Measure & mark

The best measuring and marking tools for 2026

Marking tools are judged on one thing nobody tests in the shop: whether the mark comes out again. We compare chalk, erasable pens, tracing wheels and gauges, and note which fabrics each one stains.

What we recommend

1. 

   Prym Colour Tape Measure 150 cm

   The standard dressmaker's tape, with each decimetre in a different colour so you stop losing your place. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

   Length

   150 cm

   Marking

   Coloured decimetres

   Amazon reference

   B000P1ASAQ (all six markets)

   • Coloured decimetres remove the commonest reading error
   • 150 cm covers body measurement and most fabric widths
   • Centimetres only — no imperial scale

   ≈ $16 / £4 / 5 €

   Check price on Amazon
2. 

   Prym Chalk Cartridge Set

   A refillable chalk marker that draws a fine line and brushes off. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

   Type

   Chalk cartridge holder with refills

   Amazon reference

   B01DYOI5W8 (all six markets)

   • Brushes off with no heat and no water — no risk of setting the mark
   • Fine line, unlike a chalk block
   • Rubs off in your bag before you get to the machine, sometimes too easily

   Best for: Marking darts, hems and buttonhole positions on anything you will not press first

   ≈ $29 / £13 / 13 €

   Check price on Amazon
3. 

   Prym Metal Seam Gauge

   A sliding gauge for repeatable hems and seam allowances. One reference on every Amazon store we checked.

   Material

   Metal

   Dimensions

   14.8 × 7.2 × 2.5 cm

   Amazon reference

   B07C8DR5V3 (all six markets)

   • Metal, so it survives being pressed against a hot iron
   • Set once, measure a hundred times
   • Small — not a substitute for a ruler

   Best for: Turning an even hem, checking seam allowances, spacing buttonholes

   ≈ $25 / £6 / 4 €

   Check price on Amazon