The human body has been used to provide the basis for units of length for millennia. For example, the length of the international foot corresponds to a human foot with a shoe size of 13 (UK), 14 (US male), 15.5 (US female), or 48 (EU sizing).

For approximate measuring, you can also use the following equivalences.

1 inch (2.5 cm) = the length of the first joint of your index finger
2 inches (5 cm) = the length of your thumb
4 inches (10 cm) = the width of most people’s hands measured across your bottom knuckles (without the thumb)
6 inches (15 cm) = the span from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the index finger (when a hand is spread wide)
9 inches (23 cm) = the span from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pinkie (when a hand is spread wide)
18 inches (46 cm) = the span from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger

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