How Big Is 17 Inches: Real-Life Examples Of 17-Inch Items
Seventeen inches can be difficult to imagine as not many objects are explicitly labeled with this measurement. However, there are plenty of everyday items that are approximately 17 inches long, which can help provide context for the size.
But first, how big is 17 inches? Seventeen inches, approximately 43 centimeters. Putting 17 inches into perspective, it is about the same as the length of a pair of size 5 women’s shoes. It is also the same as two letter-sized paper sheets laid end to end. A 17-inch item would be noticeably bigger than a standard sheet of paper but still reasonably portable for most uses.
Examining objects you encounter daily will help translate this unit of measurement into a more concrete concept.
A table of Real-Life Examples of 17-inch Items
Check out the table below for a summary of the common real examples of 17-inch items.
| Real-Life Examples of 17-inch Items | Quantity |
|---|---|
| A Pair of Size 5 Women’s Shoes | 1 |
| Apple iPhone 15s (17th Gen) | 3 |
| Standard Letter or Legal Paper | 2 |
| Baseballs | 6 |
| Male English Cocker Spaniel | 1 |
| 17-Inch Car Rims | 1 |
| Dartboard Diameter | 1 |
| Standard Drinking Straws | 2 |
| Credit/Debit Cards | 5 |
| Size 5 Water Polo Balls | 2 |
| 17-Inch Prey Bait | 1 |
| 4d Grade 14 Nails | 10 |
How Big Is 17 Inches?
Conversion-wise, 17 inches equals 43.18 cm, 0.432 meters, or 1 foot and 5 inches. But this doesn’t help much. The best way to know how big 17 inches are is to use real-life examples of items. Below are some popular options you may have interrupted with.
1. A Pair of Size 5 Women’s Shoes
Women’s shoe sizes can vary significantly between brands. But, as a general guideline, a US size 5 shoe is typically around 8-9 inches long, most of which are 8.5 inches. That means a pair of size 5 shoes stacked heel to toe will give you 17 inches in length.
2. Three Apple iPhone 15s (17th Gen)
3 Apple iPhone 15 is another good example of a 17-inch item. It comes with a length of 5.81 inches. That means if you lay 3 iPhone 15s tip to tip, their combined length would be 17.43 inches. So, the three iPhone 5s fit nicely within the 17-inch measurement.
3. Two Standard Letters or Legal Papers
Sheets of paper come in different standard sizes for different uses. Letter size, the common household size, measures 8.5 by 11 inches. Legal paper is slightly larger at 8.5 by 14 inches.
If you measure the width of two fresh letter or legal paper sheets edge to edge, the total would be 17 inches. It is an easy way to tell how big 17 inches are.
4. Six Baseballs
If you have been to a baseball game or handled a baseball, six of these baseballs lined up side by side would measure approximately 17.16 to 17.64 inches (436 to 448 mm) in total length. That is because baseballs are 2.86 to 2.94 inches in diameter.
While the actual length might exceed 0.16 to 0.64, it will serve as a tangible representation of the measurement and help you visualize the size of other objects that are also around 17 inches long.
5. Male English Cocker Spaniel
While not that popular here, there is still a chance you may own or come across a male English Cocker Spaniel dog. If you have, then you may have seen how big 17-inches are.
Male English Cocker Spaniels typically have a shoulder height between 16 to 17 inches. This measurement is taken from the floor to the top of the dog’s shoulders. The shoulder height is an indicator of how tall the dog is overall.
6. 17-Inch Car Rims
Car lovers, here is one for you – the car rim also called the wheel. Their diameter commonly measures in inches. A 17-inch rim has a diameter of 17 inches and is quite common. The rim size fits many popular vehicle models from Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
The wheel and tire combination for a 17-inch rim is often 225/50R17. So, if you have ever integrated with such a tire type, your car has 17-inch rims. You can look at them to get a concept at 17 inches in real life.
7. Dartboard Diameter
When it comes to dartboards, the standard American/Canadian diameter size for soft-tip dartboards is 15 1/2 inches. Meanwhile, the common steel tip dartboard size used in competitions is 17-3/4 inches in diameter.
This diameter measurement is taken from one side of the outer circumference to the opposite side. So a 17-3/4 inch dartboard falls right within regulation size for professional steel tip dart games.
9. Two Standard Drinking Straws
At some point, you may have drunk your favorite drink with a straw or come across one. These straws are typically 8.5” long. That means if you lay them on a table end to end, you will get 17 inches in length. Remember, these are the standard drinking straws.
10. Five Credit/Debit Cards
Do you have a credit card or a debit card? These cards come in the same sizes, measuring 2.125 inches high and 3.375 inches long. That means if you stacked 5 playing cards lengthwise, they would total 16.875 inches in length.
If you account for the small spaces between the cards, then the 0.2 difference reduces to a mere 0.1-inch difference, giving you a close estimate of 17 inches.
11. Two Size 5 Water Polo Balls
Wall polo balls are still growing in popularity, so there is a chance you have seen the ball somewhere. If you have, the Size 5 Male Water Polo Ball is 8.5 inches in diameter.
So, if you place two together, their combined diameter gives you 17 inches. Remember that the diameter might differ with the brand but ranges from 8.5 to 8.9 inches, which isn’t much of a difference for estimation.
12. 17-Inch Prey Bait
Some fishermen use specialized baits that are 17 inches long to catch large predatory fish species. Most people are familiar with the 2.5 and 3.5-inch baits, but there are huge ones, 17-inch prey bait being an example. If by chance you have it or know someone who has it, it will give you the sense of how large 17 inches are.
13. Ten 4d Grade 14 Nails
DIYers here is a good relatable example. Do you have a 4d grade 14 nail in your toolbox? Well, a single 4d roofing or framing nail has a shank length of 1.5 inches and a head diameter of 1/4 inch, for a total length of 1.75 inches. If you place ten of these nails end to end, it will extend 17 inches.
All you need is to make sure they touch each other nicely and flat without gaps. If you do so, the total length will give you a good sense of 17 inches and a half.
FAQs:
The following section provides additional context and explores related aspects of the topic to deepen your understanding and satisfy your curiosity.
Larger screens add extra weight and size that reduces the laptop’s mobility. So, they are generally considered too big for most portable use. However, for stationary use or for those who prioritize display over portability, a 17-inch laptop serves the purpose.
A 17-inch bike is considered a medium size bike. This is the distance from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. It is generally suitable for riders between 5’7″ and 5′ 11″ tall with an inseam of 29″ to 31″.
The home plate is 17 inches wide because that size allows for an easy-to-visualize flat strike zone. Previously, the home plate was a 12-inch square, but it was turned at a 45-degree angle.
That resulted in one side being 17 inches to accommodate the strike zone lines on the field properly. Standardizing the width of the home plate to 17 inches ensures consistency in how the boundaries of the strike zone are defined for batters and umpires.
Conclusion
While 17 inches is a standard measurement, it can be difficult to conceptualize without real-life examples. There are many everyday items that measure approximately 17 inches. From women’s shoes and laptop screens to stacks of playing cards, nails, and drinking straws, 17 inches encompasses sizes we regularly encounter.
If you have any of the mentioned items, use it to get an abstract measurement concept into tangible terms. In the end, familiarizing yourself with everyday 17-inch items is the best way to appreciate exactly how large or small this nominal size really is.
