This is a Milwaukee compact 25′ tape measure, model 48-22-0425, one of the updated models that came out last year.
I like Milwaukee’s compact tape measures. They might not have their most premium features, but they’re pretty good and more comfortable to use.
Advertisement
Prices for this tape measure range from $18 to $20, depending on the retailer.
Have our deal posts drained your wallet a bit too much already this month? STOP reading here. But if not, keep reading.
This is what the holiday season promo display looked like at one of my local stores a couple of days ago.
This is what the display at my closest store looked like today, and the situation was the same at the second Home Depot location I checked.
Advertisement
I thought $15 for 2 Milwaukee tape measures was a good price, but I didn’t expect for customers to clean out the displays to this extent so quickly. This was at both stores, and so it wasn’t a fluke. I’ve been reporting on Home Depot’s Black Friday and Holiday season tool deals for years, and don’t recall ever seeing their tape measure 2-packs fly off the shelves like this.
Then again, previous deals were always at higher pricing. Last year’s deal was for 2 magnetic 25′ tapes for $20.
I have a question – if this is what happened when the tape measure 2-pack was advertised at $15, what’s going to happen when people realize the even lower $10 Black Friday 2020 sale price just went live?
Sale Price: $10 for the 2-pack
When I look at Home Depot’s local inventory numbers, the stores range from having 2 in stock, to 244. A couple of nearby stores have less than 10 in stock.
If you’ve been meaning to snag this deal, you might want to consider buying it online.
Some of you shared that our Milwaukee Shockwave 70pc bit set deal post dented your wallet a little bit. With that deal, you get a 70pc impact screwdriver bit set, and a great assortment too in my opinion, for $10 shipped. I couldn’t pass it up, and it seems some of you couldn’t either.
This deal is perhaps even more compelling than that one.
With this deal, you get (2) Milwaukee 25′ tape measures for $10 with FREE SHIPPING!!! Yep, no minimum. $10 shipped, to your door. That’s $5 per tape measure, plus tax. There’s a limit of 2 per order.
I don’t need more tape measures.
I don’t need more tape measures.
I don’t need more tape measures.
But maybe you do…?
Is it wrong that I enjoy “you’re hurting my wallet” comments here or on social media, which I take as indicators that I’ve picked good tool deals to bring to your attention?
Even better are the comments about spousal reactions. I don’t know what gets said, but why are everyone’s spouses mad at me and ToolGuyd over the tools they’re buying?! Do what I do when I find a really good tool deal that isn’t perfectly suited for my budget or needs but screams “buy me I’m an awesome bargain” – share it with someone else. đ
I gave away several dozen tape measures last year, at least 3/4 of which were purchased during Black Friday and Holiday season deal posts. I always like to be able to compare different options and answer questions about a lot of the deals we report on.
I don’t need more tape measures. Do I?
I’m trying hard to convince myself not to get in on this deal. I mean – two Milwaukee compact 25′ tape measures, and I don’t even have to figure out what else to add to my order to get free shipping?
Actually… I wanted to buy two of Home Depot’s $11 LED shop light deals, but forgot to because I filled my hands with other stuff. I got home, remembered about it, and the two lights I wanted to buy require an additional ~$24 for me to get free shipping.
But with this tape measure deal, there’s no minimum. I could order just the tapes… oh, it’s so hard to resist. It’d be less of a problem if I didn’t use tape measures so often and misplace them around the workshop and house so frequently. It’s easier than it sounds – I often have to put them out of reach of my kids, and in doing so I lose track of them.
If you take advantage of this deal, please let me know so that I can enjoy your bargain-buy by proxy.
Again – $10 with free shipping?! Or am I wrong about this being a fantastic deal? Then again, objectively, customers cleaned out the shelves at the two Home Depot stores I checked.
I don’t think I have ever seen Milwaukee 25′ tape measures sell for this low, or even in this ballpark.
Here’s the link once more:
Update: I just couldn’t resist – I ordered a 2-pack for shop use. I also ordered the Milwaukee 2-pack of utility knives and the LED shop lights I mentioned about. While these aren’t as small as the 16′ tapes I’ve taken a liking to after giving away most of my extra 25′ tapes, the blade is stouter and these “compact” tape measures are still a lot more comfortable for casual use than the larger, stronger-feeling, and heavier record-breaking standout/reach models.
I’m still curious to hear as to whether any of you are also taking advantage of this deal.
Tom D – I see what you mean – $10 with free shipping is indeed impulse buy territory. $15 or $20? Nah, I wasn’t looking to buy any more tape measures. $10 shipped? I could sure use them.
See Also:
The BEST Screwdriver Bit Set Deal: Milwaukee Shockwave 70pc Set for $10
Update: Here’s What the Second Store’s Display Looks Like Today
As mentioned, I looked at the inventory levels at other stores online as well, and a couple only have single-digit quantities left. This is highly unusual – I’ve never seen Milwaukee hand tool displays wiped out like this before – at least not in early November.
Mike
I was going to comment I noticed most deals went live yesterday. I have been waiting for this deal for months lol. After I misplaced my milwaukee tape measure and had to use my spare HFT ones for projects. A good tape is worth it for accuracy and just ease vs a POS one. How many times with the floppy tape so aggravating. Also noticed the 2pk diablo 7Âź 24t blades I got for 12.88 vs the 14.97 advertised price. Had to find them and make the drop down changes to get them and hey 2$ cheaper I already figured to pick some up.
Stuart
I have mainly been checking for the “sorry you can’t buy this online yet” deals to drop so I could post about them. Maybe they’ll go live tomorrow.
Home Depot is usually good about most of the gift center items being price-fixed, at least in comparison to Lowe’s, where I never know what is okay to buy in November without great risk of having to ask for a price adjustment.
I don’t know what’s going on with the Diablo blades. A couple of people pointed out that there was a 2-pack of finish blades at lower pricing than the “buy one get one” pricing advertised in the Black Friday sales flyer. They seemed to be the same exact blades. That was finish blades though. The $12.88 framing blades don’t seem to be advertised, or at least I see them as part of “tool gift savings” but not elsewhere.
Home Depot seems to have kicked off some usual “Pro Black Friday” items at my local store, but they’re not actually having that event at all this year. Perhaps related items went on sale yesterday, ahead of the rest of the Black Friday 2020 sale items.
Here’s our breakdown of the sales flyer, for anyone wondering what I’m referring to:
https://toolguyd.com/home-depot-black-friday-2020-tool-deals/
Doresoom
I passed these up in store when they were $15, but that extra $5 off convinced me to pick up a pair. I just wish they were the 16′ versions instead. But hey, $5 tape measures!
Stuart
I know, right?!
The popularity of 25′ tapes compared to 25′ must be huge. There used to be BOGO 16′ tape measure deals, and buy a 25′ get a 16′ deals, but most deals are on 25′ tapes these days.
Question is, would I rather buy 25′ tapes, or spend a lot more 16′?
Tom D
In general when people arenât thinking in detail about it – bigger is better and biggest is best – so the 25 will sell much better than the 16.
JC
The I prefer 16 footers too. It’s enough capacity for 90 percent of my needs, and smaller and handier. If I need more than 16 feet, I usually need a lot more than 25, too.
Oflannabhra
I appreciate the âtape warsâ because we keep getting better tapes, with nicer blades and longer reach.
However, Iâve kept coming back to my standard Stanley tape (instead of a FatMax, Stud, or some new Craftsman ones) because of how light it is. The blades isnât the greatest, but it is good enough, and it doesnât pull my pants down, haha.
Matt Rentz
You get what you pay for and I hated the last two pack of Milwaukee tapes that I bought. Iâm giving the last one away today to my tool-less unsuspecting pastor, ha ha. The only tape to buy is the lufkin shockforce and they are expensive but so what? Best tape measure ever made, just ask this old house Tommy Silva.
Tom D
And here I bought the four pack for $30 a few days ago – but it was simply two two packs. I could buy two of these and return them for $10. Is it worth the hassle … ? Probably not.
Tom D
I went and did it. Now to see if I return any of them – I canât have too many tape measures until I can always find one instantly upon needing it.
Blocky
I went to work, threw a tape measure in my bag *just in case*.
Started in, pulling tools out as needed, and after ten minutes and a couple items from the bottom of the bag, I was staring at 5 tape measures.
Tom D
The tape measures and the dryer socks are collecting and army somewhere I swear. Probably going to use 10mm sockets as ammo.
Stuart
Hmm. You might need this then:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LH7DM14/?tag=toolguyd-20 HEHE
Tom D
Ha! Amazon offers a subscribe and save subscription on Car Guy Tools 10mm Socket Ten Pack (Multi-Type) by default! They know!
Blocky
Why arenât these sold in 50ct bulk jars like earplugs.
Diego
I ordered mine. I don’t need them but it’s too good of a deal to pass up.
I’ve got a milwaukee tape measure already and I’ve been satisfied with it. I use it to do service plumbing and work around the house so it doesn’t get as heavy use as others do. It’s perfectly adequate for that. I’m guessing my carpenter family members would probably stick with their heavier duty tape measures.
Pink porkchop
I bought these last year, they were relegated to the tackle boxes. Both of the tips bent outward with little use. Never had that happen.
Dave
This morning in a store they were listed as a 2-pack for $14.97- thatâs what the cardboard display they were in said-but rang up at $9.97.
Albert
Did Milwaukee get rid of the fractional markings (1/8, 1/4, etc.)? I know, I know, but I like them. I do like the idea of having markings on the back of the tape. I have not tried one like that yet.
Tom D
This tape doesnât have the fractional markings but it does have printing on both sides.
Mick
I do not need more tape measures…
I do not need more tape measures…
I do not need more tape measures…
After reading that they are a very good deal….hmmmm…got me thinking..
maybe I do need another tape measure.
*heads out to my shop to take a count of what I have*
23…..freaking 23 tape measures. I swear I will not step one foot into Home
Depot until April 17. Well, maybe this coming Tuesday!
I do NOT need any more tape measures…
….
Diego
It’s not about what you need right now. It’s about what you could someday need. If you lose or break 23 of your tape measures you’ll be wishing you’d bought these.
Stuart
These deals come around every year, and so he just has to keep his loss ratio to less than 2/month.
Matt
Tempting but I just bit on the Lowe’s deal for two Lufkin Shockforce with the Night Eye color scheme. That deal gets you a 25′ and a 16′ for $19. Regular pricing on either tape is around $30 (which admittedly seems high) so $10/ea for a good tape with an innovative color just seemed more compelling than $5/ea for these Milwaukees. Not that there’s anything wrong with them, I’d just rather spend a little more for what is in my opinion a much better tape.
Stuart
I like those too, and have a 16′ around here somewhere.
Lowe’s Link to the 2-Pack
Brian Ketcham
I really like these tapes.
I just picked up 15 sets (30) for the theatre scene shop at school. There is 2-sided printing for easy reading and who knew, an Architectural scale.
For the kids, I wish the fractional measurements were printed on them, but for $5 each, we’ll use them.