How To Measure a Button

How do you measure a button? No seriously, how do you measure a button? Outside of the industry - most people would say round, small, big.

Before we get into how to measure, what is the unit of measure? Is it measured by inches? MM? Buttons are measured by ligne. What is ligne? It is a unit of measure that was better known as the Paris line before the metric system was invented in the 18th century. The term was later adopted by a German button maker.

Let's take a look at what is available.

Caliper /ˈkaləpər/  - an instrument for measuring external or internal dimensions, having two hinged legs resembling a pair of compasses and in-turned or out-turned points, says Google. This caliper, better known as the ligne tool or button measurer. It comes in two versions: a plastic one and a metal one. They both have lines and numbers to help indicate size.

While the plastic one is lightweight, inexpensive, easily broken, a metal one feels more luxurious in one's hand but costs more. Both provide the same outcome utility sense and are easy to misplace. The lettering on the plastic one can wear off over time and use. Its compact size can be a disadvantage. For most fashion houses, maintaining a budget is a priority.

Another option is printing a template from Google or another online resource. It can be great but sometimes impractical in a fast-paced studio.

After years of using a caliper, both plastic, and metal, I was tired of misplacing them! The plastic ones would warp over time. I thought to myself, why isn't there another method of measuring a button?

One of the many reasons we developed the Steel Ligne Ruler.  The easy to read layout includes the most commonly used sizes. It shows the ligne and mm size used most by designers, trim buyers, and button companies; inches by most technical designers and patternmakers. As a technical designer, having easy reference to inches and ligne makes the job simpler when working with the design team. It's handy when establishing button placement.

The Steel Ligne Ruler works as a traditional ruler, unlike the button caliper. Inches on one side, mm on the other. The stainless steel ruler has some flexibility, but not so much that it will lose shape. The bold black lettering stands out against the brushed surface. We are happy to offer a multi-use option, more bang for your buck. 

How do you measure a button? We love to hear about other methods, let us know in the comments section.