What is the difference between width, length, height, vertical, and horizontal?

This words are commonly confused when talking about measurements. What is the difference between width and a horizontal line? Height and a vertical line? Let's find out.

First, let's talk about width, length, height. These are measurements based on 3D space.

Length – This measurement is usually the longest. It is usually longer than width.

Width – This is the side to side measurement of something. It is usually shorter than length.

Height – This is the measurement of an object from the bottom to the top.

The length, width, and height of an object can change when you change your viewpoint or move the object. For example, think of a pencil. If you lay the pencil down one way on the desk, the height will be very short, the length very long, and the width very short. The width and height will be the same. If you take the pencil and stand it up, the height will be very tall or long, the width and length will be the same.

Now let's talk about vertical and horizontal. These are usually used as adjectives when we talk about measurements. We can not say “The vertical of the box is 35cm.” We can say “The vertical measurement of the box is 35cm.” Both vertical and horizontal describe the position or movement of an object compared to the horizon. The horizon is the (imaginary) line between the sky and the earth.

Horizontal – This describes an object in a position that is like the horizon or an object that is moving along the horizon.

Vertical – This describes an object in a position that is perpendicular to the horizon or an object that is moving up and away from the horizon.

Basically, horizontal and vertical are used to describe an object compared to the horizon. But, width, length, and height are used to describe an object from the viewpoint of a person.

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