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Komelon SL2825 vs Amazon Basics 16 ft

Our Best Overall vs our Best Budget tape measures — is the upgrade worth it?

The short answer

The Komelon SL2825 costs $4.15 more (71% more) than the Amazon Basics 16 ft — $9.99 vs $5.84. For the extra money you get: an auto-locking blade.

Buyers rate them 4.7 vs 4.8 stars, and the Komelon SL2825 has more reviews behind its rating (18,900 vs 7,900). On our 100-point scale that works out to 83 vs 76.

Bottom line: if you'll use it often, the Komelon SL2825 is worth the $4.15. For occasional jobs around the house, the Amazon Basics 16 ft does the work for less.

Price no object? Our pick is the Klein Tools 9225 ($29.98) — see why on the full ranking.

Side by side

Komelon SL2825
Best Overall		Amazon Basics 16 ft
Best Budget
Price$9.99$5.84
Rating 4.7 4.8
Reviews18,9007,900
Our score83/100 (#2)76/100 (#7)
Bought on Amazon2K+/mo10K+/mo
Length25 ft16 ft
Standout——
BladeNylon-coated steelSteel
LockAutomatic (self-lock)Manual
Auto-lockYesNo
MagneticNoNo
FractionsNoNo
Double sidedNoNo

Prices, ratings and review counts captured from Amazon on 2026-09-19; prices change often.

Best Overall
Komelon SL2825 Self-Lock 25-Foot Power Tape
Komelon

Komelon SL2825 Self-Lock 25-Foot Power Tape

The best all-rounder, and it's ten bucks. The self-locking blade stays out until you press the button to retract it — no thumb-holding — and the nylon-coated high-carbon blade shrugs off jobsite abuse. Nearly 19,000 ratings say it just works.

Choose it for

  • Automatic blade lock — no thumb needed to hold a measurement
  • Nylon-coated high-carbon blade resists wear and rust
  • Stud markings every 16 inches
  • Huge review base at a rock-bottom price

Watch out for

  • No magnetic hook
  • Standard markings, no printed fractions
  • Auto-lock means an extra button press to reel it in
Check today's price →
Best Budget
Amazon Basics Retractable Tape Measure, 16 ft, SAE & Metric
Amazon Basics

Amazon Basics Retractable Tape Measure, 16 ft, SAE & Metric

The cheapest tape worth buying. Under six dollars for a 16-foot blade with both SAE and metric scales, a belt clip, and a molded impact-resistant case. It's the tape to keep in a kitchen drawer, a car, or a starter kit.

Choose it for

  • Cheapest pick on the list
  • Both SAE and metric markings
  • Wide 3/4-inch blade is easy to read
  • Impact-resistant case and belt clip

Watch out for

  • Only 16 feet
  • No fractions, magnet, or auto-lock
  • Basic blade with no protective coating
Check today's price →

Quick answers

Is the Komelon SL2825 worth the extra money over the Amazon Basics 16 ft?

The Komelon SL2825 costs $4.15 more (71% more) than the Amazon Basics 16 ft — $9.99 vs $5.84. For the extra money you get: an auto-locking blade. Bottom line: if you'll use it often, the Komelon SL2825 is worth the $4.15. For occasional jobs around the house, the Amazon Basics 16 ft does the work for less.

Which has better reviews, the Komelon SL2825 or the Amazon Basics 16 ft?

The Komelon SL2825 is rated 4.7 stars from 18,900 reviews; the Amazon Basics 16 ft is rated 4.8 stars from 7,900 reviews.

What is the best tape measures pick overall?

Our Best Overall is the Komelon SL2825 (score 83/100), ranked against 9 other tape measures on rating, review volume and features.

See the full top 10

These two are picked from a ranking of 10 tape measures, scored on star rating, review volume and the features that matter for the job. See all 10 and the one to avoid →

More head-to-heads