Method and apparatus for a tape measure secured within a formfit holster wherein the holster is attached to the belt of a user and a lanyard connects the tape measure to the housing, so as to prevent the tape measure from being dropped by the user while the tape measure is being used. The holster is formfit to the tape measure so as to tightly hold the tape measure therein by frictionally holding the tape measure therein. The lanyard has one end attached a portion of the holster and a second end attached to a portion of the tape measure wherein the lanyard may also have a coiled portion so as to make the lanyard as short as possible.