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This page offers information on the metric system and metric conversion. The following related pages may also be of interest:
For accuracy, the converters below use the official conversion rates (which are up to 13 digits). However, for ease of use, the reference table (chart) under each converter rounds off to the nearest 2nd digit.
Length Conversion
For length, there is no difference between USA and Imperial measures.
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Imperial/USA unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Imperial/USA unit
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Inch
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2.54 centimeters
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Centimeter
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0.39 inches
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Foot
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30.48 centimeters
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Meter
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3.28 feet
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Yard
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0.91 meters
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Meter
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1.09 yards
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Mile
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1.61 kilometers
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Kilometer
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0.62 miles
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Weight (or mass) conversion
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Imperial/USA unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Imperial/USA unit
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Ounce (weight)
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28.35 grams
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Gram
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0.035 ounces
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Pound
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0.45 kilograms
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Kilogram
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2.21 pounds
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UK ton (2240 pounds)
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1.02 metric tons
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Metric ton (1000 kg.)
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0.98 UK tons
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US ton (2000 pounds)
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0.91 metric tons
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Metric ton (1000 kg.)
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1.10 US tons
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The USA and Imperial systems of measurement use the same ounce and pound. The USA ton (also known as the "short ton" is 2000 pounds, the UK ton (also known as the "long ton") is 2240 pounds, and the metric ton is 1000 kg.
In the metric (SI) system, the term mass is used instead of weight. Weight is a measure of how heavy something is, whereas mass is a measure of the amount of matter. To illustrate, something that weighs 60 pounds on the earth would only weigh about 10 pounds on the moon (due to the lower gravity of the moon), whereas something the has a mass of 60 Kilograms on the earth would still have a mass of 60 kilograms on the moon (as the amount of matter is unchanged). Consequently, the statement that 1 kilogram is 2.21 pounds is true here on earth but not elsewhere (a point mainly of interest to scientists).
Temperature Conversion
The USA and Imperial systems measure temperature using the Fahrenheit system. The Metric (SI) system originally used the Celsius temperature system, but now officially uses the Kelvin temperature system. However, few people aside from scientists have switched to the Kelvin system and the Celsius system is almost always used by most people for ordinary (non-scientific) purposes. The above converter handles Fahrenheit, Kelvin and Celsius but since the Celsius system is more commonly used than the Kelvin, we provide the following comparison of the Fahrenheit and Celsius systems::
- The freezing point of water in Fahrenheit is 32 degrees, in Celsius it is 0 degrees.
- The boiling point of water in Fahrenheit is 212 degrees, in Celsius it is 100 degrees.
- Consequently the difference between freezing and boiling is 180 degrees Fahrenheit (212-32) or 100 degrees Celsius (100-0). This means that 180 degrees change in Fahrenheit is equal to 100 degree change in Celsius, or more simply 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit equals 1.0 degrees Celsius.
This gives rise to the following equations to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit:
- °C = (°F - 32) ÷ 1.8 For example: (68°F-32) ÷ 1.8 = (36) ÷ 1.8 = 20°C
- °F = (°C x 1.8) + 32 For example: (20°C x 1.8) + 32 = (36) + 32 = 68°F
Some common examples are:
- Freezing = 0 °C , 32°F
- Room temperature = 20 °C , 68°F
- Normal body temperature = 37 °C , 98.6°F
- A very hot day = 40 °C , 104°F
- Boiling point of water = 100 °C , 212°F
Area Conversion
For area, their is no difference between USA and Imperial measures.
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Imperial/USA unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Imperial/USA unit
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Acre
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0.40 hectare
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Hectare
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2.47 acres
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Square inch
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6.45 square centimeters
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Square centimeter
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0.16 square inches
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Square foot
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0.09 square meters
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Square meter
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Square yard
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0.84 square meters
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Square meter
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1.20 square yards
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Square mile
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2.60 square kilometers
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Square kilometer
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0.39 square miles
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Cubic foot
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0.028 cubic meters
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Cubic meter
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35.23 cubic feet
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Cubic yard
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0.76 cubic meters
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Cubic meter
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1.35 cubic yards
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Volume (or Capacity) Conversion
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Imperial/USA unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Metric (SI) unit
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Imperial/USA unit
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Teaspoon (UK)
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5.92 milliliters
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Millilitre
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0.17 teaspoons (UK)
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Teaspoon (US)
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4.93 milliliters
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0.20 teaspoons (US)
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Tablespoon (UK)
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17.76 milliliters
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10 Millilitre
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0.56 tablespoons (UK)
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Tablespoon (US)
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14.79 milliliters
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0.68 tablespoons (US)
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Fluid ounce (UK)
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28.41 milliliters
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100 millilitre
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3.52 fluid ounces (UK)
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Fluid ounce (US)
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29.57 milliliters
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3.38 fluid ounces (US)
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Pint (UK)
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0.57 liters
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Litre
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1.76 pints (UK)
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Pint (US)
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0.47 liters
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2.11 pints (US)
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Quart (UK)
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1.14 liters
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0.88 quarts (UK)
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Quart (US)
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0.95 liters
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1.06 quarts (US)
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Gallon (UK)
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4.55 liters
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0.22 gallon (UK)
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Gallon (US)
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3.79 liters
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0.26 gallons (US)
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Measures of volume are different for the two systems due to the Imperial ounce being slightly smaller than the US equivalent (which affects all multiples of the ounce), and also due to the UK pint having 20 ounces whereas the the US pint has only 16 ounces.
The sizes of the smaller Imperial measures (teaspoon and tablespoon) are open to interpretation. See Cooking converter for further information on these measures.
Mileage Conversion
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