Two millimeters is a tiny measurement, equivalent to 0.2 centimeters or 0.0787402 inches.
A creative way to understand how long it is, is by looking at it in terms of items with corresponding lengths.
This post covers items approximately two millimeters you can use as reference points. We’ve compiled a list of popular items, from pens to coins, as they are easy to remember.
Let’s dive in!
8 Things That are 2 Millimeters Long
1. Three Credit Cards
Credit cards are a popular form of payment, as they are convenient and widely accepted in the United States. They enable a cardholder to borrow money to pay bills or make purchases big and small.
The dimensions of all credit cards are the same regardless of location as are standardized by the ISO. They must be 0.76 millimeters thick, meaning you need three to give you 2.2 millimeters, just a little past the mark.
Alternatively, you can use the thickness of debit cards or ATM cards similarly since they have similar dimensions to credit cards.
2. 1/3 Standard Staple
Staples are versatile and essential tools for fastening and binding materials together. They’re typically made of U-shaped metal and are widely used in offices, schools, homes, and various industries to join several pieces of paper by piercing through and folding over the ends.
Staples come in a broad range of sizes. But most of the time, standard staples are the ones you’ll commonly find at school, office, or home.
They’re usually six millimeters long, capable of joining from 2 to 30 pages at once. Therefore, if you’d picture a third of one, it’d be precisely two millimeters long.
3. Four Rollerball Tips
Rollerballs are pens that use a small ball in the tip to transfer ink onto a writing surface. They’re similar to ballpoint pens but are vibrant and write smoothly.
Chances are you’re familiar with these pens as they’re a popular choice for many thanks to their high-quality writing experience. They’re ideal for creating artwork, taking notes, and writing journals.
Most of these rollerballs have a diameter of 0.5 mm. That means you’d need four, as they’d give you exactly 2 mm.
And sticking with pens, you can reference fine ballpoint pens whose tips usually have a diameter of 0.8 mm. Here, you’d need 2-3 to get a solid idea of 2 millimeters.
4. Four Mechanical Pencil Lead Tips
A mechanical pencil lead is a cylindrical stick of graphite or a graphite-based material used in mechanical pencils for writing, drawing, or making marks on paper.
Depending on their purpose, mechanical lead pencils come in different sizes. The 0.5 mm is the most common size providing an excellent balance of strength and precision that suits most people’s handwriting.
So, if you’re familiar with the 0.55 mm lead pencil, you’d need only four to give you something precisely 2 millimeters long.
5. Nickel
Nickel is a five-cent coin produced by the United States Mint. Despite its low purchasing power, it’s one of the most common denominations of currency in the United States, used in parking meters, tolls, and vending machine items.
The nickel is one of the thickest US coins at 1.95 mm. So, if you can recall the last one you used, it can be an excellent reference point for 2 mm.
6. Golden Dollar
The golden dollar is a United States dollar coin introduced in 2000 to replace the Susan B. Anthony dollar and revolutionize the use of dollar coins in the country.
The golden dollar is popular among coin collectors and others who use it as a novelty item. If you’re familiar with it, it’s the perfect reference for 2 mm as it has a thickness of 2 mm.
7. A Half Dollar Coin
Also known as a 50-cent piece, a half dollar coin is a circulating denomination of currency in the United States with a face value of 50 cents.
The popularity of the coins has reduced in recent years with the rise of electronic forms of payment. But it’s still popular among coin collectors.
The half dollar coin is another solid reference point for 2 mm, as it’s only 0.15 mm past the 2 mm mark.
8. US Quarter Thickness
The US quarter is an American coin with a face value of 25 cents.
The coin is a ubiquitous part of the United States currency system and is the most popular. It’s accepted in coin-operated machines, including parking meters, amusement parks, vending and laundry machines, gas stations, and convenience stores.
All US quarters have a thickness of 1.75 mm. Therefore, next time you want to understand how long 2 mm is, recall the last US quarter you used, as it’s only 0.25 shy of our mark.
