A tape measure comprising: a housing ; an axle rotatably mounted within the housing ; a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the axle , the tape reel comprising a radially inward-facing surface defining an interior reel cavity and a radially outward-facing surface; an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward-facing surface of the tape reel ; a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade ; a spiral spring located at least partially within the interior reel cavity and at least partially surrounded by the elongate tape blade in the radial direction, the spiral spring is coupled between the tape reel and the axle such that when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing the spiral spring stores energy, and the spiral spring releasing energy drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel ; and a gear train rotatably coupling the tape reel and the axle such that during extension of the elongate tape blade from the housing , each full rotation of the tape reel results in less than a full rotation of the axle ; wherein, during extension and rewinding of the elongate tape blade , both the axle and tape reel rotate within the housing ; wherein the axle comprises a gear carrier that extends radially outward from an end of the axle , the gear carrier comprises a plurality of posts extending along an axis parallel to a primary axis of the axle , and the gear train comprises: a sun gear fixedly coupled to the housing ; an outer ring gear fixedly coupled to the tape reel ; and a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted to the plurality of posts , the plurality of planetary gears rotatably engaging with the outer ring gear and the sun gear . a housing ; an axle rotatably mounted within the housing ; a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the axle , the tape reel comprising a radially inward-facing surface defining an interior reel cavity and a radially outward-facing surface; an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward-facing surface of the tape reel ; a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade ; a spiral spring located at least partially within the interior reel cavity and at least partially surrounded by the elongate tape blade in the radial direction, the spiral spring is coupled between the tape reel and the axle such that when the elongate tape blade is unwound from the tape reel to extend from the housing the spiral spring stores energy, and the spiral spring releasing energy drives rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel ; and a gear train rotatably coupling the tape reel and the axle such that during extension of the elongate tape blade from the housing , each full rotation of the tape reel results in less than a full rotation of the axle ; wherein, during extension and rewinding of the elongate tape blade , both the axle and tape reel rotate within the housing ; wherein the axle comprises a gear carrier that extends radially outward from an end of the axle , the gear carrier comprises a plurality of posts extending along an axis parallel to a primary axis of the axle , and the gear train comprises: a sun gear fixedly coupled to the housing ; an outer ring gear fixedly coupled to the tape reel ; and a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted to the plurality of posts , the plurality of planetary gears rotatably engaging with the outer ring gear and the sun gear . a sun gear fixedly coupled to the housing ; an outer ring gear fixedly coupled to the tape reel ; and <EOS>