Tools & Materials

A Brilliant Tape Measure

This new tape measure from Milwaukee has several great features, but the best one is a built-in LED light.

By Chris Lange Issue 319 - November 2023

I recently unpackaged my new Milwaukee 25-ft. magnetic LED-illuminated tape measure (model 48-22-0428) and was immediately impressed by its compact size—3-7 ⁄ 8 in. long by 2 in. thick. It has all the great features of my standard 25-ft. Milwaukee tape, including the four-way hook that grabs on to an object regardless of the orientation of the tape, as well as the numbers printed on both sides of the tape that keep the measurements readable from most any angle. The magnet is strong enough to fish out dropped hardware from tight spaces, which I’ve done many times, and the added tether link for a retractable lanyard (not included) is a nice feature. The standout will reach a solid 15 ft. in a no-wind environment. The integrated finger lock that sold me on my first model is also present on this design. And while the new tape measure is a little heavier than my standard Milwaukee, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for the one feature that makes this tool shine: the LED light.

Milwaukee tape measureIt seems that the older I get, the more light I need to see clearly. I typically work longer days and spend evenings meeting with potential customers and measuring up their houses. I will still use a headlamp when working in near-total darkness, but this tool works great for areas with temporarily low or inconsistent light conditions such as crawlspaces, dark corners in basements, and under decks. The light has a high and low setting, and the 100-lumen high setting seems just as bright as my pocket flashlight, which I no longer need to carry. The battery is rechargeable through a sealed USB port, and Milwaukee claims two and a half hours of continuous run time (which I’m guessing applies to the low setting). The tape measure cost $35, and since I’ve been using it, it has performed exactly as I hoped it would. The only improvement I would like to see on the next version is an auto shutoff feature that turns off the light after a period of time so the battery won’t run down if I forget to turn it off myself.

—C.L.

Photos: courtesy of the manufacturers.

From Fine Homebuilding #319

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