handmått

Handmått, or a hand measure, is a traditional unit of length derived from the size of a human hand. It has been used in many cultures as a practical, everyday way to estimate length for objects, livestock, and crafts. The exact length of a handmått varied by region and era, which means it was never a universally standardized unit.

One well-known application is in measuring the height of horses and other livestock. In horse measurement, a hand equals four inches (4 in) or 10.16 centimeters. Heights are expressed in whole hands or with fractional hands, such as 15.2 hands. For example, a horse described as 16 hands tall is about 162 centimeters at the withers. This unit remains common in many countries despite the predominance of metric systems, especially in equestrian contexts.

Beyond animal height, handmått served as a rough, quick reference in crafts, construction, and trade. Because it depended on the user’s hand size, it was inherently imprecise, making it more suitable for estimates than precise engineering.

In modern usage, handmått is largely historical or specialized to disciplines such as horsemanship and certain regional traditions. In everyday contexts, metric units are standard, while in horse-related contexts the term “hands” persists as a conventional measure. See also: span, palm, cubit.