Are you curious about the things that are 18 inches long?
Maybe you’re a DIY enthusiast looking for 18-inch-long materials for your projects, a collector of oddities, or simply curious about how long 18 inches is, this post is for you.
We’ve included popular and household items measuring approximately 18 inches long that can be reliable references to understand that length. Even if you don’t have these items at home, you can visualize them since you’re familiar with most of them.
Let’s go!
10 Common Things That Are 18 Inches Long
1. Nine Business Cards
Business cards are popular in networking settings, allowing individuals or companies to exchange business-related and vital information.
With a standard length of two inches, we’ve used business cards here at measuringly.com as perfect reference points for different measurements, such as 16 inches, since they are familiar among many.
And in this case, if you can arrange nine in a straight line on the ground, they would stretch to precisely 18 inches.
2. Five Standard Playing Cards
Standard playing cards are used for playing different types of games, including popular poker, blackjack, and solitaire.
Similarly to business cards, these cards have standard sizes and are universally known, so they are perfect reference items. Each measures 3.5 inches long and 2.25 inches wide.
That means if you can arrange five end-to-end, they would be one 0.5 inches shy of the 18 inches mark.
3. Two and a Half Standard Pencils
Also known as no. 2 pencils, standard pencils are universally known indispensable items you can remember since your days at elementary school. Right?
And as you already know, these pencils are always the same length when you buy them.
Each measures 7.5 inches when brand new, including the eraser. Therefore, if you can picture three arranged end to end and imagine cutting one at either end into half, you’d have a gigantic pencil measuring approximately 18 inches long.
4. 18 US Quarters
With a face value of 25 cents, the US quarters are arguably the most popular coin in the United States. They’re the most preferred in parking, candy machines, and other coin-operated devices.
These coins have a diameter of 0.955 inches and are perfect for understanding small measurements, such as 10 inches.
But if you have as many as 18 reserved for the next shopping, arrange them side by side to get a good idea of something as long as 18 inches as they exceed the mark by only 0.145 inches.
5. Eight Golf Balls
Golf balls are small round balls used in golf – a popular sport and a recreational activity in the United States.
The size of golf balls is regulated by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), and the diameter is usually 2.25 inches.
You may not have golf balls around, but if you’re familiar with them, visualize eight placed side by side to realize how long 18 inches can get.
6. Five ATM Cards
ATM cards allow users to access their funds and transact without carrying cash or writing checks. Due to their convenience and safety, they are the most popular mode of payment, and chances are you have one in your wallet right now!
Regardless of location and bank, all ATM cards measure the same, 3.5 inches long and 2.1 inches wide.
Therefore, similarly to standard playing cards, you can envision five placed in a row lengthwise to give you 17.5 inches, close to the mark. Another way to look at it is by arranging them widthwise; here, you need as many as nine to get approximately to the 18 inches mark.
7. Eight US Dollar Notes
The US dollar notes are universally known in the United States. Despite possessing security risks, most people still keep and carry them around.
Regardless of the denomination, all US dollar banknotes measure the same, 6.14 inches long and 2.25 inches wide, making them excellent references for things that are six inches long.
But you can play around with them to understand a relatively long length of 18 inches by arranging eight in a row widthwise. Also, if you can place three in a row, but lengthwise, they wouldn’t be far off the mark at 18.42 inches.
8. Five Standard Crayons
Popular among kids and professional artists, crayons are cylindrical pencil-like items with a pointed or flat tip used for drawing and coloring.
Crayons come in different sizes, but the standard size is 3.5 inches. These are the most likely you’ll find with kids.
So, as you would do with standard playing cards or an ATM card, you need to arrange five such crayons end to end to get a giant crayon measuring 17.5 inches long, just a little under the 18 inches mark.
9. Two and a Half Bananas
Well, something you could use to estimate a length of 18 inches could be your favorite fruit; banana. Even if you don’t like them, odds are you’re familiar with these tropical fruits found in every grocery store.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a regular banana is usually seven inches long. So if you have some in the fridge, arrange three end to end, then imagine cutting one at either end into half. They will add up to 17.5 inches, similar to several times in our list.
10. Seven Tennis Balls
Tennis balls are small, round balls made of rubber covered with a fuzzy-like material used to play tennis. Also, some people buy and use them as dog toys and items for relieving stress by squeezing and manipulating them.
Tennis balls have a diameter of roughly 2.6 inches, according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Therefore, the next time you want to understand how long 18 inches is, picture seven such balls placed side by side in a row. It would be only 0.2 inches past the mark.
