The high-level dissemination of the SI unit of length, the metre, relies on primary level 1D length measurement instruments to calibrate transfer standards for measurement users. The majority of these instruments are maintained by National Measurement Institutes and the instrument designs vary significantly. Certain application-specific design challenges are common to all of these instruments which have been overcome using many innovative and original approaches by different researchers. This review will discuss what some of these application specific design challenges are in the context of primary level 1D length measurement and review details of the solutions that have been made available in literature. Finally, the review will discuss the implications of any commonalities or wide variations in approach to the different design challenges, with a view to providing a starting point for future instrument designers.