20 inches equals 1 foot 8 inches — just over half the height of a standard interior door. You’ll find this exact length in your kitchen drawers, craft room, closet, and skating gear.
This guide shows you 6 real things that are 20 inches long, with clear examples and facts so you never struggle to visualize this measurement again.
How Long Is 20 Inches?
20 inches converts to multiple units:
| Unit | 20 Inches Equals |
|---|---|
| Feet | 1 foot 8 inches (1.67 ft) |
| Yards | 0.556 yards |
| Centimeters | 50.8 cm |
| Millimeters | 508 mm |
| Meters | 0.508 m |
A simple way to remember: 20 inches is roughly the length of a standard keyboard from left to right — or about the distance from your elbow to your wrist plus an open hand. A measurement you interact with far more often than you realize.
6 Common Things That Are 20 Inches Long
20-Inch Hair Extensions
20-inch hair extensions are one of the most searched and purchased extension lengths in the United States — and for good reason.
Professional stylists across the U.S. consistently recommend 20-inch extensions as the sweet spot between dramatic length and everyday manageability — long enough to style but not so long they become impractical for daily wear.
Standard Jacket Zipper
Walk into any fabric or craft store across America and the 20-inch zipper sits front and center in the notions aisle — because it’s the standard length used in full-length jacket and hoodie construction across the U.S. apparel industry.
YKK, the world’s largest zipper manufacturer, produces more 20-inch separating zippers than almost any other single size because this length perfectly spans the front of an average adult jacket from hem to collar — a dimension that clothing manufacturers have relied on for decades.
Circular Knitting Needles (20-Inch Cable)
The 20-inch circular knitting needle — measuring 50 centimeters in cable length — is one of the most popular sizes sold in American craft stores like Joann, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby.
Clover and ChiaoGoo, two of the most trusted needle brands among American knitters, both list 20-inch circulars as their top-selling cable length — a direct reflection of how frequently this dimension appears in popular U.S. knitting patterns.
Standard Cabinet Drawer Depth
Open the kitchen cabinets in virtually any American home built in the last 40 years and the drawer box sliding out toward you measures almost exactly 20 inches deep.
Kitchen designers across the U.S. plan entire cabinet layouts around this 20-inch drawer depth because it pairs perfectly with standard 24-inch base cabinet total depth — leaving a 4-inch face frame and back panel while maximizing interior storage.
Cruiser Skateboard Deck
Cruiser-style skateboards — the short, portable boards designed for campus commuting and neighborhood carving rather than tricks — typically measure between 20 and 24 inches in length, with 20 inches representing the most compact and maneuverable end of the cruiser spectrum.
Brands like Penny, Globe, and Santa Cruz produce 20-inch cruiser decks specifically for riders who prioritize portability over speed — boards that slide easily into a backpack, fit under a college desk, and still carve smooth lines across sidewalks and bike paths across the United States.
20-Inch Necklace Chain
A 20-inch necklace chain is one of the most universally flattering jewelry lengths sold in American retail — falling just below the collarbone on most adults and sitting perfectly at the top of the chest for a clean, versatile look that works with both casual and formal outfits.
Jewelry industry standards in the United States recognize 20 inches as a “standard length” for men’s and women’s chains — which is why sterling silver snake chains, gold rope chains, and pendant necklaces are all most commonly sold at exactly this length by retailers like Kay Jewelers, Zales, and Pandora.
How to Visualize 20 Inches Without a Ruler
These body-based methods help you estimate 20 inches quickly and accurately:
| Method | Accuracy | How To |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow to Wrist + Open Hand | ★★★★★ | Forearm plus full hand span |
| Standard Keyboard Width | ★★★★★ | Left to right across full keyboard |
| 2.5 Dollar Bill Lengths | ★★★★☆ | A bill is 6.14 inches × 3 |
| Toddler Arm Span | ★★★☆☆ | Visual reference — avg. 20″ |
The most reliable method is your elbow to wrist plus an open hand — extend your forearm and add your spread fingers. For most American adults this combination lands within half an inch of a true 20-inch measurement every time.
Where Does 20 Inches Appear in Daily Life?
Fashion & Beauty: From 20-inch hair extensions landing at the waist to 20-inch necklace chains sitting perfectly below the collarbone, this measurement defines some of the most popular sizing standards in the American beauty and jewelry industries.
Home & Kitchen: Standard cabinet drawer depths, kitchen island dimensions, and small appliance widths all cluster around 20 inches — making it one of the most practically useful measurements for home renovation planning and furniture shopping.
Crafts & Hobbies: Circular knitting needles, jacket zippers, and birch wood rounds for tabletop crafts all use 20 inches as a core standard dimension — a measurement deeply embedded in American craft and DIY culture.
Sports & Recreation: Cruiser skateboards at 20 inches represent the most portable end of the riding spectrum — compact enough for backpack carry, functional enough for real commuting across American college campuses and neighborhoods.
Other Interesting Measurements:
Question’s
How to visualize 20 inches?
The easiest way to visualize 20 inches is to picture a standard computer keyboard from left to right — that familiar width is almost exactly 20 inches.
How long is 20 inches for hair?
20-inch hair extensions fall approximately at waist level for most women of average height in the United States.
What is 20 feet compared to a human?
20 feet equals 240 inches — roughly 3.3 times the height of an average American adult standing at 5’8″.
How big is 20 inches in height?
20 inches in height equals 1 foot 8 inches.
Final Thoughts
20 inches is a measurement woven quietly into everyday American life — from the jacket zipper you pull up every morning to the kitchen drawer you open a dozen times a day.
Whether you’re shopping for jewelry, planning a kitchen renovation, picking up a cruiser board, or sizing hair extensions, knowing what 20 inches looks like gives you a genuine practical edge.
Next time you need a quick reference, just picture a standard jacket zipper, a 20-inch necklace chain, or your kitchen drawer depth — they’re all telling the same story in the same length.
Haru, the dedicated Admin of candimension.com, curates an informational blog on Can Dimension. With passion and expertise, Haru delivers insightful articles to educate and empower readers on this fascinating niche.
