Timco mini tape measures that fit in a pocket, pouch or glovebox without anyone noticing they’re there. Handy for quick checks, small measurements and the moments when the main tape has wandered off. Cheap enough to keep a few spare in the van.
Every tradesperson has lost a tape measure. Usually it’s the good one, and usually halfway through a job. That’s where a set of Mini Tape Measures Timco earns its keep. They’re small, light and priced low enough that you can stash one in the van, one in the toolbag and one in the jacket you only wear on Fridays.
Timco have been supplying the trade for decades, mostly known for fixings and fasteners, so it makes sense that their accessories are built with site conditions in mind. A mini tape won’t replace your 5m or 8m workhorse, but it was never meant to. It handles the quick checks: a bracket position, a cable run, a hole spacing, the gap behind a unit.
Where Timco Mini Tape Measures Get Used
Small tapes suit tight spaces better than big ones. Try measuring inside a kitchen cupboard with a 8m tape and you’ll appreciate the difference. The compact casing slips into awkward gaps, and the shorter blade is easier to hold flat against a surface without it flopping about like a startled eel.
Electricians use them for back box heights and clip spacing. Plumbers reach for them under sinks and behind boilers. Joiners keep one handy for quick marking out, and general maintenance teams tend to lose a few every month, which is why a low price per tape matters.
They’re also a sensible thing to hand to apprentices. Nobody cries when a £1.85 tape goes missing, and it teaches them to carry their own measuring gear rather than borrowing yours.
Pocket Size, Practical Layout
The compact body clips or sits easily in a pocket, nail pouch or tool tray. Blade markings are in metric and imperial, so you can work in whichever you prefer or whichever the drawings insist on. Check the blade length on the pack you receive, as mini tapes come in a few short lengths and the casing will confirm the exact figure.
Not every job needs a 25mm wide blade with a 3m standout. For quick and light measuring, a smaller tape is quicker to pull, quicker to read and quicker to put away.
Why Buy Spares
Having several mini tapes about the place saves more time than you’d expect. One in the van, one in the kit bag, one in the house for the odd job at home. If one goes missing, the replacement cost is lower than a coffee. Buy in multiples and you’ll rarely be caught without something to measure with.
For general site use, stock rooms, maintenance kits and trade counters, these Timco mini tapes tick the boxes without any fuss. Simple, quick and dependable for what they are.
Pro Tip: Hook the end of the tape on a bracket or edge and check the hook slides freely; a bent or dirty hook will throw readings out by a few millimetres.
These mini tapes suit quick measuring tasks where a full-size tape is overkill or simply too big to manoeuvre. Think cupboard interiors, cable and pipe spacing, bracket positions, small joinery checks and general maintenance work. They're popular with electricians, plumbers, kitchen fitters and facilities teams, and they make an easy spare for any toolbag or van.
Best For
Quick pocket measuring
Tight or awkward spaces
Spare tape for van or toolbag
Maintenance and facilities kits
Apprentice and trainee kit
Works With
Timber and sheet materials
Pipework and cable runs
Kitchen and bathroom fittings
Brackets, hinges and fixings
General marking out
Key Features
Compact pocket-friendly body
Metric and imperial markings
Timco brand
Low cost per tape
Easy to carry and replace
Not suitable for: Not designed for long runs, full room measurements or heavy-duty site use where a standard 5m or 8m tape with a wide, stiff blade is the better choice.
Pull out the blade steadily, hook the end against your reference point and read the measurement at eye level. For internal measurements, remember to account for the casing length if it's marked on the body. Retract the blade gently to avoid snapping it back against your fingers.
Check the blade hook moves freely and the tape locks and releases properly.
Hook the end over the edge of the material, or hold it firmly against the starting point.
Pull the blade out steadily until you reach the required measurement.
Read the marking at eye level to avoid parallax errors.
Mark your position with a pencil, then release the lock and let the blade retract slowly.
Can these mini tape measures replace a full-size tape?
Not really. They're meant for quick checks and tight spaces, not long measurements. Keep a standard 5m or 8m tape for room dimensions and larger jobs, and use the mini as a handy backup.
Are the markings metric or imperial?
Mini tapes of this type typically carry both metric and imperial markings. Check the blade on the product you receive to confirm the layout and overall length.
Are they accurate enough for trade use?
For general measuring, marking out and quick on-site checks, they're perfectly adequate. For precision joinery or critical dimensions, use a quality tape you trust and check it against a known reference.
Compact retractable tape measure with a steel blade housed in a lightweight plastic casing. Supplied under the Timco brand, designed for general-purpose short-range measuring. Blade length and width vary by pack variant, so check the casing markings for the exact specification of the product supplied.
