DeWalt 9 ft. Magnetic Pocket Tape Measure

A pocket tape that actually earns its pocket space

I’ve carried a lot of measuring tapes over the years, but very few have stayed in my pocket all day. This 9-foot pocket tape is one of the rare exceptions. It’s small enough to forget about until I need it, yet built well enough that I don’t treat it preciously. After weeks of shop work, site visits, and errand runs to the lumberyard, it has quietly become the tape I reach for first.

Size, carry, and build

At 3.2 ounces, it’s feather-light compared with the usual 25–30 foot bricks. The case is ABS with rubber overmold, and it’s as tough as it needs to be for daily use. Mine has bounced off a concrete floor more than once from bench height without any drama—no cracked case, no bent hook, no sticky retraction. The belt clip is strong, reasonably low profile, and grips fabric and tool pouches without tearing them up. It’s the kind of tape that fits in a jeans coin pocket or rides on a shop apron without feeling like a commitment.

The outer shell has enough rubberized surface that it doesn’t skitter off sloped material, but it still slides cleanly in and out of a pocket. I also appreciate that the shape is simple: no odd protrusions to catch on things, and nothing to snag while working around hardware.

Blade and markings

The 1/2-inch-wide yellow blade strikes a good balance for a compact tape. It isn’t going to win any long-reach contests, but for mid-span pulls, layout on a benchtop, or breaking down sheet goods, it’s plenty. The standout is modest—as expected with a narrow blade—and I consider that a fair trade for the size. The lock is positive and predictable, with none of the mushy feel some small tapes suffer from; it holds the blade securely without creeping.

The blade uses a Tylon coating that, in practice, does what I want: resist abrasion and reduce glare. After a lot of use against plywood edges and steel machine tables, the markings are still crisp and high contrast. The graduations are easy to read at a glance, and the foot indicators are clear enough that I don’t double-check myself on common lengths. It’s printed on one side, which is fine most of the time but can be a nuisance when you’re measuring overhead or from an awkward angle.

The magnet is more than a party trick

The rear-mounted magnet might be my favorite feature. It’s aligned so the tape parks securely on ferrous surfaces, and it’s strong enough to stay put on a steel stud, machine column, or door frame without babying it. Around the shop, I keep it living on the side of the drill press; in the house, it’s just as happy clinging to a fridge. On site, I’ve used it hands-free while marking conduit and checking cabinet reveals against appliances. It saves the step of fishing around for a flat surface to rest the tape, and it keeps the tool where I need it between measurements.

One note: like any magnetic tool, it will collect metal filings in a hurry if you’re grinding or drilling nearby. A quick wipe keeps it honest. The magnet placement on the back rather than in the hook also means you can still use the hook normally without iron grit messing up the measurement.

Accuracy and the hook

Compact tapes sometimes suffer from sloppy tolerances in the hook, but this one’s hook has the right amount of play to account for inside and outside measurements without feeling loose. I checked mine against a steel rule over several intervals, inside and outside, and it lined up cleanly. The hook itself has a slim profile that catches edges well without snagging in pockets, and it hasn’t deformed with regular use.

Retract the blade under control like you would any tape—snapping it back will shorten the life of the coating and eventually tweak the hook. Treat it with basic care and it stays consistent.

Where a 9-foot tape shines

On the bench and in the truck, a 9-foot length covers more than you’d think. If you work with plywood and drywall, it’s spot on: the diagonal of a 4x8 sheet is just under 9 feet, so you can check squareness and diagonals without swapping to a bigger tape. For cabinetry, furniture making, light fixture layouts, appliance alcoves, and hardware placement, this size is ideal—it’s quicker to deploy than a full-size tape, and it doesn’t hog space on the work surface.

I keep one clipped to my bag for hardware store runs. Measuring a length of molding, confirming a cabinet pull spacing, or checking appliance specs on the floor—these are all tasks where a small tape saves time. In metalworking, the magnetic back really pays off: stick it to a machine, pull the length you need, mark, and park it again without hunting for it under a pile of stock.

Durability over time

Between the ABS/rubber housing and the Tylon-coated blade, wear has been a non-issue so far. The coating hasn’t flaked, and the blade edges haven’t serrated from retracting past the mouth. The spring tension still feels even, and the lock still engages positively. The case shows scuffs from concrete and steel surfaces as any tool will, but no cracks, and no rattles inside. DeWalt backs it with a lifetime limited warranty, and while I haven’t needed to use it, it’s reassuring on a tool you’ll handle constantly.

Limitations and trade-offs

• Length: 9 feet is intentionally short. If you often measure room dimensions, stair runs, deck framing, or anything past mid-span, you’ll still want a 16–30 foot tape alongside it.
• Blade rigidity: the 1/2-inch width means limited standout. For one-person measurements across open spans, this isn’t the right tool.
• One-sided printing: overhead work and tight spaces occasionally would benefit from a reverse scale; it’s not here.
• Imperial only: if your workflow is metric, this blade won’t help.
• Gloves: the lock slider is small enough that thick winter gloves make it fiddly, though bare-handed it’s fine.

None of these are flaws so much as the reality of a pocket-first tape. It’s built to be compact and convenient, and it succeeds by embracing those priorities.

How it fits in a kit

This isn’t a replacement for a 25-footer; it’s a complement. I keep the big tape on my belt when I know I’ll need it. The difference is that the small one doesn’t get left behind—on a cart, on a bench, or in the truck—because it doesn’t weigh me down. It’s the tape I actually have on me when I need to check a reveal or verify a piece of stock. The magnet makes storage effortless, the belt clip makes carry easy, and the durability means I don’t think twice about beating it up.

Bottom line

As a daily companion for shop tasks, sheet goods, and quick checks around the house or job site, this 9-foot pocket tape hits the sweet spot. It’s compact without feeling flimsy, the markings are clear and hold up, the lock is trustworthy, and the rear magnet turns it into a tool that’s always exactly where I want it. The limitations—short standout, one-sided printing, imperial-only—are fair and predictable for the format.

Recommendation: I recommend this tape as a go-to pocket companion for anyone who works with sheet goods, cabinetry, metal machines, or everyday measurements under 9 feet. It won’t replace your long tape for framing or room layout, but it will replace a lot of trips back to your toolbox. The combination of size, durability, readable blade, and a genuinely useful magnet makes it a small tool that earns its keep.