11 Common Things That Are 1 Foot Long

Generally, we use measuring tapes to calculate the length of any object. But did you know that a lot of everyday objects in our surroundings are exactly one foot long? You don’t need any scale to measure those objects. 

In this article, I've listed 11 everyday items that are 1 foot long. This is a practical way to visualize this length. For quick info, 1 foot (ft) equals 12 inches or 30.48 centimeters. Let's start with the examples right away. 

1. A Standard Ruler

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The first item is a standard ruler, which is the most widely used and accurate object that is one foot long. Nearly everyone has a ruler at home or work, and if you are a student, you undoubtedly have one. 

A standard ruler is exactly 1 foot long. It is made up of a straight piece of wood or plastic with measurements marked on it. The markings are usually in centimeters or inches.

Rulers are used in construction and in many other areas to properly draw and measure straight lines. You can also use this to measure the length of any object below 12 inches.

2. Two-Liter Soda Bottle

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Soda is a popular and one of the most common beverages in the world. Soda bottles come in all different shapes and sizes, from 2-liter bottles to small cans. 

And, the height of a two-liter soda bottle is approximately 1 foot (12 inches). This bottle is most commonly used for carbonated soft drinks, such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi.

3. A Cable Tie

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Cable ties, also known as zip ties, are available in various sizes, lengths, and colors. They provide fastening solutions for keeping cables bundled together.

These ties are available in lengths ranging from 4 to 52 inches! The standard and most used length is 12 inches, which is 1 foot.

Cable ties are great for keeping cords and cables tidy and organized. These cables can also be used for bundling materials like pipes, lumber, and more. They are also used to tie grocery bags together. So, next time you get a cable tie with your grocery, save it for later. You can use it to measure 1 ft.

4. Twice the length of a Dollar bill

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The average length of a $1 bill is a bit over six inches. So, if you need a 1-foot length reference, just put two dollar bills alongside, and you get nearly the right size!

However, the length of a dollar bill can vary slightly depending on how it is folded. For example, folding a dollar bill in half will be about three inches long.

5. A Frying Pan

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Frying pans or skillets are the most common household items, especially 12-inch diameter pans. You can also find pans in other sizes, like 6 inches, 10 inches, or even 14 inches.

The diameter of the 12-inch frying pan, as you have guessed already, is 1 foot as it’s round in shape.

Frying pans are usually made of metal or non-metallic material. These are used for cooking food by frying it in oil or butter.

6. A Pizza Pan

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If you are familiar with cooking or making pizza at home, you’ll know that pizza pans come in different sizes. And, they’re usually measured in inches, like 6-inch to 14-inch in diameter, to make small to large pizzas.

However, 12 inches pizza pans, which are equivalent to 1 foot, are also available and they are used in making medium size pizzas. If you didn't realize that 12 inches equal one foot, you now know that your medium size pizza pan is one foot in diameter.

7. A 12-inch Pizza

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Well, if you don’t have any pizza pans at your home, then a pizza can help you get an idea about one-foot length.

We are all very familiar with pizza; it is a popular fast food all around the world. Pizzas generally come in various fixed sizes. 8 to 10 inches for small-size pizzas and 12 inches for medium-size pizzas.

So basically, a medium size pizza is 1 foot in diameter. Have you ever thought about it while eating pizza? If not, maybe next time you will.

8. A Subway Sandwich

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Another common food item, a subway sandwich, can give you an idea of a 1-foot length. The one-foot-long subway sandwich's name speaks for itself.

Subway sandwiches are perhaps the most popular sandwiches of all. These sandwiches can be found in 12 inches or one foot. 

However, there are also available other sizes. You can buy a small sub which will be 6 inches or half a foot long. If a 12-inch sub is not available, you can add 2 of these to get a 1-foot-long size. 

9. A Spatula or Grill tong

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Another kitchen stuff we can think of is a spatula or grill tong. A medium size spatula or tong is 12 inches long.

There are other sizes available. But for general kitchen use, one-foot-long spatula or tongs are the ideal size. Not too big or too short, it’s long enough to keep your hand safe from spattering oil and heat while cooking.

10. Thickness of a Mattress

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Mattresses are so common in every house. The height of your mattress can also give you a one-foot-long measurement. The standard mattress height or thickness is 10 to 12 inches.

While buying mattresses, we generally see the measurements in inches. So if you have or buy a 12-inch high mattress, you can get the idea of one feet length. 

11. Length of letter-size paper

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Letter size or A4 size paper is the most commonly used sheet among other sheets such as A0 to A6. Standard A4-sized papers measure 8.3 x 11.7 inches. On the other hand, letter size papers are just an inch shy of one foot. Wondering how long is one inch? Well, we got you covered!

Both types of paper are widely used for printing or photocopying documents.

Bottom Line

While some of these items may be slightly longer or shorter than one foot, they are all still typically one foot.

So the next time you reach for a ruler, eat a pizza, or cook with your spatula, take a moment to observe their length. And, if you keep your eyes peeled, you might find more objects that are 1 foot long using the items listed above as a reference.