inch theme when you account for bezels) offers a viewing area that’s significantly larger than a smartphone yet more portable than a laptop.

It’s ideal for everything from watching videos and reading e-books to creating art and editing photos.

The iPad Air’s size is no accident. Apple has carefully calibrated this device to offer maximum functionality in a compact form.

It’s large enough to use productively with accessories like the Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, yet small enough to hold comfortably for long periods.

This 10-inch form factor has proven so popular that it’s influenced the entire tablet market. Many competing tablets now offer similar screen sizes, recognizing the balance of usability and portability that this dimension offers.

11. Standard Paper Towel Roll

Standard paper towel rolls typically measure 11 inches in width. However, the actual paper on the roll is usually 10 inches wide, with a half-inch of cardboard extending on each side.

This 10-inch width has become an industry standard, fitting perfectly into most paper towel holders and offering a size that’s convenient for a wide range of cleaning tasks.

But why 10 inches? This width allows for easy tearing into smaller sections when needed while still being large enough to handle bigger spills.

It’s also a convenient size for covering plates in the microwave or lining a baking sheet.
The 10-inch paper towel is a perfect example of how this measurement has been optimized for everyday use.

It’s large enough to be effective yet small enough to be easily stored and manipulated.

Conclusion: The 10-Inch Measure All Around Us

As we’ve explored these 11 common items, it’s clear that the 10-inch measurement is more prevalent in our daily lives than we might have realized.

From the technology we use to the food we eat and even the cleaning supplies in our kitchens, 10 inches has proven to be a versatile and practical size.

This exploration reminds us of the hidden patterns in our world. Measurements that might seem arbitrary at first glance often have practical reasons behind them, shaped by human needs and preferences over time.