Dewalt just launched new upgraded Atomic tape measures.
I’m sorry for yet another tape measure post this week, but this one’s surprising and interesting, and I didn’t want to sit on the news.
For the surprising part, these tapes have not yet popped up at Home Depot, and so it looks like they might not be an exclusive. Home Depot has gotten first dibs on a lot of Dewalt tape measures in the past, but apparently not these.
The new Dewalt tape measures feature a magnetic hook. Other than that, they look nearly identical to the regular Atomic series, featuring a slide brake, finger brake, and 13ft max “reach.”
Shown here is the new 25ft tape measure, model DWHT39125S.
It’s officially being marketed as a “Compact Magnetic Tape Measure,” with no mention of Atomic branding. I’ll get into this later in the post.
Features include a “long blade length” that helps you “complete large-scale projects.”
Dewalt is also launching a 16ft model, DWHT39116S.
This one features a “convenient blade length.” It has fractional markings as with the older/other Dewalt Atomic series tape measures.
The magnetic hook is removable. This is a great feature that I really like on Dewalt’s more premium ToughSeries tape measures.
Actually, it looks to be the same exact removable magnetic-tipped hook attachment. I like that.
Here’s where things get interesting, aside from the new removable magnetic hook.
As mentioned, these aren’t actually Dewalt Atomic tape measures, they’re simply “compact” tape measures.
It looks like Dewalt simply took the existing Atomic tape measures and added in the same hook from the ToughSeries tape measures.
Looking at the different Dewalt tools side by side, it looks like they were always already made for the magnetic hook, even back when they first launched 3 years ago. (See 3 New Dewalt Atomic Series Tape Measures).
Okay, so they added the magnetic hook and are now charge more for the new non-Atomic compact tape measures, right? Wrong.
Acme Tools Launch Pricing: $16 for the 16ft, $18 for the 25ft
Ohio Power Tool Launch Pricing: $15 for the 16ft, $17 for the 25ft
At this time, Home Depot is selling the Atomic series 16ft tape measure for $17, and the 25ft for $19 each.
So, you’re getting slightly more featured Dewalt “Compact” tape measures for less money than the Dewalt “Atomic” tape measures.
Amazon is beating Home Depot on pricing (see Amazon Beats Home Depot with Better Dewalt Tape Measure Deals), and apparently other Dewalt dealers got first dibs on a lower-priced upgraded model with removable magnetic hook attachment.
Maybe this is all leading up to Father’s Day deals or promotions at Home Depot, but the online inventory count suggests that’s not happening.
ETA is June 2025
I wonder – did these tape measures lose “Atomic” branding because Dewalt is getting rid of the label, or is there some other reason?
I like the distinction, and use it in this post because of the near-identical nature of the new version to the existing non-magnetic Atomic version.
Or maybe there will be new Atomic versions at Home Depot, and the old Atomic version will continue on as the “Compact” tape line moving forward.
Bottom-line: decent Dewalt tape measures gained a new removable feature as well as a drop in price compared to current Home Depot pricing. The Atomic vs non-Atomic “Compact” aspect is an academic context that might or might not have additional implications.
