[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":881},["ShallowReactive",2],{"guide-metric-vs-imperial":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"date":871,"description":872,"extension":873,"meta":874,"navigation":875,"path":876,"readingTime":877,"seo":878,"stem":879,"__hash__":880},"guides\u002Fguides\u002Fmetric-vs-imperial.md","Metric vs Imperial: Complete Conversion Guide",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":848},"minimark",[9,14,18,27,31,152,157,173,177,257,260,271,275,278,350,354,365,369,387,391,483,487,490,540,543,547,605,609,613,616,627,631,634,780,784,819,823,844],[10,11,13],"h2",{"id":12},"two-systems-one-world","Two Systems, One World",[15,16,17],"p",{},"Most of the world uses the metric system (meters, kilograms, Celsius). The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar primarily use the imperial system (feet, pounds, Fahrenheit). If you work across borders — and most developers do — you need to convert between them confidently.",[15,19,20,21,26],{},"Use the ",[22,23,25],"a",{"href":24},"\u002Ftools\u002Funit-converter","Unit Converter"," for instant, accurate conversions.",[10,28,30],{"id":29},"length","Length",[32,33,34,50],"table",{},[35,36,37],"thead",{},[38,39,40,44,47],"tr",{},[41,42,43],"th",{},"Metric",[41,45,46],{},"Imperial",[41,48,49],{},"Conversion Formula",[51,52,53,65,76,87,97,108,119,130,141],"tbody",{},[38,54,55,59,62],{},[56,57,58],"td",{},"1 millimeter (mm)",[56,60,61],{},"0.03937 inches",[56,63,64],{},"in = mm × 0.03937",[38,66,67,70,73],{},[56,68,69],{},"1 centimeter (cm)",[56,71,72],{},"0.3937 inches",[56,74,75],{},"in = cm × 0.3937",[38,77,78,81,84],{},[56,79,80],{},"1 meter (m)",[56,82,83],{},"3.2808 feet",[56,85,86],{},"ft = m × 3.2808",[38,88,89,91,94],{},[56,90,80],{},[56,92,93],{},"1.0936 yards",[56,95,96],{},"yd = m × 1.0936",[38,98,99,102,105],{},[56,100,101],{},"1 kilometer (km)",[56,103,104],{},"0.6214 miles",[56,106,107],{},"mi = km × 0.6214",[38,109,110,113,116],{},[56,111,112],{},"1 inch (in)",[56,114,115],{},"2.54 cm",[56,117,118],{},"cm = in × 2.54",[38,120,121,124,127],{},[56,122,123],{},"1 foot (ft)",[56,125,126],{},"0.3048 m",[56,128,129],{},"m = ft × 0.3048",[38,131,132,135,138],{},[56,133,134],{},"1 yard (yd)",[56,136,137],{},"0.9144 m",[56,139,140],{},"m = yd × 0.9144",[38,142,143,146,149],{},[56,144,145],{},"1 mile (mi)",[56,147,148],{},"1.6093 km",[56,150,151],{},"km = mi × 1.6093",[153,154,156],"h3",{"id":155},"quick-estimates","Quick Estimates",[158,159,160,164,167,170],"ul",{},[161,162,163],"li",{},"1 inch ≈ width of a thumb",[161,165,166],{},"1 meter ≈ 3 feet 3 inches",[161,168,169],{},"1 kilometer ≈ 0.6 miles (roughly two-thirds of a mile)",[161,171,172],{},"100 km\u002Fh ≈ 62 mph",[10,174,176],{"id":175},"weight-mass","Weight \u002F Mass",[32,178,179,189],{},[35,180,181],{},[38,182,183,185,187],{},[41,184,43],{},[41,186,46],{},[41,188,49],{},[51,190,191,202,213,224,235,246],{},[38,192,193,196,199],{},[56,194,195],{},"1 gram (g)",[56,197,198],{},"0.03527 ounces",[56,200,201],{},"oz = g × 0.03527",[38,203,204,207,210],{},[56,205,206],{},"1 kilogram (kg)",[56,208,209],{},"2.2046 pounds",[56,211,212],{},"lb = kg × 2.2046",[38,214,215,218,221],{},[56,216,217],{},"1 ounce (oz)",[56,219,220],{},"28.3495 g",[56,222,223],{},"g = oz × 28.3495",[38,225,226,229,232],{},[56,227,228],{},"1 pound (lb)",[56,230,231],{},"0.4536 kg",[56,233,234],{},"kg = lb × 0.4536",[38,236,237,240,243],{},[56,238,239],{},"1 stone (st)",[56,241,242],{},"6.3503 kg",[56,244,245],{},"kg = st × 6.3503",[38,247,248,251,254],{},[56,249,250],{},"1 metric tonne",[56,252,253],{},"1.1023 US tons",[56,255,256],{},"ton = t × 1.1023",[153,258,156],{"id":259},"quick-estimates-1",[158,261,262,265,268],{},[161,263,264],{},"1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb",[161,266,267],{},"100 g ≈ 3.5 oz",[161,269,270],{},"A typical car weighs about 1.5 tonnes (≈ 3300 lb)",[10,272,274],{"id":273},"temperature","Temperature",[15,276,277],{},"This is the trickiest conversion because the zero points differ.",[32,279,280,293],{},[35,281,282],{},[38,283,284,287,290],{},[41,285,286],{},"Metric (°C)",[41,288,289],{},"Imperial (°F)",[41,291,292],{},"Context",[51,294,295,306,317,328,339],{},[38,296,297,300,303],{},[56,298,299],{},"-40 °C",[56,301,302],{},"-40 °F",[56,304,305],{},"Where both scales meet",[38,307,308,311,314],{},[56,309,310],{},"0 °C",[56,312,313],{},"32 °F",[56,315,316],{},"Freezing point of water",[38,318,319,322,325],{},[56,320,321],{},"20 °C",[56,323,324],{},"68 °F",[56,326,327],{},"Comfortable room temperature",[38,329,330,333,336],{},[56,331,332],{},"37 °C",[56,334,335],{},"98.6 °F",[56,337,338],{},"Normal body temperature",[38,340,341,344,347],{},[56,342,343],{},"100 °C",[56,345,346],{},"212 °F",[56,348,349],{},"Boiling point of water",[153,351,353],{"id":352},"conversion-formulas","Conversion Formulas",[355,356,361],"pre",{"className":357,"code":359,"language":360},[358],"language-text","°F = (°C × 9\u002F5) + 32\n°C = (°F - 32) × 5\u002F9\n","text",[362,363,359],"code",{"__ignoreMap":364},"",[153,366,368],{"id":367},"quick-mental-math","Quick Mental Math",[158,370,371,379],{},[161,372,373,374],{},"To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit: double it, subtract 10%, add 32.\n",[158,375,376],{},[161,377,378],{},"Example: 20°C → 40 → 36 → 68°F ✓",[161,380,381,382],{},"To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius: subtract 32, halve it, add 10%.\n",[158,383,384],{},[161,385,386],{},"Example: 68°F → 36 → 18 → 19.8°C ≈ 20°C ✓",[10,388,390],{"id":389},"volume","Volume",[32,392,393,404],{},[35,394,395],{},[38,396,397,399,402],{},[41,398,43],{},[41,400,401],{},"Imperial (US)",[41,403,49],{},[51,405,406,417,428,439,450,461,472],{},[38,407,408,411,414],{},[56,409,410],{},"1 milliliter (mL)",[56,412,413],{},"0.03381 fl oz (US)",[56,415,416],{},"fl oz = mL × 0.03381",[38,418,419,422,425],{},[56,420,421],{},"1 liter (L)",[56,423,424],{},"0.2642 US gallons",[56,426,427],{},"gal = L × 0.2642",[38,429,430,433,436],{},[56,431,432],{},"1 US fluid ounce",[56,434,435],{},"29.5735 mL",[56,437,438],{},"mL = fl oz × 29.5735",[38,440,441,444,447],{},[56,442,443],{},"1 US cup",[56,445,446],{},"236.588 mL",[56,448,449],{},"mL = cup × 236.588",[38,451,452,455,458],{},[56,453,454],{},"1 US pint",[56,456,457],{},"473.176 mL",[56,459,460],{},"mL = pt × 473.176",[38,462,463,466,469],{},[56,464,465],{},"1 US quart",[56,467,468],{},"946.353 mL",[56,470,471],{},"mL = qt × 946.353",[38,473,474,477,480],{},[56,475,476],{},"1 US gallon",[56,478,479],{},"3.7854 L",[56,481,482],{},"L = gal × 3.7854",[153,484,486],{"id":485},"imperial-vs-us-liquid-measures","Imperial vs US Liquid Measures",[15,488,489],{},"The UK imperial system differs from the US system:",[32,491,492,505],{},[35,493,494],{},[38,495,496,499,502],{},[41,497,498],{},"Unit",[41,500,501],{},"US",[41,503,504],{},"UK (Imperial)",[51,506,507,518,529],{},[38,508,509,512,515],{},[56,510,511],{},"Fluid ounce",[56,513,514],{},"29.57 mL",[56,516,517],{},"28.41 mL",[38,519,520,523,526],{},[56,521,522],{},"Pint",[56,524,525],{},"473 mL",[56,527,528],{},"568 mL",[38,530,531,534,537],{},[56,532,533],{},"Gallon",[56,535,536],{},"3.785 L",[56,538,539],{},"4.546 L",[15,541,542],{},"A UK pint is about 20% larger than a US pint — important when ordering beer.",[10,544,546],{"id":545},"area","Area",[32,548,549,559],{},[35,550,551],{},[38,552,553,555,557],{},[41,554,43],{},[41,556,46],{},[41,558,49],{},[51,560,561,572,583,594],{},[38,562,563,566,569],{},[56,564,565],{},"1 sq centimeter (cm²)",[56,567,568],{},"0.155 sq in",[56,570,571],{},"in² = cm² × 0.155",[38,573,574,577,580],{},[56,575,576],{},"1 sq meter (m²)",[56,578,579],{},"10.7639 sq ft",[56,581,582],{},"ft² = m² × 10.7639",[38,584,585,588,591],{},[56,586,587],{},"1 sq kilometer (km²)",[56,589,590],{},"0.3861 sq mi",[56,592,593],{},"mi² = km² × 0.3861",[38,595,596,599,602],{},[56,597,598],{},"1 hectare",[56,600,601],{},"2.4711 acres",[56,603,604],{},"acre = ha × 2.4711",[10,606,608],{"id":607},"why-developers-need-both","Why Developers Need Both",[153,610,612],{"id":611},"screen-sizes-and-dpi","Screen Sizes and DPI",[15,614,615],{},"CSS uses pixels, but physical dimensions often come in inches or centimeters. When designing for print or high-DPI screens, you may need to convert:",[158,617,618,624],{},[161,619,620,621],{},"DPI (dots per inch) ↔ dpcm (dots per centimeter): 1 inch = 2.54 cm, so ",[362,622,623],{},"dpcm = DPI \u002F 2.54",[161,625,626],{},"A 27-inch monitor diagonal is 68.58 cm",[153,628,630],{"id":629},"api-data","API Data",[15,632,633],{},"Many international APIs return metric values. If your frontend serves US users, you'll need to convert before display. Always store in metric and convert at the presentation layer:",[355,635,639],{"className":636,"code":637,"language":638,"meta":364,"style":364},"language-typescript shiki shiki-themes github-light github-dark","function displayDistance(km: number, locale: string): string {\n  if (locale === 'en-US') {\n    return `${(km * 0.6214).toFixed(1)} mi`\n  }\n  return `${km.toFixed(1)} km`\n}\n","typescript",[362,640,641,690,709,744,750,774],{"__ignoreMap":364},[642,643,646,650,654,658,662,665,669,672,675,677,680,683,685,687],"span",{"class":644,"line":645},"line",1,[642,647,649],{"class":648},"szBVR","function",[642,651,653],{"class":652},"sScJk"," displayDistance",[642,655,657],{"class":656},"sVt8B","(",[642,659,661],{"class":660},"s4XuR","km",[642,663,664],{"class":648},":",[642,666,668],{"class":667},"sj4cs"," number",[642,670,671],{"class":656},", ",[642,673,674],{"class":660},"locale",[642,676,664],{"class":648},[642,678,679],{"class":667}," string",[642,681,682],{"class":656},")",[642,684,664],{"class":648},[642,686,679],{"class":667},[642,688,689],{"class":656}," {\n",[642,691,693,696,699,702,706],{"class":644,"line":692},2,[642,694,695],{"class":648},"  if",[642,697,698],{"class":656}," (locale ",[642,700,701],{"class":648},"===",[642,703,705],{"class":704},"sZZnC"," 'en-US'",[642,707,708],{"class":656},") {\n",[642,710,712,715,718,720,722,725,728,731,734,736,739,741],{"class":644,"line":711},3,[642,713,714],{"class":648},"    return",[642,716,717],{"class":704}," `${",[642,719,657],{"class":704},[642,721,661],{"class":656},[642,723,724],{"class":648}," *",[642,726,727],{"class":667}," 0.6214",[642,729,730],{"class":704},").",[642,732,733],{"class":652},"toFixed",[642,735,657],{"class":704},[642,737,738],{"class":667},"1",[642,740,682],{"class":704},[642,742,743],{"class":704},"} mi`\n",[642,745,747],{"class":644,"line":746},4,[642,748,749],{"class":656},"  }\n",[642,751,753,756,758,760,763,765,767,769,771],{"class":644,"line":752},5,[642,754,755],{"class":648},"  return",[642,757,717],{"class":704},[642,759,661],{"class":656},[642,761,762],{"class":704},".",[642,764,733],{"class":652},[642,766,657],{"class":704},[642,768,738],{"class":667},[642,770,682],{"class":704},[642,772,773],{"class":704},"} km`\n",[642,775,777],{"class":644,"line":776},6,[642,778,779],{"class":656},"}\n",[10,781,783],{"id":782},"common-mistakes","Common Mistakes",[785,786,787,794,800,806],"ol",{},[161,788,789,793],{},[790,791,792],"strong",{},"Confusing mass and weight."," A kilogram is mass; a pound is technically force. In everyday use they're interchangeable, but in physics calculations they are not.",[161,795,796,799],{},[790,797,798],{},"Using US gallons for UK recipes."," A UK gallon is 4.546 L vs the US 3.785 L — a 20% difference.",[161,801,802,805],{},[790,803,804],{},"Forgetting absolute zero."," Temperature conversion must account for offset (the +32 or -32), not just the ratio.",[161,807,808,811,812,815,816,762],{},[790,809,810],{},"Rounding too early."," Chain conversions accumulate error. Convert in one step: ",[362,813,814],{},"kg → lb"," not ",[362,817,818],{},"kg → g → oz → lb",[10,820,822],{"id":821},"related-resources","Related Resources",[158,824,825,831,838],{},[161,826,827],{},[22,828,830],{"href":829},"\u002Fguides\u002Funit-conversion-tips","Unit Conversion Tips: How to Convert Accurately Every Time",[161,832,833,837],{},[22,834,836],{"href":835},"\u002Fcheat-sheets\u002Funit-conversion","Unit Conversion Cheat Sheet"," — printable reference card",[161,839,840,843],{},[22,841,842],{"href":24},"Unit Converter Tool"," — instant browser-based conversions",[845,846,847],"style",{},"html pre.shiki code .szBVR, html code.shiki .szBVR{--shiki-default:#D73A49;--shiki-dark:#F97583}html pre.shiki code .sScJk, html code.shiki .sScJk{--shiki-default:#6F42C1;--shiki-dark:#B392F0}html pre.shiki code .sVt8B, html code.shiki .sVt8B{--shiki-default:#24292E;--shiki-dark:#E1E4E8}html pre.shiki code .s4XuR, html code.shiki .s4XuR{--shiki-default:#E36209;--shiki-dark:#FFAB70}html pre.shiki code .sj4cs, html code.shiki .sj4cs{--shiki-default:#005CC5;--shiki-dark:#79B8FF}html pre.shiki code .sZZnC, html code.shiki .sZZnC{--shiki-default:#032F62;--shiki-dark:#9ECBFF}html .default .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-default);background: var(--shiki-default-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-default-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-default-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-default-text-decoration);}html .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-default);background: var(--shiki-default-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-default-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-default-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-default-text-decoration);}html .dark .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-dark);background: var(--shiki-dark-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-dark-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-dark-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-dark-text-decoration);}html.dark .shiki span {color: var(--shiki-dark);background: var(--shiki-dark-bg);font-style: var(--shiki-dark-font-style);font-weight: var(--shiki-dark-font-weight);text-decoration: var(--shiki-dark-text-decoration);}",{"title":364,"searchDepth":692,"depth":692,"links":849},[850,851,854,857,861,864,865,869,870],{"id":12,"depth":692,"text":13},{"id":29,"depth":692,"text":30,"children":852},[853],{"id":155,"depth":711,"text":156},{"id":175,"depth":692,"text":176,"children":855},[856],{"id":259,"depth":711,"text":156},{"id":273,"depth":692,"text":274,"children":858},[859,860],{"id":352,"depth":711,"text":353},{"id":367,"depth":711,"text":368},{"id":389,"depth":692,"text":390,"children":862},[863],{"id":485,"depth":711,"text":486},{"id":545,"depth":692,"text":546},{"id":607,"depth":692,"text":608,"children":866},[867,868],{"id":611,"depth":711,"text":612},{"id":629,"depth":711,"text":630},{"id":782,"depth":692,"text":783},{"id":821,"depth":692,"text":822},"2026-05-26","Full comparison of metric and imperial measurement systems with conversion formulas for length, weight, temperature, and volume.","md",{"immutable":875},true,"\u002Fguides\u002Fmetric-vs-imperial",9,{"title":5,"description":872},"guides\u002Fmetric-vs-imperial","LmyLYVR04IoQSucB6FzR-91X47IwZfQndHBugO6YQUM",1780401324187]