Okay, so let’s talk about how long is 6 inches, because—trust me—if you’ve ever been caught in a debate about this, you know it’s not as easy as it sounds. Is it the size of your favorite sandwich? Or maybe your keychain? The truth is, 6 inches is one of those measurements that sounds small but is harder to visualize than you’d think. But don’t worry, y’all. I’ve got you covered. To save you from pulling out your phone and Googling “how big is 6 inches” yet again, here’s a quick, no-nonsense guide to 13 things that are exactly 6 inches long. Spoiler alert: It’s more than just a ruler.

1. Standard Pencil Length

If you’re in school or office life at all, you’ve seen this one a million times: the standard number two pencil. Its length? Yep, 6 inches. That’s about the size of your average writing tool, just sitting there waiting to make your hand cramp up during exams. Now, the next time someone asks “how big is how long is 6 inches,” pull a pencil from your desk. Instant measurement. The best part? You probably won’t get side-eye for having a pencil on hand. Unless you’re like me, and your “pencil” is a sad stub barely long enough to sign your name.

2. A Credit Card

Next up, a credit card. Not just any credit card—your average, run-of-the-mill, rectangular piece of plastic. The length of a standard credit card is roughly 3.37 inches wide, but when you stack two together, you’re staring at 6 inches. Credit cards are literally everywhere, and you probably have at least three in your wallet right now (and none of them are under your name, am I right?). So next time you’re fumbling for a quick way to picture how long is 6 inches, just grab your Visa. It’s like magic—only more transactional.

3. A Compact Smartphone

Now, don’t get too fancy on me with those huge tablet-sized phones, okay? We’re talking about the smaller, more compact smartphones here—your iPhone SE or an older Samsung Galaxy A series. These babies are about 6 inches in length (and if you’re anything like me, you’re using it to check Twitter, then immediately questioning your life decisions). I swear, once upon a time, a “big” phone was the size of a deck of cards, but now we have phones big enough to power entire economies. Anyway, the 6-inch variety is a good, honest reference. They fit in your pocket just right, and that’s probably why you keep checking it every five minutes.

4. A Standard Ruler’s Half

Look, it’s a rule of life: every ruler is 12 inches, so you don’t need to be a math genius to figure out that half of it is—drum roll—how long is 6 inches. And, I kid you not, whenever I try to measure something with a ruler, it takes me 15 minutes to find one. I know they’re in a drawer somewhere, but every time I open it, I get distracted by a pen that might actually be working for once. So, 6 inches? Easy. You’re basically measuring out half of your standard school or office ruler.

5. A Dollar Bill

Here’s the kicker: A U.S. dollar bill is a bit over how long is 6 inches—specifically, 6.14 inches. But hey, who’s counting? So next time you’re standing in line for coffee (and praying your card works), take a second to look at the bill in your pocket. You’ll see that the length of the bill is just a smidge over 6 inches. You might as well pull it out and say, “Hey, this is 6 inches” while the barista stares at you, wondering if you’ve lost it.

6. A Soup Can’s Height

If you’ve ever gotten a little too excited about opening a can of soup, you probably already know that a standard 10.5-ounce soup can measures about how long is 6 inches tall. This makes it a perfect go-to reference for measuring how long is 6 inches. Unless, of course, you drop it on your toe while reaching for a spoon. Ouch. I had a similar incident the first time I attempted to get “fancy” with canned chili (the experience was as messy as it sounds). Anyway, soup cans—standard kitchen essentials. Use them as a measuring tool the next time you find yourself stuck.

7. The Length of a Standard iPad Mini

Okay, don’t laugh, but back in the day I was all about the iPad Mini. I was the first person in line at the Apple store, convinced it was going to revolutionize my life. Spoiler alert: It didn’t. But it did measure around 6 inches in length. So, if you’ve ever held one of these little guys, you know that they’re a fantastic reference point when trying to picture 6 inches. Not only that, but the Mini’s small enough to fit in your bag but big enough to not make you squint while watching cat videos. Priorities, right?

8. The Width of an Adult Hand

Hold up—seriously. If you’ve ever thought about 6 inches compared to hand, it turns out your hand is a pretty decent measurement. On average, an adult hand (from the pinky to the index finger, across the palm) is around how long is 6 inches wide. Now, I know some of y’all are out there with hands that are basically paddles (no judgment). But for most people, a spread palm will give you a pretty spot-on idea of 6 inches. Plus, if someone’s giving you a high-five, they’ll be roughly “off by an inch.” Is that how that works? Oh well, math is hard.

9. A Bathroom Tile

Ever done any DIY stuff in the bathroom? I tried tiling my backsplash once, and…well, let’s just say it didn’t go well. It turns out that standard bathroom tiles are often 6 inches by 6 inches. So, if you’ve ever stared at a floor tile thinking, “What is 6 inches, exactly?” you might just be staring at it. The best part? You can buy them in packs at Home Depot. The worst part? They’ll never forgive me for the amount of grout I wasted trying to “fix” my mistakes.

10. The Width of a CD Case

Wait, what’s a CD case, you ask? Oh right, it’s a relic from the days before Spotify. But seriously, if you’ve ever held a CD case (or bought one—if you’re still into that whole “physical media” thing), you know they’re about 5.5 inches in width. Why 5.5 inches and not 6 inches? Because that’s just life, man. But hey, if you stack two cases together, you’re at 6 inches. And if you can make it through an entire music collection without feeling like a dinosaur, well, hats off to you. (No really, I’m impressed.)

11. A Standard Adult Shoe Size 6

Did you know that a size 6 shoe for women typically measures how long is 6 inches in length? Yeah, it’s not the total length of the shoe, but more the footbed area. Still, it’s an easy way to picture 6 inches when you’re trying to estimate sizes for clothing or even DIY projects. Maybe your favorite shoes are just gathering dust in the closet, or maybe you’ve been desperately avoiding the “sizes” section of your local shoe store. Either way, your shoes have got your back on this one.

12. A Standard Hot Dog Bun

You know what? Hot dog buns are exactly 6 inches long. At least, that’s how it works for the classic version of the bun, the kind you buy at your local grocery store. I’ll be real: I ate 6 hot dogs in one sitting last summer (don’t judge). And as I was munching away, I realized: these buns? Exactly 6 inches long. Every. Single. Time. It’s honestly a small, life-affirming victory. Except for the inevitable nap afterwards.

13. A Deck of Playing Cards

Okay, this one is a little tricky. A single deck of playing cards measures about 3.5 inches. But if you stack two decks together, boom. You’re looking at 6 inches. And trust me, there’s nothing quite like dealing a hand of cards and realizing your measuring tools are right there in your game stash. Pro tip: If you ever get stuck on a project and need to quickly measure 6 inches, raid your game closet. I mean, who knew a deck of cards was basically a ruler in disguise?

Wrap-Up

So, now you’ve got 13 solid ways to visualize how long is 6 inches. From pencils to soup cans, iPads to hot dog buns, it’s safe to say that 6 inches is a lot closer to you than you think. And while some of these might seem random or quirky (seriously, who thought to compare how long is 6 inches to a CD case?), it makes understanding measurements just a little bit easier. Whether you’re in the middle of a home project or just trying to explain the concept to a friend, these real-life examples are exactly what you need. Just don’t blame me if your next 6-inch reference turns into a hot dog binge.