15 Common Things That Are 20 Inches Long
Have you ever come across a measurement of 20 inches and struggled to picture exactly how long that really is? I’ve been there staring at a product listing or a DIY plan, trying to mentally translate numbers into something tangible. The truth is, once you know a few everyday objects that are 20 inches long, you’ll never have that problem again.
In this guide, I’ve put together a list of 15 common things that are approximately 20 inches long. Whether you’re shopping online, setting up a room, or just satisfying your curiosity about measurements, these everyday references will help you visualize 20 inches instantly. Let’s dive in!
How Long Is 20 Inches, Exactly?
Before we jump into the list, let’s get our bearings. 20 inches is equal to:
- 50.8 centimeters
- 1.67 feet (1 foot and 8 inches)
- 508 millimeters
- 0.508 meters
A simple way I like to think about it: grab a standard 12-inch ruler and imagine adding another 8 inches to it. That combined length just shy of two feet is exactly 20 inches. It’s a surprisingly common dimension that shows up in household items, sports equipment, and everyday tools far more often than you’d expect.
Why Knowing 20-Inch References Is Useful
Having mental reference points for measurements like 20 inches is genuinely practical. Here are a few situations where this knowledge comes in handy:
- Shopping online: product dimensions like “20-inch monitor” or “20-inch suitcase” become instantly meaningful.
- Home improvement projects: knowing what 20 inches looks like helps you plan furniture placement and spacing.
- Crafting and DIY:Â when your measuring tape isn’t nearby, everyday objects can step in as reliable substitutes.
- Teaching kids:Â comparing abstract numbers to familiar items makes measurements click for young learners.
Now, let’s get into the good stuff.
15 Common Things That Are 20 Inches Long
1. Standard Pillow
A standard bed pillow is one of the most accessible 20-inch references you’ll ever find. The official dimensions of a standard pillow are 20 inches × 26 inches, which means one short side of your everyday pillow measures exactly 20 inches.
I use this comparison all the time when I’m trying to estimate space on a shelf or couch. Standard pillowcases are designed for this size, so the next time you’re fluffing your pillows, you’re literally holding a perfect 20-inch reference tool!
2. Carry-On Suitcase
If you’ve ever packed for a weekend trip, you’ve almost certainly used a carry-on suitcase, and these bags are designed with 20 inches in mind. Most carry-on luggage designed to fit airline overhead compartments measures around 20 to 22 inches tall. The most common “cabin bag” size sold by brands like Samsonite and American Tourister is specifically a 20-inch case.
The next time you’re at the airport and need a quick measurement reference, just glance at that carry-on rolling by. It’s a reliable 20-inch benchmark right in front of you.
3. Kitchen Cutting Board
A large kitchen cutting board is another excellent 20-inch reference. Many popular cutting board sizes are sold in a 15 × 20 inch dimension. It’s the most common “large” size stocked by kitchen retailers. I have one of these in my own kitchen, and I’ve actually used it as a makeshift ruler more than once during baking and cooking prep.
If you don’t have a measuring tape and need to gauge something close to 20 inches, your cutting board is waiting right there on the counter.
4. French Rolling Pin
Unlike the classic rolling pin with handles, a French rolling pin is a sleek, tapered cylinder. These are designed specifically at around 20 inches in length, which gives pastry chefs the leverage they need for rolling out dough evenly across a wide surface.
Home bakers who own a French rolling pin essentially own a precision 20-inch measuring stick. If you enjoy baking, pull yours out next time you need a quick reference — it’s surprisingly accurate.
5. Computer Monitor
A 20-inch computer monitor, measured diagonally, typically has a width of approximately 17–18 inches, but when it comes to screen width plus the bezel frame, many 20-inch monitors end up right around 19–20 inches wide overall.
This is a great visual reference for workspace planning. If you’re trying to figure out whether a 20-inch monitor fits your desk setup, imagining the width of a standard desktop monitor gives you an instant mental picture.
6. Dinner Napkin
Here’s one that surprises most people: a traditional dinner napkin is a square measuring exactly 20 × 20 inches. This is the standard size used in formal table settings and sold by most linen retailers.
The next time you unfold a cloth napkin at a nice restaurant, you’re holding a perfect square that is 20 inches on every side. It’s one of my favorite “hidden” measuring references because almost everyone has dinner napkins at home.
7. Hand Towel
A standard bathroom or kitchen hand towel measures approximately 16 × 30 inches, but there is also a very common size sold as 20 × 30 inches, where the shorter dimension is exactly 20 inches. You’ll find this width in most bathroom hand towel sets sold at stores like Target or IKEA.
Hang up your hand towel, measure across its width, and there you have it, 20 inches staring back at you.
8. Back Scratcher
Back scratchers are a surprisingly reliable 20-inch reference. The most popular adult back scratchers on the market are designed at 20 to 24 inches long, because that’s the ideal length to reach the center of your back comfortably without straining.
Many are specifically marketed as “standard” length, right at the 20-inch mark. If you own one, hold it out straight, and you’ve got a handy 20-inch measuring rod.
9. Junior Tennis Racket
Youth and junior tennis rackets are manufactured in specific lengths to match a child’s height and development stage. The most common junior racket size — typically recommended for children ages 8 to 10 — measures approximately 21 inches, with some models coming in right at 19 to 20 inches.
Tennis equipment manufacturers design these lengths based on player ergonomics, so 20 inches is a sweet spot in junior sports equipment. If you have a child who plays tennis, their racket is likely your closest 20-inch reference.
10. A 6-Month-Old Baby’s Height
Here’s a fascinating biological reference: the average height of a baby at around 6 months old is approximately 26 inches, but at birth, the average newborn measures about 19.5 to 20 inches in length.
So if you’ve ever held a newborn, you’ve held something remarkably close to 20 inches in your arms. It’s one of those comparisons that really puts the measurement into perspective — and makes it feel much more real.
11. Laptop Screen (Select Models)
While most laptops have screens measuring 13 to 17 inches diagonally, some desktop-replacement laptops and large-screen models feature displays right around the 20-inch range. The screen diagonal of certain Lenovo IdeaPad and HP Pavilion models lands near this mark.
More practically, many people compare 20 inches to roughly “the length of a large open laptop from hinge to front edge” — which gives a useful spatial reference even without measuring the screen directly.
12. Adult House Cat (Nose to Base of Tail)
This one always gets people! The average adult domestic house cat measures approximately 18 to 20 inches from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (not including the tail itself). Breeds like the American Shorthair and British Shorthair commonly fall right in this 20-inch range.
So the next time your cat stretches out fully on the couch, you’re looking at a living, breathing 20-inch ruler. I always find animal comparisons like this oddly satisfying — they make measurements feel immediate and relatable.
13. Four Stacked Soda Cans
A standard 12-oz aluminum soda can stands approximately 4.83 inches tall around 5 inches. If you stack four of these cans directly on top of each other, the total height works out to about 19.32 inches — remarkably close to 20 inches.
This is one of my favorite “resourceful” methods because soda cans are in almost every refrigerator. Stack four cans, and you’ve got a nearly perfect 20-inch visual reference. It’s also a great trick to show kids when explaining measurements!
💡 Quick Tip: 4 cans × 4.83 inches = 19.32 inches — just 0.68 inches short of 20 inches.
14. Six Credit Cards Lined Up
You already know I love using everyday pocket items as measuring tools. A standard credit card or bank card measures exactly 3.370 inches in height (this is an ISO standard, so every card in your wallet is the same).
If you place six credit cards end-to-end vertically, you get a total length of 20.22 inches — incredibly close to exactly 20 inches. The extra 0.22 inches is negligible for general estimation purposes. This is one of the most precise “no-ruler” methods I’ve found for measuring 20 inches on the fly.
💡 Quick Tip: 6 cards × 3.370 inches = 20.22 inches — just 0.22 inches over the 20-inch mark!
15. Two Men’s Size-10 Shoes End to End
Shoe sizing directly corresponds to foot length. In the United States, a men’s size 10 shoe measures approximately 10.2 inches in length. Place two of these shoes end to end, and you get just over 20 inches total.
This is a personal favorite because shoes are always nearby. Whether you’re at home, at the store, or at a friend’s house, a pair of men’s size-10 shoes gives you an instant 20-inch reference. And even if your shoe size differs, once you know your own shoe’s length, you can scale up quickly.
How to Measure 20 Inches Without a Ruler
Don’t have a measuring tape? No problem! Here are the three quickest methods based on the objects we’ve covered:
- Use 3 Smart Phones:Â Get three smart phones and add their total length. An Average smart phone is around 6.5 inches long, so adding 3 smartphones’ height will give you an estimate of 19-21 inches.
- Use six credit cards:Â Line them up end-to-end for a 20.25-inch measurement. This is my most recommended method because everyone has cards in their wallet.
- Stack four soda cans:Â Get 19.32 inches, which is close enough for most practical purposes.
- Use two size-10 men’s shoes: Place them heel-to-toe for a quick 20-inch estimate.
Each of these methods gives you a solid approximation, even if none of them are exact to the millimeter. For casual measurements, they work brilliantly.
Frequently Asked Questions About 20 Inches
Q1. How long is 20 inches in cm?
20 inches is equal to exactly 50.8 centimeters.
Q2. What household item is 20 inches long?
Several common household items are 20 inches long, including a standard pillow (on its short side), a dinner napkin (20 × 20 inches), a large kitchen cutting board, and a hand towel (width). These are the most accessible everyday references.
Q3. Is 20 inches close to 2 feet?
Yes! 20 inches is 1 foot and 8 inches, which means it’s just 4 inches short of 2 feet. Think of it as roughly 67% of the way from 1 foot to 2 feet.
Q4. How many credit cards equal 20 inches?
Six standard credit cards lined up end-to-end equal approximately 20.25 inches, which is an excellent real-world approximation of 20 inches.
Q5. What is something that is exactly 20 inches?
A traditional cloth dinner napkin is exactly 20 × 20 inches, and a standard bed pillow measures exactly 20 × 26 inches. Both are precise, everyday 20-inch references.
Conclusion
Understanding everyday measurements doesn’t require a ruler or tape measure; it just requires knowing the right reference objects. Now that you have 15 common things that are 20 inches long in your mental toolkit, visualizing this measurement will feel second nature.
Whether it’s the standard pillow on your bed, six credit cards from your wallet, or four stacked soda cans from your fridge, a 20-inch reference is never far from reach. The next time someone mentions a 20-inch product or dimension, you’ll know exactly what that looks like!
If you found this helpful, check out our other measurement guides, like things that are 12 inches long and common objects that are 9 inches long, and keep building your measurement intuition. Happy measuring!
