Common Conversion Factors
Approximate Conversions from U.S. Customary Measures to Metric
Length
Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
in |
inches |
2.5 |
centimeters |
cm |
ft |
feet |
30 |
centimeters |
cm |
yd |
yards |
0.9 |
meters |
m |
mi |
miles |
1.6 |
kilometers |
km |
Area
Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
in² |
square inches |
6.5 |
square centimeters |
cm² |
ft² |
square feet |
0.09 |
square meters |
m² |
yd² |
sqaure yards |
0.8 |
square meters |
m² |
mi² |
square miles |
2.6 |
square kilometers |
km² |
|
acres |
0.4 |
hectares |
ha |
Mass (weight)
Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
oz |
ounces |
28 |
grams |
g |
lb |
pounds |
0.45 |
kilograms |
kg |
|
short tons
(2000 lb) |
0.9 |
metric ton |
t |
Volume
Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
tsp |
teaspoons |
5 |
milliliters |
mL |
Tbsp |
tablespoons |
15 |
milliliters |
mL |
in³ |
cubic inches |
16 |
milliliters |
mL |
fl oz |
fluid ounces |
30 |
milliliters |
mL |
c |
cups |
0.24 |
liters |
L |
pt |
pints |
0.47 |
liters |
L |
qt |
quarts |
0.95 |
liters |
L |
gal |
gallons |
3.8 |
liters |
L |
ft³ |
cubic feet |
0.03 |
cubic meters |
m³ |
yd³ |
cubic yards |
0.76 |
cubic meters |
m³ |
Symbol |
When You Know |
Multiply By |
To Find |
Symbol |
°F |
degrees Fahrenheit |
subtract 32, multiply by 5/9 |
degrees Celsius |
°C |
°F
|
degrees Fahrenheit
|
subtract 32, multiply by 5/9, add 273.15
|
Kelvin
|
°K
|
Note: These conversion factors are published as NIST SP 365, which is a laminated metric conversion card. Copies of this publication can be requested by contacting theSI@nist.gov
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