Appendix G - | Weights and Measures
Home Reference Maps Appendixes
Appendixes
A Abbreviations | B International Organizations and Groups | C Selected International Environmental Agreements | D Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes | E Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes | F Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names | G Weights and Measures
Note: At this time, only three countries - Burma, Liberia, and the US - have not adopted the International System of Units (SI, or metric system) as their official system of weights and measures. Although use of the metric system has been sanctioned by law in the US since 1866, it has been slow in displacing the American adaptation of the British Imperial System known as the US Customary System. The US is the only industrialized nation that does not mainly use the metric system in its commercial and standards activities, but there is increasing acceptance in science, medicine, government, and many sectors of industry.
Mathematical Notation
Mathematical Power | Name
1018 or 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 | one quintillion
1015 or 1,000,000,000,000,000 | one quadrillion
1012 or 1,000,000,000,000 | one trillion
109 or 1,000,000,000 | one billion
106 or 1,000,000 | one million
103 or 1,000 | one thousand
102 or 100 | one hundred
101 or 10 | ten
100 or 1 | one
10-1 or 0.1 | one-tenth
10-2 or 0.01 | one-hundredth
10-3 or 0.001 | one-thousandth
10-6 or 0.000 001 | one-millionth
10-9 or 0.000 000 001 | one-billionth
10-12 or 0.000 000 000 001 | one-trillionth
10-15 or 0.000 000 000 000 001 | one-quadrillionth
10-18 or 0.000 000 000 000 000 001 | one-quintillionth
Metric Interrelationships
Prefix | Symbol | Length, weight, or capacity
yotta | Y | 1024
zetta | Z | 1021
exa | E | 1018
peta | P | 1015
tera | T | 1012
giga | G | 109
mega | M | 106
kilo | k | 103
hecto | h | 102
deka | da | 101
basic unit | - | 1 meter, 1 gram, 1 liter
deci | d | 10-1
centi | c | 10-2
milli | m | 10-3
micro | u | 10-6
nano | n | 10-9
pico | p | 10-12
femto | f | 10-15
atto | a | 10-18
zepto | z | 10-21
yocto | y | 10-24
Conversion Factors
To Convert From | To | Multiply By
acres | ares | 40.468 564 224
acres | hectares | 0.404 685 642 24
acres | square feet | 43,560
acres | square kilometers | 0.004 046 856 422 4
acres | square meters | 4,046.856 422 4
acres | square miles (statute) | 0.001 562 50
acres | square yards | 4,840
ares | square meters | 100
ares | square yards | 119.599
barrels, US beer | gallons | 31
barrels, US beer | liters | 117.347 77
barrels, US petroleum | gallons (British) | 34.97
barrels, US petroleum | gallons (US) | 42
barrels, US petroleum | liters | 158.987 29
barrels, US proof spirits | gallons | 40
barrels, US proof spirits | liters | 151.416 47
bushels (US) | bushels (British) | 0.968 9
bushels (US) | cubic feet | 1.244 456
bushels (US) | cubic inches | 2,150.42
bushels (US) | cubic meters | 0.035 239 07
bushels (US) | cubic yards | 0.046 090 96
bushels (US) | dekaliters | 3.523 907
bushels (US) | dry pints | 64
bushels (US) | dry quarts | 32
bushels (US) | liters | 35.239 070 17
bushels (US) | pecks | 4
cables | fathoms | 120
cables | meters | 219.456
cables | yards | 240
carat | milligrams | 200
centimeters | feet | 0.032 808 40
centimeters | inches | 0.393 700 8
centimeters | meters | 0.01
centimeters | yards | 0.010 936 13
centimeters, cubic | cubic inches | 0.061 023 744
centimeters, square | square feet | 0.001 076 39
centimeters, square | square inches | 0.155 000 31
centimeters, square | square meters | 0.000 1
centimeters, square | square yards | 0.000 119 599
chains, square surveyor's | ares | 4.046 86
chains, square surveyor's | square feet | 4,356
chains, surveyor's | feet | 66
chains, surveyor's | meters | 20.116 8
chains, surveyor's | rods | 4
cords of wood | cubic feet | 128
cords of wood | cubic meters | 3.624 556
cords of wood | cubic yards | 4.740 7
cups | liquid ounces (US) | 8
cups | liters | 0.236 588 2
degrees Celsius | degrees Fahrenheit | multiply by 1.8 and add 32
degrees Fahrenheit | degrees Celsius | subtract 32 and divide by 1.8
dekaliters | bushels | 0.283 775 9
dekaliters | cubic feet | 0.353 146 7
dekaliters | cubic inches | 610.237 4
dekaliters | dry pints | 18.161 66
dekaliters | dry quarts | 9.080 829 8
dekaliters | liters | 10
dekaliters | pecks | 1.135 104
drams, avoirdupois | avoirdupois ounces | 0.062 55
drams, avoirdupois | grains | 27.344
drams, avoirdupois | grams | 1.771 845 2
drams, troy | grains | 60
drams, troy | grams | 3.887 934 6
drams, troy | scruples | 3
drams, troy | troy ounces | 0.125
drams, liquid (US) | cubic inches | 0.226
drams, liquid (US) | liquid drams (British) | 1.041
drams, liquid (US) | liquid ounces | 0.125
drams, liquid (US) | milliliters | 3.696 69
drams, liquid (US) | minims | 60
fathoms | feet | 6
fathoms | meters | 1.828 8
feet | centimeters | 30.48
feet | inches | 12
feet | kilometers | 0.000 304 8
feet | meters | 0.304 8
feet | statute miles | 0.000 189 39
feet | yards | 0.333 333 3
feet, cubic | bushels | 0.803 563 95
feet, cubic | cubic decimeters | 28.316 847
feet, cubic | cubic inches | 1,728
feet, cubic | cubic meters | 0.028 316 846 592
feet, cubic | cubic yards | 0.037 037 04
feet, cubic | dry pints | 51.428 09
feet, cubic | dry quarts | 25.714 05
feet, cubic | gallons | 7.480 519
feet, cubic | gills | 239.376 6
feet, cubic | liquid ounces | 957.506 5
feet, cubic | liquid pints | 59.844 16
feet, cubic | liquid quarts | 29.922 08
feet, cubic | liters | 28.316 846 592
feet, cubic | pecks | 3.214 256
feet, square | acres | 0.000 022 956 8
feet, square | square centimeters | 929.030 4
feet, square | square decimeters | 9.290 304
feet, square | square inches | 144
feet, square | square meters | 0.092 903 04
feet, square | square yards | 0.111 111 1
furlongs | feet | 660
furlongs | inches | 7,920
furlongs | meters | 201.168
furlongs | statute miles | 0.125
furlongs | yards | 220
gallons, liquid (US) | cubic feet | 0.133 680 6
gallons, liquid (US) | cubic inches | 231
gallons, liquid (US) | cubic meters | 0.003 785 411 784
gallons, liquid (US) | cubic yards | 0.004 951 13
gallons, liquid (US) | gills (US) | 32
gallons, liquid (US) | liquid gallons (British) | 0.832 67
gallons, liquid (US) | liquid ounces | 128
gallons, liquid (US) | liquid pints | 8
gallons, liquid (US) | liquid quarts | 4
gallons, liquid (US) | liters | 3.785 411 784
gallons, liquid (US) | milliliters | 3,785.411 784
gallons, liquid (US) | minims | 61,440
gills (US) | centiliters | 11.829 4
gills (US) | cubic feet | 0.004 177 517
gills (US) | cubic inches | 7.218 75
gills (US) | gallons | 0.031 25
gills (US) | gills (British) | 0.832 67
gills (US) | liquid ounces | 4
gills (US) | liquid pints | 0.25
gills (US) | liquid quarts | 0.125
gills (US) | liters | 0.118 294 118 25
gills (US) | milliliters | 118.294 118 25
gills (US) | minims | 1,920
grains | avoirdupois drams | 0.036 571 43
grains | avoirdupois ounces | 0.002 285 71
grains | avoirdupois pounds | 0.000 142 86
grains | grams | 0.064 798 91
grains | kilograms | 0.000 064 798 91
grains | milligrams | 64.798 910
grains | pennyweights | 0.042
grains | scruples | 0.05
grains | troy drams | 0.016 6
grains | troy ounces | 0.002 083 33
grains | troy pounds | 0.000 173 61
grams | avoirdupois drams | 0.564 383 39
grams | avoirdupois ounces | 0.035 273 961
grams | avoirdupois pounds | 0.002 204 622 6
grams | grains | 15.432 361
grams | kilograms | 0.001
grams | milligrams | 1,000
grams | troy ounces | 0.032 150 746 6
grams | troy pounds | 0.002 679 23
hands (height of horse) | centimeters | 10.16
hands (height of horse) | inches | 4
hectares | acres | 2.471 053 8
hectares | square feet | 107,639.1
hectares | square kilometers | 0.01
hectares | square meters | 10,000
hectares | square miles | 0.003 861 02
hectares | square yards | 11,959.90
hundredweights, long | avoirdupois pounds | 112
hundredweights, long | kilograms | 50.802 345
hundredweights, long | long tons | 0.05
hundredweights, long | metric tons | 0.050 802 345
hundredweights, long | short tons | 0.056
hundredweights, short | avoirdupois pounds | 100
hundredweights, short | kilograms | 45.359 237
hundredweights, short | long tons | 0.044 642 86
hundredweights, short | metric tons | 0.045 359 237
hundredweights, short | short tons | 0.05
inches | centimeters | 2.54
inches | feet | 0.083 333 33
inches | meters | 0.025 4
inches | millimeters | 25.4
inches | yards | 0.027 777 78
inches, cubic | bushels | 0.000 465 025
inches, cubic | cubic centimeters | 16.387 064
inches, cubic | cubic feet | 0.000 578 703 7
inches, cubic | cubic meters | 0.000 016 387 064
inches, cubic | cubic yards | 0.000 021 433 47
inches, cubic | dry pints | 0.029 761 6
inches, cubic | dry quarts | 0.014 880 8
inches, cubic | gallons | 0.004 329 0
inches, cubic | gills | 0.138 528 1
inches, cubic | liquid ounces | 0.554 112 6
inches, cubic | liquid pints | 0.034 632 03
inches, cubic | liquid quarts | 0.017 316 02
inches, cubic | liters | 0.016 387 064
inches, cubic | milliliters | 16.387 064
inches, cubic | minims (US) | 265.974 0
inches, cubic | pecks | 0.001 860 10
inches, square | square centimeters | 6.451 600
inches, square | square feet | 0.006 944 44
inches, square | square meters | 0.000 645 16
inches, square | square yards | 0.000 771 605
kilograms | avoirdupois drams | 564.383 4
kilograms | avoirdupois ounces | 35.273 962
kilograms | avoirdupois pounds | 2.204 622 622
kilograms | grains | 15,432.36
kilograms | grams | 1,000
kilograms | long tons | 0.000 984 2
kilograms | metric tons | 0.001
kilograms | short hundredweights | 0.022 046 23
kilograms | short tons | 0.001 102 31
kilograms | troy ounces | 32.150 75
kilograms | troy pounds | 2.679 229
kilometers | meters | 1,000
kilometers | statute miles | 0.621 371 192
kilometers, square | acres | 247.105 38
kilometers, square | hectares | 100
kilometers, square | square meters | 1,000,000
kilometers, square | statute miles | 0.386 102 16
knots (nautical mi/hr) | kilometers/hour | 1.852
knots (nautical mi/hr) | statute miles/hour | 1.151
leagues, nautical | kilometers | 5.556
leagues, nautical | nautical miles | 3
leagues, statute | kilometers | 4.828 032
leagues, statute | statute miles | 3
links, square surveyor's | square centimeters | 404.686
links, square surveyor's | square inches | 62.726 4
links, surveyor's | centimeters | 20.116 8
links, surveyor's | chains | 0.01
links, surveyor's | inches | 7.92
liters | bushels | 0.028 377 59
liters | cubic feet | 0.035 314 67
liters | cubic inches | 61.023 74
liters | cubic meters | 0.001
liters | cubic yards | 0.001 307 95
liters | dekaliters | 0.1
liters | dry pints | 1.816 166
liters | dry quarts | 0.908 082 98
liters | gallons | 0.264 172 052
liters | gills (US) | 8.453 506
liters | liquid ounces | 33.814 02
liters | liquid pints | 2.113 376
liters | liquid quarts | 1.056 688 2
liters | milliliters | 1,000
liters | pecks | 0.113 510 4
meters | centimeters | 100
meters | feet | 3.280 839 895
meters | inches | 39.370 079
meters | kilometers | 0.001
meters | millimeters | 1,000
meters | statute miles | 0.000 621 371
meters | yards | 1.093 613 298
meters, cubic | bushels | 28.377 59
meters, cubic | cubic feet | 35.314 666 7
meters, cubic | cubic inches | 61,023.744
meters, cubic | cubic yards | 1.307 950 619
meters, cubic | gallons | 264.172 05
meters, cubic | liters | 1,000
meters, cubic | pecks | 113.510 4
meters, square | acres | 0.000 247 105 38
meters, square | hectares | 0.000 1
meters, square | square centimeters | 10,000
meters, square | square feet | 10.763 910 4
meters, square | square inches | 1,550.003 1
meters, square | square yards | 1.195 990 046
microns | meters | 0.000 001
microns | inches | 0.000 039 4
mils | inches | 0.001
mils | millimeters | 0.025 4
miles, nautical | kilometers | 1.852 0
miles, nautical | statute miles | 1.150 779 4
miles, statute | centimeters | 160,934.4
miles, statute | feet | 5,280
miles, statute | furlongs | 8
miles, statute | inches | 63,360
miles, statute | kilometers | 1.609 344
miles, statute | meters | 1,609.344
miles, statute | rods | 320
miles, statute | yards | 1,760
miles, square nautical | square kilometers | 3.429 904
miles, square nautical | square statute miles | 1.325
miles, square statute | acres | 640
miles, square statute | hectares | 258.998 811 033 6
miles, square statute | sections | 1
miles, square statute | square kilometers | 2.589 988 110 336
miles, square statute | square nautical miles | 0.755 miles
miles, square statute | square rods | 102,400
milligrams | grains | 0.015 432 358 35
milliliters | cubic inches | 0.061 023 744
milliliters | gallons | 0.000 264 17
milliliters | gills (US) | 0.008 453 5
milliliters | liquid ounces | 0.033 814 02
milliliters | liquid pints | 0.002 113 4
milliliters | liquid quarts | 0.001 056 7
milliliters | liters | 0.001
milliliters | minims | 16.230 73
millimeters | inches | 0.039 370 078 7
minims (US) | cubic inches | 0.003 759 77
minims (US) | gills (US) | 0.000 520 83
minims (US) | liquid ounces | 0.002 083 33
minims (US) | milliliters | 0.061 611 52
minims (US) | minims (British) | 1.041
ounces, avoirdupois | avoirdupois drams | 16
ounces, avoirdupois | avoirdupois pounds | 0.062 5
ounces, avoirdupois | grains | 437.5
ounces, avoirdupois | grams | 28.349 523 125
ounces, avoirdupois | kilograms | 0.028 349 523 125
ounces, avoirdupois | troy ounces | 0.911 458 3
ounces, avoirdupois | troy pounds | 0.075 954 86
ounces, liquid (US) | cubic feet | 0.001 044 38
ounces, liquid (US) | centiliters | 2.957 35
ounces, liquid (US) | cubic inches | 1.804 687 5
ounces, liquid (US) | gallons | 0.007 812 5
ounces, liquid (US) | gills (US) | 0.25
ounces, liquid (US) | liquid drams | 8
ounces, liquid (US) | liquid ounces (British) | 1.041
ounces, liquid (US) | liquid pints | 0.062 5
ounces, liquid (US) | liquid quarts | 0.031 25
ounces, liquid (US) | liters | 0.029 573 53
ounces, liquid (US) | milliliters | 29.573 529 6
ounces, liquid (US) | minims | 480
ounces, troy | avoirdupois drams | 17.554 29
ounces, troy | avoirdupois ounces | 1.097 143
ounces, troy | avoirdupois pounds | 0.068 571 43
ounces, troy | grains | 480
ounces, troy | grams | 31.103 476 8
ounces, troy | pennyweights | 20
ounces, troy | troy drams | 8
ounces, troy | troy pounds | 0.083 333 3
paces (US) | centimeters | 76.2
paces (US) | inches | 30
pecks (US) | bushels | 0.25
pecks (US) | cubic feet | 0.311 114
pecks (US) | cubic inches | 537.605
pecks (US) | cubic meters | 0.008 809 77
pecks (US) | cubic yards | 0.011 522 74
pecks (US) | dekaliters | 0.880 976 75
pecks (US) | dry pints | 16
pecks (US) | dry quarts | 8
pecks (US) | liters | 8.809 767 5
pecks (US) | pecks (British) | 0.968 9
pennyweights | grains | 24
pennyweights | grams | 1.555 173 84
pennyweights | troy ounces | 0.05
pints, dry (US) | bushels | 0.015 625
pints, dry (US) | cubic feet | 0.019 444 63
pints, dry (US) | cubic inches | 33.600 312 5
pints, dry (US) | dekaliters | 0.055 061 05
pints, dry (US) | dry pints (British) | 0.968 9
pints, dry (US) | dry quarts | 0.5
pints, dry (US) | liters | 0.550 610 47
pints, liquid (US) | cubic feet | 0.016 710 07
pints, liquid (US) | cubic inches | 28.875
pints, liquid (US) | deciliters | 4.731 76
pints, liquid (US) | gallons | 0.125
pints, liquid (US) | gills (US) | 4
pints, liquid (US) | liquid ounces | 16
pints, liquid (US) | liquid pints (British) | 0.832 67
pints, liquid (US) | liquid quarts | 0.5
pints, liquid (US) | liters | 0.473 176 473
pints, liquid (US) | milliliters | 473.176 473
pints, liquid (US) | minims | 7,680
points (typographical) | inches | 0.013 837
points (typographical) | millimeters | 0.351 459 8
pounds, avoirdupois | avoirdupois drams | 256
pounds, avoirdupois | avoirdupois ounces | 16
pounds, avoirdupois | grains | 7,000
pounds, avoirdupois | grams | 453.592 37
pounds, avoirdupois | kilograms | 0.453 592 37
pounds, avoirdupois | long tons | 0.000 446 428 6
pounds, avoirdupois | metric tons | 0.000 453 592 37
pounds, avoirdupois | quintals | 0.004 535 92
pounds, avoirdupois | short tons | 0.000 5
pounds, avoirdupois | troy ounces | 14.583 33
pounds, avoirdupois | troy pounds | 1.215 278
pounds, troy | avoirdupois drams | 210.651 4
pounds, troy | avoirdupois ounces | 13.165 71
pounds, troy | avoirdupois pounds | 0.822 857 1
pounds, troy | grains | 5,760
pounds, troy | grams | 373.241 721 6
pounds, troy | kilograms | 0.373 241 721 6
pounds, troy | pennyweights | 240
pounds, troy | troy ounces | 12
quarts, dry (US) | bushels | 0.031 25
quarts, dry (US) | cubic feet | 0.038 889 25
quarts, dry (US) | cubic inches | 67.200 625
quarts, dry (US) | dekaliters | 0.110 122 1
quarts, dry (US) | dry pints | 2
quarts, dry (US) | dry quarts (British) | 0.968 9
quarts, dry (US) | liters | 1.101 221
quarts, dry (US) | pecks | 0.125
quarts, dry (US) | pints, dry (US) | 2
quarts, liquid (US) | cubic feet | 0.033 420 14
quarts, liquid (US) | cubic inches | 57.75
quarts, liquid (US) | deciliters | 9.463 53
quarts, liquid (US) | gallons | 0.25
quarts, liquid (US) | gills (US) | 8
quarts, liquid (US) | liquid ounces | 32
quarts, liquid (US) | liquid pints (US) | 2
quarts, liquid (US) | liquid quarts (British) | 0.832 67
quarts, liquid (US) | liters | 0.946 352 946
quarts, liquid (US) | milliliters | 946.352 946
quarts, liquid (US) | minims | 15,360
quintals | avoirdupois pounds | 220.462 26
quintals | kilograms | 100
quintals | metric tons | 0.1
rods | feet | 16.5
rods | meters | 5.029 2
rods | yards | 5.5
rods, square | acres | 0.006 25
rods, square | square meters | 25.292 85
rods, square | square yards | 30.25
scruples | grains | 20
scruples | grams | 1.295 978 2
scruples | troy drams | 0.333
sections (US) | square kilometers | 2.589 988 1
sections (US) | square statute miles | 1
spans | centimeters | 22.86
spans | inches | 9
steres | cubic meters | 1
steres | cubic yards | 1.307 95
tablespoons | milliliters | 14.786 76
tablespoons | teaspoons | 3
teaspoons | milliliters | 4.928 922
teaspoons | tablespoons | 0.333 333
ton-miles, long | metric ton-kilometers | 1.635 169
ton-miles, short | metric ton-kilometers | 1.459 972
tons, gross register | cubic feet of permanently enclosed space | 100
tons, gross register | cubic meters of permanently enclosed space | 2.831 684 7
tons, long (deadweight) | avoirdupois ounces | 35,840
tons, long (deadweight) | avoirdupois pounds | 2,240
tons, long (deadweight) | kilograms | 1,016.046 909 8
tons, long (deadweight) | long hundredweights | 20
tons, long (deadweight) | metric tons | 1.016 046 908 8
tons, long (deadweight) | short hundredweights | 22.4
tons, long (deadweight) | short tons | 1.12
tons, metric | avoirdupois pounds | 2,204.623
tons, metric | kilograms | 1,000
tons, metric | long hundredweights | 19.684 130 3
tons, metric | long tons | 0.984 206 5
tons, metric | quintals | 10
tons, metric | short hundredweights | 22.046 23
tons, metric | short tons | 1.102 311 3
tons, metric | troy ounces | 32,150.75
tons, net register | cubic feet of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers | 100
tons, net register | cubic meters of permanently enclosed space for cargo and passengers | 2.831 684 7
tons, shipping | cubic feet of permanently enclosed cargo space | 42
tons, shipping | cubic meters of permanently enclosed cargo space | 1.189 307 574
tons, short | avoirdupois pounds | 2,000
tons, short | kilograms | 907.184 74
tons, short | long hundredweights | 17.857 14
tons, short | long tons | 0.892 857 1
tons, short | metric tons | 0.907 184 74
tons, short | short hundredweights | 20
townships (US) | sections | 36
townships (US) | square kilometers | 93.239 572
townships (US) | square statute miles | 36
miles, square statute | acres | 640
miles, square statute | hectares | 258.998 811 033 6
miles, square statute | square feet | 27,878,400
miles, square statute | square meters | 2,589,988.110 336
miles, square statute | square yards | 3,097,600
yards | centimeters | 91.44
yards | feet | 3
yards | inches | 36
yards | meters | 0.914 4
yards | miles | 0.000 568 18
yards, cubic | bushels | 21.696 227
yards, cubic | cubic feet | 27
yards, cubic | cubic inches | 46,656
yards, cubic | cubic meters | 0.764 554 857 984
yards, cubic | gallons | 201.974 0
yards, cubic | liters | 764.554 857 984
yards, cubic | pecks | 86.784 91
yards, square | acres | 0.000 206 611 6
yards, square | hectares | 0.000 083 612 736
yards, square | square centimeters | 8,361.273 6
yards, square | square feet | 9
yards, square | square inches | 1,296
yards, square | square meters | 0.836 127 36
yards, square | square miles | 0.000 000 322 830 6
This page was last updated on 21 February, 2008