How Big Is 8.5 Inches? Identifying Items Around 8.5 Inches

You often interact with countless everyday objects that fall right around 8.5 inches. However, this measurement doesn’t mean much on its own. Comparing with a handful of familiar items can help put this size into perspective.

So, how big is 8.5 inches? One common item that measures precisely 8.5 inches is the 500-sheet ream paper. The shorter dimension of this letter-size printer paper is 8.5 inches. Another good example is the height of a trade paperback book.

I’ll take a look at what 8.5 inches looks like in terms of common objects. Some will fall within a hairline of this size – others will sit neatly close.

How Big Is 8.5 Inches? 21 Common Objects You Can Picture the Size

The following is a list of 21 objects that are approximately 8.5 inches. Some will hit right at the 8.5-inch mark.

1. Disposable Paper Plate

I’ll start with something most Americans interact with daily – paper plates. A standard disposable paper plate is 8.5 inches from edge to edge. Of course, there are other size variations. Nonetheless, disposable lunch and dinner plates hover around this size.

2. Adults Size Soccer Ball

For soccer aficionados, there’s a spherical object that measures around 8.5 inches in diameter. This is the size 5 soccer ball for regular and international soccer matches. It has an 8.6-inch diameter, just missing our mark by a hairline.

3. Letter Size Copy Paper

You can’t miss the letter-size paper in academic and office settings. After all, this copy paper is the standard for academic documents and everyday print-outs. It measures exactly 8.5 inches across the width. The same goes for the width of a legal-size copy paper.

4. Half Letter Paper Size

You can also call it stationary or memo paper. It’s half the width of a standard letter-size paper, hence the name. Basically, it measures 5.5 x 8.5 inches. So, you can visualize 8.5 inches by looking at its longer side.

5. Legal Size Folder Height

File folders are everyday items in homes and workplaces. Both legal and letter-size folders are 8.5 inches tall. But note that this is the height of the front flap. The back flap is slightly taller at just over 9 inches.

6. iPad Mini Screen Size

The iPad is second to the iPhone as Apple’s most popular device. So, you most likely have access to an iPad, specifically the iPad Mini. Its display size is 8.3 inches from corner to corner, barely missing 8.5 inches.

7. Trade Paperback Book

Trade paperbacks account for the most sales in the US, beating hardcover editions and fiction books. So, you most likely have one on your shelf. The typical size for a trade paperback is 5.5 x 8.5 inches. Thus, the longer dimension should give a clear picture of the size in question.

8. Two Stacked-Up Soup Cans

Canned foods like soups are both convenient and time-saving. In fact, the 2020 data shows that 36.6 million Americans consume at least a can of soup daily. Most, like Campbell’s, have a standardized height of 4.25 inches. So, two cans atop each other equal precisely 8.5 inches in height. 

9. Seven Half-Dollar Coins 

I know that half-dollar coins are rarely in circulation today. Nonetheless, it’s one of the most popular coins for collectors, some selling for up to $5200.

Each half-dollar coin is 1.2 inches in diameter. Therefore, seven coins edge to edge in a row span 8.4 inches, a close call to 8.5 inches.

10. Four ID Cards 

This category comprises military IDs, driver’s licenses, and credit cards. All are 2.125 x 3.375 inches. Therefore, four cards lined up, short-end to short-end, have a combined width of 8.5 inches.

11. Salad Plate

Some will refer to them as appetizer plates. It’s what you’d use to serve individual portions of salad. These plates are typically round and measure 8.5 inches from edge to edge. 

There are slight size variations, though. Still, the 8.5-inch salad plate is the most popular.

12. Size 5 American Football Ball

You may know it as a pee wee ball. This is the American football ball for ages 9 and under. Essentially, it’s an elongated sphere that measures 8.6 inches. This is the straight distance from tip to tip.

13. Size 5 Volleyball Diameter

Size 5 volleyball is the regulation size for official matches. The diameter of this ball equates to approximately 8.2 inches. So, there’s only a 0.3-inch difference to make it 8.5 inches. Thus, the diameter of a volleyball ball still captures the scale of 8.5 inches.

14. SIG P320MAX Pistol 

37-47% of US households own at least a firearm. Chances are you have hands-on experience with the SIG P320MAX Pistol. This handgun has an overall length of 8.5 inches. 

The same goes for the Smith and Wesson M&P 5.7. Another close call is the Ruger 5.7, measuring 8.6 inches long.

15. Hoverboard Wheel

Of course, the most common hoverboard wheel size is 6.5 inches. However, these are typically limited to indoor use and smooth surfaces. There are hoverboards with a slightly larger wheel size for uneven terrain and off-road use. Typically, these wheels span 8.5 inches in diameter.

Note that there are 10-inch wheel hoverboards for off-road use. However, this all-terrain hoverboard isn’t that common.

16. Size 5 Women’s Shoes 

Coming across a size 5 women’s shoes shouldn’t be hard. This women’s shoe size measures 8.6 inches from heel to toe, a good reference to 8.5 inches.

For a guy, this is the equivalent of a size 3 men’s shoe. Of course, most brands don’t offer this size. Nonetheless, it’s available for youths.

17. Baseball Home Plate

50% of adults in the US follow baseball. So, you’re likely familiar with the baseball home plate. Essentially, it’s an irregular pentagon where the batter stands. You’ll notice two parallel sides perpendicular to the base. Each measures exactly 8.5 inches.

18. Half A Cutting Board

No kitchen is complete without a sturdy cutting board. The standard size for home chefs and restaurants is 12 x 18 inches. So, 8.5 inches is closer to half of the longer dimension (9 inches) of a cutting board.

19. Half A Tabloid

A tabloid is smaller than your standard newspaper. Generally, it focuses on sensational news. The typical dimension for tabloids is 11 x 17 inches. So, 8.5 inches spans half the longer side of a tabloid.

20. Four Golf Tees

A golf tee is what elevates your golf ball off the ground. Certainly, the length varies. Nonetheless, the 2.125-inch tees are the choice for most golf courses. So, if you lay four tees end to end in a row, they’ll span eight and a half inches.

21. Two Hand Widths 

You can also put 8.5 inches in the context of the human body – specifically the hand. Stretch your hands and put them side by side on a flat surface with the palms facing up.

Basically, your thumb has two knuckle joints – lower and upper. Now, the focus is the span between the lower knuckles of your two thumbs. It will span close to 8.5 inches. Remember, this is in reference to the average adult hand.   

Conclusion

Eight and a half inches corresponds closely to diverse everyday objects, from paper products to kitchen items. Through these familiar items, 8.5 inches becomes a tangible and more relatable scale. In fact, it sticks better to memory than dry numbers alone.