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A Family Handyman report explains that the hole near the end of many rulers is mainly there to hang the tool for storage. It also describes historical use with slate boards and other purposes for holes in specialty rulers. A hole does not make an ordinary ruler more accurate.
A hole near the end of many rulers is primarily a storage feature, allowing the tool to hang from a hook, nail or pegboard, according to a report by Family Handyman. The report also traces the design to students’ use of slate boards and describes other functions found in specialty rulers.
The most common purpose is straightforward: a ruler can be hung up rather than left in a drawer or on a work surface. That can be useful for longer rulers, particularly metal models that may not fit easily in a toolbox. Some manufacturers put a hole at one or both ends, while many smaller plastic rulers have none.
Family Handyman says students once used small slate boards to practise writing, wiping them clean with a damp cloth so they could be used again. Some students threaded string through the ruler’s hole to keep the cloth attached. The report presents this as an earlier use; the holes are mostly associated with hanging and storing rulers today.
Other openings are designed for particular tasks. Some school rulers have three holes spaced to match a three-ring binder. Certain specialty rulers can use one hole to anchor a pin while another guides a pencil around to draw a circle. Quilting and paper-craft tools may also have openings, slots or patterned edges for marking fabric, guiding a rotary cutter or laying out decorative stitching.
A Small Feature With Practical Uses
For most people, the hole is a convenience rather than a measurement feature. It provides a simple way to keep a ruler visible and within reach, especially in a workshop or classroom where tools might otherwise be misplaced. On binders and craft tools, openings can also help keep equipment together or make a specific task easier.
The distinction matters because the presence of a hole does not indicate that a ruler measures more accurately. Family Handyman says an ordinary ruler without a hole can measure just as accurately as one with one. The function depends on the tool’s design: a storage hole is not the same as a set of openings intended to guide drawing or marking.
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From Slate Boards to Storage Hooks
The report links the ruler’s hole to a period when students commonly practised writing on reusable slate boards, before paper notebooks became common in schools. A cloth used to wipe a slate could be tied to the ruler, making it easier to keep the cleaning tool nearby. The University of Wisconsin–Madison’s object-history material on slate is among the sources listed by Family Handyman.
As classroom practices changed, the storage purpose remained useful. Current designs vary according to expected use: a basic ruler may have no holes, while a longer metal ruler may have one at either end. Family Handyman also cites product information from STAEDTLER, Kapro and Westcott, alongside the university source, for its discussion of ruler designs.
The Design Varies by Ruler
The report describes common uses, but it does not establish that every ruler hole has the same origin or purpose. A hole’s function depends on its size, position and surrounding design; the source does not identify every model or provide a manufacturer’s explanation for each one.
The historical account is presented as background in the report, not as a claim that all ruler holes were originally made for slate-cleaning cloths. It is also unclear how widespread that practice was. For a particular specialty ruler, the product’s instructions or manufacturer information may be needed to confirm what its openings are designed to do.
Check the Tool’s Intended Use
No further development or change to ruler designs is reported. For everyday use, the practical next step is to treat a single end hole as a likely hanging point, while checking the product details when a ruler has several openings or shaped slots.
People drawing circles should follow the tool’s instructions and use a compass when precise measurements matter, as Family Handyman advises. For quilting, cutting or stitching, the intended function depends on the specific ruler or template rather than on holes in general.
Key Questions
What is the hole at the end of a ruler for?
It is mainly for hanging the ruler on a hook, nail or pegboard, which can make it easier to store and retrieve.
Why did older rulers have holes?
Family Handyman reports that some students used a string through the hole to attach a cloth for wiping reusable slate boards.
Can ruler holes be used to draw circles?
Some specialty rulers have holes that can anchor a pin or guide a pencil for circle drawing. The report says not every ruler is designed for this, and recommends a compass for precise measurements.
Do holes affect how accurately a ruler measures?
Not for ordinary measuring, according to the report. A ruler without holes can measure just as accurately as one that has them.
Why do some rulers have several holes or slots?
Designs vary. Openings may line up with binder rings, or help with crafting, fabric marking, cutting or stitching. The intended purpose depends on the particular ruler.
Source: familyhandyman.com
