Six inches is a small measurement, equivalent to 15.4 centimeters or 0.5 feet.
It’s almost the size of a human hand. And that’s why you might have heard someone say, “it’s about the size of my hand” when describing the length of an object roughly six inches long.
But what other items can help you understand how long six inches is?
Worry no more!
We’ve compiled a list of 10 everyday items equal to or approximately 6 inches long. From iPhone 13 to tiny balls, you’ll be surprised at how many familiar objects measure up to this size.
Read: 10 Well-known Things That are 16 Inches Long
Let’s go!
Table of contents
10 Everyday Things That are 6 Inches Long
1. US Dollar Note
Also known as a paper dollar or a federal reserve note, the US dollar note is the official currency of the United States.
The use of physical currency might have declined in recent years, but it remains a widely accepted mode of payment, so you’re likely familiar with it – unless you live outside of the US.
Regardless of the denomination, all US dollar notes are equal. They’re 2.25 inches wide and 6.14 inches long – just a little past the mark. So if you have one in your wallet now, take it out and stop struggling to understand how long six inches is.
2. Apple iPhone 13
For Apple fans and others looking for a high-quality smartphone with cutting-edge technology, iPhone 13 is an excellent recommendation.
The smartphone is the most popular in its major markets (including the United States), so chances are you might have gotten your hands on the device.
Apple iPhone 13 is a relatively long smartphone with a display size of 6.1 inches. If you’ve one in your pocket right now, take it out and look at the screen size diagonally, from the left bottom to the top right, as this is how to measure a smartphone’s size.
Meanwhile, its brother iPhone 13 Pro, with a display size of 5.78 inches, is also a solid reference point for six inches.
3. Two Debit Cards
Debit cards are payment cards that allow you to access funds stored in your checking accounts. They’ve become so popular in the US, thanks to their convenience and security compared to other forms of payment, that most people always carry them around.
Similarly to US banknotes, all debit cards are equal, regardless of the location. They’re 3.37 inches long, perfect for understanding small measurements, like things that are 3 inches long.
In our case, you only need to picture how long two can be when arranged side by side.
What’s more, debit cards and ATM cards have similar measurements as debit cards. Therefore, you can use them in the same manner.
4. Two Baseballs
Baseball is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of nine players each. The game has been played for more than 150 years, with most Americans regarding it as the “National pastime.”
Baseball’s popularity can’t be overestimated. Apart from the MLB, it is played at the amateur level, with millions of kids playing in the Little League while adults play in high schools and colleges. Hence, you’re likely familiar with the ball and can even picture their size.
All baseballs in the US have a diameter of between 2.86 and 2.94 inches. So if you can picture two end to end, they’d give you something close to 6 inches, at 5.8 inches.
5. Four Table Tennis Balls
Table tennis is also known as ping-pong. And although it’s not as popular as baseball in the United States, it’s a common recreational activity with millions of amateur players.
If you’re a table tennis fan or have watched the sport in high school or elsewhere, you must have seen the sphere-shaped, hollow, lightweight ball used to play the sport.
The balls are usually 1.57 inches in diameter, so what do four give you when placed end to end? They add up to 6.28 inches, just a little under our mark.
6. Two Hockey Pucks
Hockey might not be as popular as baseball in the United States. However, it has a significant number of followers as it is now played at youth and collegiate levels, apart from the National Hockey League (NHL).
The fast-paced game uses a vulcanized rubber ball called a hockey puck with a diameter of three inches. If you’re familiar with the game, you can picture two hockey pucks side by side as they add up to six inches.
7. Five Paperclips
Paperclips are small plastic or wire-based loop-shaped clips used for holding several sheets of paper together. They’re often found in schools, offices, homes, and other settings for organizing, storing, and presenting documents.
The most common paperclips are usually 1.37 inches long. So if you’re familiar with these indispensable tiny fellows, picturing five can give you something close to our mark, at 6.85 inches long.
8. Four Golf Balls
Golf is a sport enjoyed by individuals of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds, both recreationally and professionally. In terms of its popularity, it ranks highly among sports in the United States.
As you already know, the club-and-ball sport uses clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes. These balls have a standardized diameter of 1.68 inches.
Therefore, if you’re familiar with golf balls, imagine four placed in a row end to end. They total 6.72 inches, just a little past the mark.
9. Six Bottle Caps
Also known as crown tops or bottle tops, bottle tops are everyday items that need no introduction. Or do they?
They’re chiefly used for sealing beverages, water, and other liquids, but they’re also multipurpose, thanks to their collectibility and cultural significance.
The most common type of bottle you can find is usually the one used in standard bottles and has a diameter of 1.02 inches. That means picturing six arranged end to end will give you 6.12 inches.
Read: 11 Common Things That are 60 Inches Long
10. Two Pickleballs
Pickleball is a sport that incorporates elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.
The game has increased in popularity in recent years and is now played at all levels, with people of all ages, from kids to seniors, participating.
Pickleball uses a small ball, roughly the same diameter as baseball at about 2.92 inches.
If you’re familiar with the game, picture two pickleballs placed side by side the next time you want to understand how long six inches looks.
