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← The 10 Best Tape Measures

DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic vs Mr. Pen 25 ft

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

The short answer

The DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic costs $6.14 more (78% more) than the Mr. Pen 25 ft — $13.99 vs $7.85. For the extra money you get: a magnetic hook and double-sided markings.

Buyers rate them 4.6 vs 4.7 stars, and the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic has fewer reviews behind its rating (2,360 vs 3,730). On our 100-point scale that works out to 90 vs 82.

Bottom line: if you'll use it often, the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic is worth the $6.14. For occasional jobs around the house, the Mr. Pen 25 ft does the work for less.

Price no object? Our pick is the Klein Tools 9225 ($29.97) — see why on the full ranking.

Side by side

DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic
Best Overall		Mr. Pen 25 ft
Best Budget
Price$13.99$7.85
Rating 4.6 4.7
Reviews2,3603,730
Our score90/100 (#1)82/100 (#7)
Bought on Amazon1K+/mo3K+/mo
Length25 ft25 ft
Standout7 ft—
BladeNylon-coated steelSteel
LockManual (thumb)Manual (thumb)
Auto-lockNoNo
MagneticYesNo
FractionsYesYes
Double sidedYesNo

Prices, ratings and review counts captured from Amazon on 2026-11-09; prices change often.

Best Overall
DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic Double-Sided Tape Measure
DURATECH

DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic Double-Sided Tape Measure

The most feature-loaded tape for the money. A magnetic hook grabs steel studs and lets you measure solo, and the blade is printed on both edges with easy-read 1/8-inch fractions. A lot of tape for fourteen dollars.

Choose it for

  • Magnetic hook grips metal for one-person measuring
  • Double-sided blade reads from either edge
  • Easy-read 1/8-inch fractions
  • 7-foot standout and a nylon-coated blade

Watch out for

  • Manual thumb lock only
  • Off-brand with a shorter track record than the majors
  • Magnet adds a little weight at the tip
Check today's price →
Best Budget
Mr. Pen Retractable Tape Measure 25 ft, Easy Read
Mr. Pen

Mr. Pen Retractable Tape Measure 25 ft, Easy Read

The cheap everyday tape. A rubberized 25-footer with both imperial and metric markings and printed fractions, for about seven dollars. Nothing fancy, but it's accurate, reads easily, and it's a fraction of the price of a pro tape.

Choose it for

  • About $7 for a full 25 feet
  • Both imperial and metric scales plus fractions
  • Shock-absorbing rubberized casing
  • Belt clip and nail-slot hook

Watch out for

  • No magnetic hook or auto-lock
  • Uncoated blade wears faster on a job site
  • Standout not rated — not built for long reaches
Check today's price →

Quick answers

Is the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic worth the extra money over the Mr. Pen 25 ft?

The DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic costs $6.14 more (78% more) than the Mr. Pen 25 ft — $13.99 vs $7.85. For the extra money you get: a magnetic hook and double-sided markings. Bottom line: if you'll use it often, the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic is worth the $6.14. For occasional jobs around the house, the Mr. Pen 25 ft does the work for less.

Which has better reviews, the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic or the Mr. Pen 25 ft?

The DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic is rated 4.6 stars from 2,360 reviews; the Mr. Pen 25 ft is rated 4.7 stars from 3,730 reviews.

What is the best tape measures pick overall?

Our Best Overall is the DURATECH 25 ft Magnetic (score 90/100), 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