Trade professionals rely on their tape measure more than their cell phone, according to a new survey from Stanley. Recently, Stanley Black & Decker commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 1,003 contractors throughout the United States including full-time, part-time and self-employed workers within the construction industry who do residential contracting work. 

The survey found that 75 percent of resident trade professionals reach for their tape measure more than five times per day, while 50 percent of respondents said they used their tape measure at least 10 times per day. 

The survey found that trade professionals have a unique set of on-the-job priorities. Nearly 42 percent of residential trades professionals said they would rather go without their phone, wallet and even keys than be without their tape measure.

Meanwhile, 44 percent of respondents said they would rather go without their morning coffee than be without their tape measure on the job site.

Despite it being a significant part of their day-to-day job, nearly two-thirds of residential professionals said they misplaced their tape measure at least once per day, while 28 percent said they lost their tape measure more than three times per day. 

This has led many trades professionals to stock up on tape measures, with 38 percent of respondents saying they own three tape measures, to reduce the impact when one goes missing. 

The use of tape measures varied from tradesperson to tradesperson, according to the survey. More than 65 percent of respondents said they use their tape measure for measuring material to cut to size, while 44 percent said they used one to measure room dimensions. An additional 38 percent said they needed their tape measures to assist with estimating material needs.

Nearly 66 percent of residential tradespeople said they required different types of tape measures for various jobs. Approximately 71 percent of respondents said the length of a tape measure was their biggest consideration, while 65 percent said it was the reach of the tape measure that made the difference.