If you’ve ever looked closely at a tape measure, you might notice small diamond-shaped markings at regular intervals, often every 19.2 inches. These aren’t decorative—they serve a very practical purpose for construction and framing.

The Reason: Stud Spacing in Construction

In building construction, wall studs are typically spaced 16 inches apart on center (from the center of one stud to the center of the next).

However, some layouts require multiples of three studs. The diamond marking helps quickly identify these intervals without extra math.

Every 5 studs at 16-inch spacing equals 80 inches, which is conveniently marked using the diamond pattern.

How It Works