That Hole in Your Ruler Isn’t Random – Here’s What It’s Actually For

Almost everyone has used a ruler at some point, whether it was for a school project, measuring something around the house, or drawing a straight line. But even after years of using one, there’s a small detail that’s easy to miss: the hole near the end.

Those holes in rulers aren’t just part of the design. They actually serve a purpose, and the reason they’re there goes back further than most people might expect. Here’s what they’re for, how they were used in the past, and a few other ways they come in handy.

Why Do Some Rulers Have a Hole at One End?

The hole at the end of a ruler is mainly there for storage. It lets people hang the ruler on a hook, nail, or pegboard instead of leaving it in a drawer or on a workbench. This is particularly helpful with longer metal rulers that might not fit in a toolbox.

But the hole has been around for much longer than modern workshops. Years ago, before paper notebooks became common in schools, students practiced writing on small slate boards. They could wipe away their writing with a damp cloth and use the board again.

Some students tied that cloth to their rulers with a piece of string through the hole. That way, they always had something nearby to clean their slates. Schools eventually moved away from slate boards, but the holes remained. Today, they’re mostly there to make rulers easier to hang and store.

What Are the Other Uses for Holes in Rulers?

Hanging a ruler isn’t the only reason manufacturers add holes. Some rulers have several, and they can serve different purposes depending on where they’re placed. For example, certain school rulers have three holes spaced along one side. These line up with the rings in a standard three-ring binder, so students can keep their rulers with their other school supplies.

Some rulers also have holes that help with drawing circles. A pin through one hole can hold the ruler in place while a pencil in another hole traces a circle as the ruler turns. Not every ruler has holes designed for this, but specialty models like the Creative Grids Quick Trim Ruler do. A compass is still a better choice when exact measurements matter.

Some crafting rulers have holes for more specific jobs. Quilting rulers and templates may have openings that help mark circles or line up fabric before cutting. Others have slots or shaped edges that guide a rotary cutter, making it easier to cut certain shapes.

There are also special rulers for paper crafts and stitching. Some have rows of tiny, evenly spaced holes that help people mark where to make stitches or decorative patterns.

Of course, not every ruler has holes. Smaller plastic rulers often don’t need them, while longer metal versions may have one at each end. It mostly comes down to how the manufacturer expects people to use the ruler. And for everyday measuring, the holes don’t make much difference. A ruler without them can measure just as accurately as one with them.

Sources

• STAEDTLER, “Rulers and Set Squares for School, Professional Use and Technical Drawing“
• Kapro, “306 Ruler“
• Westcott, “Flat Aluminum Yardstick”
• University of Wisconsin–Madison, “Object History: Slate”

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