11 Common Things That Are About 40 Centimeters Long

Ever wondered how long 40 centimeters is?

Understanding this measurement can be useful in everyday tasks like measuring ingredients in the kitchen, checking the size of small objects, or estimating short distances.

If you work in construction, carpentry, crafting, or enjoy DIY projects, knowing what 40 cm looks like can help ensure precision in cutting, sizing, or fitting materials.

For those interested in measurements, knowing the length of 40 centimeters can add to your expertise.

Whether you’re aiming for accuracy in your projects or just curious, these 13 everyday items, each about 40 cm long, will give you a clear sense of this measurement.

Let’s get started!

How Big is 40 Centimeters?

Forty centimeters is roughly equivalent to 15.75 inches. It’s a bit longer than a standard ruler, which typically measures 30 centimeters or 12 inches.

To help you visualize it, imagine the width of a standard kitchen sink or the length of a small cat from nose to tail tip.

It’s also close to the average length of an adult’s forearm from elbow to wrist. In the realm of sports, 40 centimeters is about the size of a regulation soccer ball’s circumference.

This length pops up in unexpected places, making it a surprisingly common measurement in our daily lives.

Common Objects That Are 40 Centimeters Long

Let’s explore some everyday items that measure around 40 centimeters. These objects range from office supplies to tech gadgets, and even sports equipment.

You might be surprised to find how often this length appears in your surroundings.

📦 Item	📏 Actual Measurement
🖊️ Three Capped Pens	40 centimeters (Three pens lined up end-to-end)
✏️ Two No. 2 Pencils	40 centimeters (Length of two standard pencils placed end-to-end)
💼 Eight Business Cards	40 centimeters (Eight business cards placed edge-to-edge)
💳 Five Debit Cards	40 centimeters (Five debit cards laid side by side)
🥤 Fifteen Bottle Caps	40 centimeters (A row of fifteen standard bottle caps)
🎳 Bowling Pin	40 centimeters (Approximate height of a bowling pin)
🪙 Seventeen US Quarters	40 centimeters (A line of seventeen US quarters)
📄 Two Letter-size Papers	40 centimeters (Two letter-size papers placed end-to-end along their shorter side)
🏒 Sixteen Hockey Pucks	40 centimeters (A stack of sixteen hockey pucks)
💻 MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 2023)	40 centimeters (Approximate width of the 2023 MacBook Pro)
🧱 Two Bricks	40 centimeters (Two standard bricks placed end-to-end)

1. Length of Three Capped Pens

Lined up end-to-end, three standard capped pens stretch to about 40 centimeters. This everyday writing tool becomes a handy reference for estimating lengths.

Imagine you’re in a meeting, jotting down notes. The pen in your hand, seemingly insignificant, holds a secret. Two more just like it, placed neatly in a row, would span the length we’re exploring.

Pens come in various styles and sizes, from sleek ballpoints to chunky markers. The average capped pen measures around 13-14 centimeters.

That’s why three of them, lined up perfectly, hit our target length. Next time you’re doodling or signing a document, take a moment to appreciate this hidden dimension.

It’s a fun fact to share with colleagues or use in impromptu measurements when a ruler isn’t handy.

READ : Common Things That Are 10 Centimeters Long

2. Length of Two No. 2 Pencils

Two standard No. 2 pencils, placed end to end, measure approximately 40 centimeters. These iconic yellow writing instruments have been a staple in classrooms and offices for generations.

Each pencil, typically 19-20 centimeters long, combines with its twin to create our target length.

Picture a student hunched over a desk, tackling a tough math problem. The pencil in their hand is more than just a tool for calculations.

It’s a key to unlocking a world of measurements and proportions. The humble pencil, with its ability to write, erase, and start anew, now reveals another talent.

It serves as a makeshift ruler, helping us understand and visualize 40 centimeters in a tangible way.

3. A Line of Eight Business Cards

Imagine a row of eight standard business cards laid edge to edge. This line stretches to about 40 centimeters, offering a unique way to visualize our target length.

Business cards, those small rectangles of professional information, typically measure 9 cm in width. When eight of them join forces, they create a surprisingly accurate ruler.

Think about the last networking event you attended. As you exchanged cards with potential contacts, you were unknowingly handling pieces of a larger puzzle.

Each card, a fragment of personal branding, also serves as a fraction of this measurement. It’s a reminder that even the smallest tools in our professional lives can have hidden dimensions.

You’re sorting through a stack of business cards, try lining up eight. You’ll have a makeshift 40-centimeter ruler at your fingertips, perfect for quick estimates or impromptu measurements in the office.

4. A Line of Five Debit Cards

Five debit cards, aligned in a neat row, span roughly 40 centimeters. These plastic rectangles, constant companions in our wallets, reveal a hidden talent for measurement.

Each card, designed to fit snugly in a pocket or purse, typically measures about 8.5 cm in length. When five join forces, they create our target dimension.

Picture yourself at a cafe, waiting to pay for your latte. As you pull out your debit card, consider its secret life as a measuring tool.

It’s not just a key to your bank account, but a building block of unexpected proportions. This everyday item, usually associated with financial transactions, now takes on a new role.

It becomes a handy reference point for estimating lengths. Next time you’re with friends, challenge them to guess how many cards it takes to reach 40 centimeters.

READ : 11 Common Things That are 40 Inches Long or Big

5. A Line of 15 Bottle Caps

Fifteen bottle caps, arranged in a straight line, create a length of approximately 40 centimeters. These small, circular discs, often overlooked and discarded, hold a secret measuring power.

Each cap, roughly 2.5-3 cm in diameter, combines with its companions to form our target length. It’s a quirky and unexpected way to visualize 40 centimeters.

Imagine finishing a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. As you pop off the cap, you’re handling a tiny piece of a larger puzzle.

These caps, usually destined for the recycling bin, can find new life as impromptu measuring tools. Next time you’re enjoying beverages with friends, start a fun challenge.

See who can guess how many caps it takes to reach 40 centimeters. It’s a playful way to introduce measurement concepts and spark conversations about recycling and repurposing everyday items.

Who knew that something as simple as a bottle cap could offer such an intriguing perspective on length?

6. Height of a Bowling Pin

A standard bowling pin stands proudly at 15 inches tall, which converts to just over 38 centimeters. This iconic piece of sports equipment comes remarkably close to our 40-centimeter mark.

It’s a familiar sight in bowling alleys worldwide, but few consider its height as they aim for a strike.

Picture yourself at the bowling alley, preparing to roll the perfect game. The pins at the end of the lane hold more significance than just being targets.

They’re silent markers of measurement, each one a testament to precise design and manufacturing. The next time you’re lining up your shot, take a moment to appreciate the pin’s dimensions.

Its height, so close to 40 centimeters, offers a tangible reference point for this length. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of fun and games, we’re surrounded by carefully calculated measurements.

7. A Line of 17 US Quarters

Seventeen US quarters, lined up edge to edge, span almost exactly 40 centimeters. These small coins, jingling in pockets and purses across America, have a hidden talent for measurement.

Each quarter, with its diameter of 24.26 mm, combines with its fellows to create a surprisingly accurate ruler. It’s a unique way to visualize our target length using everyday currency.

Imagine emptying your coin jar onto the kitchen table. As you sort through the clinking pile, consider the quarters’ secret life as measuring tools.

They’re not just for vending machines and laundromats anymore. These little metal discs, emblazoned with George Washington’s profile, now take on a new role.

They become building blocks for understanding length and proportion. Next time you’re waiting for your laundry to finish, try lining up 17 quarters.

You’ll have created a 40-centimeter line, perfect for quick estimates or impromptu measurements.

8. Length of Two Letter-size Papers

Two standard letter-size papers, placed end to end along their shorter sides, measure almost exactly 40 centimeters.

These ubiquitous sheets, found in offices and homes worldwide, offer a surprisingly accurate way to visualize our target length.

Each paper, typically 21.59 cm wide, combines with its twin to create a handy reference point.

Picture yourself at a desk, surrounded by stacks of documents. The papers you handle daily for memos, reports, and notes hold a hidden measuring power.

As you shuffle through your work, consider the dimensions at your fingertips. It’s a reminder that even the most common office supplies can reveal unexpected insights.

You need a quick measurement, reach for two sheets of paper. Align them along their width, and you’ve got an impromptu 40-centimeter ruler.

It’s a clever hack that turns mundane office supplies into useful tools.

9. A Pile of 16 Hockey Pucks

Stack 16 standard ice hockey pucks on top of each other, and you’ll create a tower measuring about 40 centimeters.

These hard rubber discs, essential to one of winter’s favorite sports, reveal an unexpected talent for measurement.

Each puck, typically 2.54 cm thick, combines with its companions to reach our target height. It’s a unique way to visualize 40 centimeters using sports equipment.

Imagine yourself at an ice rink, watching players glide across the frozen surface. The puck, usually seen zipping between sticks and skates, takes on a new role.

It becomes a building block for understanding height and proportion. You’re near a hockey game, try to picture how many pucks it would take to reach 40 centimeters.

It’s a fun mental exercise that combines sports trivia with measurement skills. Who knew that these simple black discs, designed for speed and precision on the ice, could also serve as impromptu rulers? It’s a reminder that even in the world of sports, math and measurement play crucial roles.

10. MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 2023)

The 2023 MacBook Pro, featuring the powerful M2 Max chip, measures 1.55 cm in height, 35.57 cm in width, and 24.81 cm in depth. While not exactly 40 centimeters in any single dimension, its width comes remarkably close.

This sleek piece of technology, designed for power and portability, offers an interesting reference point for our target measurement.

Picture yourself opening this high-tech device, preparing for a day of work or creativity. As the screen lights up, revealing a world of possibilities, consider its physical dimensions.

The MacBook Pro, typically associated with processing power and stunning visuals, now takes on a new role. It becomes a tangible example of measurements in modern design.

Next time you’re using or admiring one of these laptops, try to visualize how close its width is to 40 centimeters.

It’s a reminder that even cutting-edge technology adheres to specific measurements and proportions.

11. Length of Two Bricks

Two standard bricks, placed end to end, measure approximately 40 centimeters. These humble building blocks, fundamental to construction projects worldwide, offer a surprisingly accurate way to visualize our target length.

Each brick, typically around 20 cm long, pairs with its twin to create a handy reference point.

Imagine a construction site, bustling with activity. Amid the noise and movement, the simple brick reveals its hidden measuring talent.

As workers stack and mortar these rectangular blocks, they’re not just building walls. They’re creating a tangible representation of measurements and proportions.

Next time you pass a brick building, take a moment to appreciate this often-overlooked dimension. Try to spot pairs of bricks and visualize the 40-centimeter length they create together.

It’s a fun way to engage with architecture and bring mathematical concepts into everyday observations.