A tape measure comprising: a housing ; a center post coupled to the housing ; a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the center post , the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface and a radially inward facing surface defining an interior reel cavity ; an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel , the elongate tape blade having an upper surface with a concave profile when extended from the housing ; 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 center post 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 releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel ; a reduction gear train rotatably coupling the spiral spring to the tape reel such that, during extension of the elongate tape blade from the housing , each full rotation of the tape reel is translated into less than a full rotation of the spring ; and a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade ; a total spiral spring length, wherein the elongate tape blade has a length between 1.82m (6 feet) and 15.24m (50 feet), characterised in that a ratio of the length of the elongate tape blade to the total spiral spring length is greater than 2.52; wherein the housing has a maximum outer width dimension of 45 mm to 63 mm, a maximum outer height dimension of 69 mm to 103 mm, and a maximum outer length dimension of 78 mm to 110 mm. a housing ; a center post coupled to the housing ; a tape reel rotatably mounted within the housing around the center post , the tape reel comprising a radially outward facing surface and a radially inward facing surface defining an interior reel cavity ; an elongate tape blade wound around the radially outward facing surface of the tape reel , the elongate tape blade having an upper surface with a concave profile when extended from the housing ; 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 center post 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 releases energy driving rewinding of the elongate tape blade on to the tape reel ; a reduction gear train rotatably coupling the spiral spring to the tape reel such that, during extension of the elongate tape blade from the housing , each full rotation of the tape reel is translated into less than a full rotation of the spring ; and a hook assembly coupled to an outer end of the elongate tape blade ; a total spiral spring length, wherein the elongate tape blade has a length between 1.82m (6 feet) and 15.24m (50 feet), characterised in that a ratio of the length of the elongate tape blade to the total spiral spring length is greater than 2.52; wherein the housing has a maximum outer width dimension of 45 mm to 63 mm, a maximum outer height dimension of 69 mm to 103 mm, and a maximum outer length dimension of 78 mm to 110 mm. <EOS>