Pocket Rod can be used as any tape measure. However, when pulled completely from it’s housing, it becomes a straight, metal reference scale that can be placed against a wall for reference. When set on the ground, the numbers read from ground level up. When you are done, simply retract the Pocket Rod tape back into its plastic housing. The Pocket Rod is 2 meters (6? feet) tall with black numbers on a white background on one side and red numbers on a white background on the other side.