Unit Converter

Unit conversion is the process of changing a measurement from one unit to another. This calculator helps you convert between different units of length, weight, volume, and temperature.

How Conversion Works

The conversion process involves multiplying or dividing by a conversion factor that relates the two units. For most unit types, the calculator first converts the input unit to a base unit (like meters for length), then converts from the base unit to the desired output unit.

Output Value = Input Value × (Conversion Factor of Input Unit ÷ Conversion Factor of Output Unit)

Types of Units

Length Units

Length units measure distance. The base unit in the metric system is the meter (m). Common conversions include meters to feet, inches to centimeters, and miles to kilometers.

Meter (m): The base unit of length in the metric system.

Kilometer (km): Equal to 1000 meters, used for long distances.

Centimeter (cm): Equal to 1/100 of a meter, used for small measurements.

Millimeter (mm): Equal to 1/1000 of a meter, used for precise measurements.

Inch (in): An imperial unit equal to 2.54 centimeters.

Foot (ft): An imperial unit equal to 12 inches or 0.3048 meters.

Yard (yd): An imperial unit equal to 3 feet or 0.9144 meters.

Mile (mi): An imperial unit equal to 1609.34 meters, used for long distances.

Weight Units

Weight units measure mass. The base unit in the metric system is the kilogram (kg). Common conversions include kilograms to pounds, grams to ounces, and tons to kilograms.

Kilogram (kg): The base unit of mass in the metric system.

Gram (g): Equal to 1/1000 of a kilogram, used for small masses.

Milligram (mg): Equal to 1/1000 of a gram, used for very small masses.

Pound (lb): An imperial unit equal to 0.453592 kilograms.

Ounce (oz): An imperial unit equal to 1/16 of a pound or 28.3495 grams.

Ton (ton): A metric ton is equal to 1000 kilograms.

Volume Units

Volume units measure the space occupied by a substance. The base unit in the metric system is the liter (L). Common conversions include liters to gallons, milliliters to fluid ounces, and cubic meters to cubic feet.

Liter (L): The base unit of volume in the metric system.

Milliliter (mL): Equal to 1/1000 of a liter, used for small volumes.

Gallon (gal): An imperial unit equal to 3.78541 liters.

Quart (qt): An imperial unit equal to 1/4 of a gallon or 0.946353 liters.

Pint (pt): An imperial unit equal to 1/8 of a gallon or 0.473176 liters.

Fluid Ounce (fl oz): An imperial unit equal to 1/128 of a gallon or 29.5735 milliliters.

Cubic Meter (m³): Equal to 1000 liters, used for large volumes.

Cubic Foot (ft³): An imperial unit equal to 0.0283168 cubic meters.

Temperature Units

Temperature units measure heat. Temperature conversions use specific formulas rather than simple multiplication factors. For example, to convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32.

Celsius (°C): The standard unit in the metric system, where water freezes at 0°C and boils at 100°C.

Fahrenheit (°F): Used in the US, where water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F.

Kelvin (K): The SI base unit of temperature, where 0K is absolute zero (-273.15°C).

Practical Applications

Unit conversion is essential in many fields, including engineering, science, medicine, cooking, and international trade. Understanding unit conversion helps in reading scientific literature, following recipes from different countries, and interpreting technical specifications.

Converting between metric and imperial units in design and construction.
Converting recipe measurements between different systems.
Standardizing measurements for experiments and research.
Understanding foreign measurements of distance, weight, and temperature.
Converting sizes for clothing, shoes, and products from different countries.

Conversion Tips

When working with unit conversions, always check that the final unit makes sense for your application. Be especially careful with temperature conversions, as they use different formulas than other unit types. In scientific work, using SI units (the modern metric system) can help avoid conversion errors.

Be mindful of significant figures when converting units to maintain accuracy.
Use multistep conversions for complex unit transformations.
Remember that temperature scales have different zero points and different increments.
Memorize common conversion factors for everyday use.