‘Girl measuring’ is the viral DIY trend taking over TikTok — except it doesn’t really work
There’s a new “girl” trend taking over TikTok.
First it was girl dinner and girl math, but the latest trend in girlhood is more in line with girl hammers — welcome to the internet, girl measuring.
“Girl measuring is essentially a term being used to describe people using their arms and hands to gauge things like room dimensions, wall lengths, or pieces of furniture,” Jen Nash, Head of Design at Magnet, a U.K. based custom home improvement firm told The Post.
The hashtag #girlmeasuring has gone viral with 21.4 million views on TikTok — Google searches for “What is girl measuring” have skyrocketed by 83% over the past month, Magnet reported.
TikTok user @amurphyrn appears to be one of the first content creators to get the discussion going on the platform, writing on the video, “Girl math is fun but don’t forget about girl measuring.”
The clip of her “mathematically unstoppable” method of using her fingers to pinpoint the middle of the wall she wants to hang a frame on quickly went viral, amassing 17.4 million views and 974,500 likes.
“When I actually use measuring tapes and levels it’s WRONG. Girl math? Never done me dirty lol,” someone commented.
“I do this! meanwhile, my husband gets a measuring tape and a level and it still looks wrong to me!” another commenter admitted.
“I used to be a visual merchandiser and this is how I hung all the artwork at the showroom where I worked,” someone else chimed in.
The post kickstarted a larger conversation on the subject.
The account @girls posted a video of a woman using her arms to determine the length of a wall with the caption, “The only way to measure anything.”
TikToker @ourhme_ shared how she used her arms to accurately measure if a table would fit in a particular spot.
“60% of the time it works every time. no but really I swear I can do stuff by eye better then measuring properly,” she captioned the video.
But while girl measuring seems to work for many, experts say are better alternatives.
“Using your hands or arms can offer a quick and convenient way to gauge the size of something. But, it’s important to recognize that it will only provide a very rough estimate of measurement that is not very reliable,” Magnet’s Nash said.
“The method falls short when accuracy is essential and could lead to subpar room aesthetics and unnecessary expenditure of time and money.”
She explained that measuring a wall with your arms to find the middle for a frame could result in an off-center finish because of small shifts in how your hand or arm is extended.
And if you’re measuring with your arms for furniture, you might find yourself in the position where you have to return it, which is a hassle.
“This method doesn’t account for factors like precise furniture dimensions and room layout; critical considerations for successful furniture selection and placement,” Nash explained.
Simply put — there’s no substitute for a tape measure.
“A tape measure is one of the most precious items when it comes to measuring walls and buying, installing or moving the likes of furniture, art work and so much more,” Nash said. “With accurate and standardized measurements, you’re sure to make the right purchase, or ensure that any time and effort spent moving furniture in your home is not wasted.’’
But if you don’t have a tape measure and don’t have time to get one, here are a few DIY hacks that can be surprisingly reliable.
Show me the money
All dollar bills, no matter the value, are the same size — measuring at 6.14 x 2.61 in — making it a reliable way to measure smaller areas.
Look at your phone
Smartphones, something else most people have on hand, can also work in a pinch.
“Not only can a physical phone itself serve as a unit of measure if you look up its dimensions, but they also offer a wide range of apps that provide an actual ruler scale,” Nash shared. “These let you measure small items laid on the face of the phone. There are also apps that let you scan a room to measure its dimensions.”
Read the paper
A piece of writing paper could be useful as well — as long as you know that a standard sheet in the United States is 8.5 x 11 inches.
Nash said, “You could easily and accurately measure how long a table is with sheets of paper. If for example, it ends on a half or quarter sheet, simply make a mark on the paper or fold it.”
Hoof it
Many people use their steps as a way to measure, but this can be inconsistent since the length can be different with every step.
Using your bare feet is a more “dependable and consistent” make-shift measurement tool.
“If, for example, you want to measure the length of a sofa, position the heel of your foot at one end and place your other foot in front of it. Repeat until you reach the opposite end,” Nash explained. “For accuracy, take your shoes off and align the edge of your feet with the sofa edge to ensure you are walking in a straight line.”