Size up your biggest objects with this record-breaking tape measure by artist Ali Spagnola

Have you ever stretched your tape measure across an object, hoping to learn its size, only to find that the tool is a justttt a little too short?

Well, have no fear – social media star Ali Spagnola is here… and she has returned to the record books with another comically oversized object – this time the largest tape measure in the world!

This gigantic tape measure is an exact replica of Ali’s favourite Craftsman-brand device – except, fittingly, her version is named “Artsperson” as a playful nod to its artistic development. She assembled the piece alongside her collaborators Davis DeWitt and Tyler Reece (all USA) in North Hollywood, California on 14 March, and got its dimensions approved by Guinness World Records Adjudicator Susana Reyes on-site.

The tool measures 2.85 ft (0.87 m) in length, 2.62 ft (0.80 m) in height, and 1.8 ft (0.56 m) in width, which is exactly 10 times larger than the original model.

It also deploys via a custom-built application that can change speeds, and reach up to 250 ft (76.2 m)!

“After spending about 40 hours obsessing over every tiny detail of this build, I can confidently say the tape measure has become my favourite object,” Ali told GWR. “And this is definitely my favourite record I’ve ever made.”

Ali has a history of breaking records with her imaginative ideas, including: the fastest 100 m on a space hopper (female), after she bounced down the track in 38.22 seconds, the largest candy-floss (cotton candy) sculpture at a magnificent 37 lbs (16.783 kg), and her since-defeated 2017 title for the fastest time to dress in a bridal gown at 58.06 seconds.

These fun concepts have skyrocketed her to internet-fame, where she is known for her outrageously oversized art, catchy music, and entertaining challenges. The creator currently has over two million followers on TikTok, and an additional 2.6 million on YouTube, where her fascinated audiences are able to see her bring these projects to life.

“The level of dedication Ali brings is exactly what’s needed to achieve something like this,” said Adjudicator Susana Reyes. 

“I’ve always said the devil is in the details – and that’s truly what makes great things work.”

Read more stories about creative craftspeople in our dedicated Arts and Entertainment section!

When it came to building a gigantic tape measure, Ali told her fans that she was inspired by the fact that her usual tape measure wasn’t working properly. She wondered if she could replace the object with an extra-large version to measure her other humongous creations… and the rest was history.

“This is, hopefully, one of the first tools big enough to measure all the amazing things we, as adjudicators, get to witness in record attempts,” said Susana.

Along with her team, Ali spent many days creating a 10-to-1 model of the commercially-available Craftsman tape measure – including taking its size, scaling up the project, and 3D printing the design in 42 parts to assemble into one giant, 70 lb (32 kg) artwork. 

“I could see how every marking on the tape measure – every dot, word, and line – perfectly matched a regular-sized one,” Susana remarked. “There’s something beautiful about that: greatness lives in the smallest details.”

Finally, when everything was put together, they took the tape measure out to a local park in the NoHo Arts District – where they were able to test its size, and see if it followed all GWR guidelines.

In front of Susana, the team demonstrated how the tape measure can extend and retract, as well as even measure distances up to 250 ft (76.2 m)!

“This record made me feel like a child again. I’ve always been fascinated by objects that are either gigantic or tiny – it reminded me of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, like stepping into one of those scenes,” said Susana, after confirming that the tape measure had taken the title.

“Scaling a familiar object like a tape measure while keeping it fully functional is a brilliant example of creative engineering. It’s always exciting to see everyday tools transformed into something this impressive.”

She also added that the tape measure would be a great tool for her future adjudications – saying that finally she has a device that can measure all the amazing things she witnesses in record attempts!

“With its playful scale and precise detailing, the creation almost feels like the kind of giant measuring tool Guinness World Records could use to measure the world’s biggest achievements,” she exclaimed.

So congratulations to Ali, Davis, and Tyler… we can’t wait to see what incredible ideas you come up with next!