How Big Is 36 Inches: What Looks Like & Measures 36 Inches?
An inch is a small unit of length in Imperial and US standards. Twelve inches equals one foot, and 36 inches equals one yard. But this length might be hard for you to visualize unless you know items of this length.
So, how big is 36 inches? Some everyday items that look like and measure 36 inches include baseball bats, foldable ladders, traffic cones, canoe paddles, etc. There are some other items that have a height or width of 36 inches.
Here is a list of all those everyday items to help you visualize how big 36 inches actually is. Check it out and have fun.
16 Everyday Items That Are 36 Inches
I want to give you a disclaimer here. All the items on the list might be slightly more or less than 36 inches. And if I name any brand here, don’t assume that it is sponsored. I might mention brand names to make the item more familiar. Let’s get started.
1. A Baseball Bat
Baseball is one of my favorite sports here in the US. Those cylindrical bats used to strike balls at high speed are about 36 inches or 1 yard long. There can be length variations depending on the type and brand of the bat.
For example, baseball bats for children can be shorter. Regular baseball bats made for adults will be close to or slightly more than 36 inches. If you want to use metric units, that length will be 91.44 cm.
2. A Large Suitcase
If you are a travel freak, you might have a large suitcase to accommodate all your clothes and accessories. These suitcases come in different sizes and designs. Large suitcases are about 36 inches in height.
Medium or small suitcases will be much smaller in height. So, you should only visualize a large suitcase, preferably of XXL size, to get an idea of how big 36 inches is.
3. An ATV or Off-Road SUV Tire
Regular cars usually use wheels with a diameter of 18-22 inches. But when it comes to more rugged options, such as an SUV, UTV, or ATV, those tires are much larger. Off-road SUVs use heavy-duty tires that can be about 30-36 inches in diameter.
That is, from one point on the edge to the direct opposite point through the center of the wheel. ATV or UTV tires also can be of the same size. Remember, the diameter of the tire may be different based on the model of the vehicle.
4. A Traffic Cone
You might have commonly seen plastic cones on the road used to block or divert traffic. These cones are usually bright in color and have a reflective coating on them. The height of a plastic traffic cone is about 36 inches.
Some cones may be shorter or longer, but this is the most common size for traffic cones. It should give you a clear idea of how big 36 inches is.
5. A Folding Ladder
Ladders are extremely useful if you want to access the roof gutters or want to install a bulb on the outdoor pole. In the old days, ladders were mainly made of wood. But now we have compact ladders made of metal.
These ladders can be folded to make them more portable or easier to store. When retracted, the height of such a ladder is about 36 inches. Of course, the height can vary depending on the overall dimensions of the ladder. But common folding ladders will be of this height.
6. The Width of An Interior Door
No matter what the door material is, I can already guess the width of your interior door. Don’t believe me? Fine, take a measuring tape and measure the width of the door. I know it is about 36 inches.
By interior door, I mean the door of your room. If you measure the main door, that can be about 39 inches or more. And the doors in your bathrooms have a shorter width, about 30 or 33 inches.
I mentioned the width of regular doors. If you have used custom doors of a different width, you can’t blame me for a wrong guess.
7. The Height of a 3-Year-Old Baby
Babies are one of the cutest creatures. Especially when they are about 3 years old and charm us with their lovely gestures. Such a baby will be about 36 inches in height. Well, it is technically over 37 inches.
The average height of a 3-year-old baby boy is 37.5 inches, and a 3-year-old baby girl is 37.1 inches. But you can take the liberty here as not all babies are of the exact same height.
Did you notice one fun thing here? Babies are about 36 inches long when they are about 3 years or 36 months old!
8. The Height of a Door Knob
Door knobs are installed at a height where your hands can reach them with the least effort. That height is about 36 inches in the US. Measure the height of the door knob from the floor, and that should be close to or slightly over 36 inches.
Again, the height can be different depending on whether you have installed the knobs at a custom height.
9. A King Size Pillow
Plush pillows filled with goose-down really elevate our sleeping experiences and rejuvenate ourselves for the next day. These pillows are available in different sizes. Take a king-size pillow, and it should be about 36 inches long.
King-size pillows made of any material should be about 36 inches long. So, it can be an easy way to visualize how big 36 inches is. Remember, standard or queen-size pillows will be shorter.
10. A Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaners are a great way to get rid of dirt and debris in crevices. A standard vacuum cleaner with a long handle should be about 36 inches long. But, the exact size of a vacuum cleaner may be different depending on its design and purpose.
Handheld vacuum cleaners used in cars are much shorter. I am talking about household vacuum cleaners.
11. The Length of a Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are usually longer than many common breeds. An adult retriever will be about two feet in height. But if you measure the length from the head to the tail, the length will be about 36 inches, give or take.
The exact length may depend on the age, diet, and health condition of the dog.
12. A Canoe Paddle
Rowing your canoe through a narrow canal and delving into the serene beauty of the countryside can be mesmerizing. The paddle you use for rowing the canoe is about 3 feet or 36 inches long. I am talking about one-sided paddles.
There are both-sided paddles that are commonly used with kayaks. Those paddles are much longer.
13. A Small Folding Table
You might have seen those small folding tables to use as a laptop table or writing table on the bed. These tables are typically 36 inches long. There can be size variations, but it is the most common size.
These tables have metal legs that can be retracted or folded to carry or store the table easily. You might find some small coffee tables of the same length.
14. The Height of the Countertop
If you spend a good time in the kitchen, you might already know the height of the kitchen countertop. But if you don’t, let me enlighten you. Regular kitchen countertops are about 36 inches high.
The overall height of the countertop may vary depending on the thickness of the slab or other factors. Some countertops can be smaller, but 36 inches is the most common height.
15. The Width of a Large Fridge
Double-door fridges are popular for their gigantic volumes. These fridges usually have two doors. The width of such a fridge should be about 36 inches. Fridges from different brands might have different widths.
16. A 36-Inch TV
It is one of the easiest ways to visualize how big 36 inches is. The size of a TV refers to its screen size. So, a TV of this size should have a screen of 36 inches. You might already know that the size of screens is measured diagonally.
If you measure from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner of the screen, it will be 36 inches. The same is true for the bottom-left and top-right corners.
Conclusion
Our brains work in an interesting way. It remembers the items of a known length. Then, it tries to perceive the length of other items based on the known length. Relating how big a specific length is to common items can help this perception.
So, how big is 36 inches? I mentioned some everyday items that measure 36 inches. These commonly used items will help you assume the length or height of other items. You can even use this as a rough reference to measure various items.
