Commonly used metric system units and

symbols
Quantity measured Unit Symbol Relationship
Length, width, millimeter mm 10 mm = 1 cm
distance, thickness, centimeter cm 100 cm = 1 m
girth, etc. meter m
kilometer km 1 km = 1000 m

Mass milligram mg 1000 mg = 1 g

(“weight”)* gram g
kilogram kg 1 kg = 1000 g
metric ton t 1 t = 1000 kg

Time second s

Temperature degree Celsius °C

Area square meter m²

hectare ha 1 ha = 10 000 m²
square kilometer km² 1 km² = 100 ha

Volume milliliter mL 1000 mL = 1 L

cubic centimeter cm³ 1 cm³ = 1 mL
liter L 1000 L = 1 m³
cubic meter m³

Speed, velocity meter per second m/s

kilometer per hour km/h 1 km/h = 0.278 m/s

Density kilogram per cubic meter kg/m³

Force newton N

Pressure, stress kilopascal kPa

Power watt W
kilowatt kW 1 kW = 1000 W

Energy kilojoule kJ
megajoule MJ 1 MJ = 1000 kJ
kilowatt hour kW·h 1 kW·h = 3.6 MJ

Electric current ampere A

Approximate conversion factors from inch-pound to metric

units
This table gives easily remembered, approximate conversion factors for some common units, as well as more
precise factors. Boldfaced values are exact. But remember, estimated values don't warrant precise conversions.
If “it was about 100 yards away,” then it was about 100 meters away. Only if it was exactly 100 yards away would
one convert the measurement to 91.44 meters.

More
To convert from to multiply by precisely, Note
multiply by
acres (US survey) hectares (ha) 0.4 0.404 687 3
feet (ft) meters (m) 0.3 0.3048
fluid ounces (fl oz) milliliters (mL) 30 29.573 53 2
3.785 411
gallons (gal) liters (L) 3.8 2
784
inches (in) centimeters (cm) 2.54 2.54
kilometers per hour
knots 1.852
(km/h)
miles (mi) kilometers (km) 1.6 1.609 344
divide
miles per gallon liters per 100 km
235.215
(mi/gal) (L/(100 km))
by mi/gal
miles per hour kilometers per hour
1.6 1.609 344
(mi/h) (km/h)
nautical miles kilometers 1.852
ounces (oz) grams (g) 28 28.349 52 1
pound-force (lbf) newtons (N) 4.448 222
0.45
0.453 592
pounds (lb) kilograms (kg) or divide by 1
37
2.2
pounds per square
kilopascals (kPa) 6.894 757
inch (lbf/in2)
0.946 352
quarts (qt) liters (L) 0.9 2
946
0.092 903
square feet (ft2) square meters (m2) 0.1
04
square kilometers
square miles (mi2) 2.6 2.589 988
(km2)
yards (yd) meters (m) 0.9 0.9144

Note 1. Ounces and pounds refer to avoirdupois

units.

Note 2. Fluid ounces, quarts, and gallons refer to

US liquid measures.