SI - The Metrics International System of Units

The International System of Units (SI) is a modernized version of the metric system established by international
agreement.

SI provides a logical and interconnected framework for all measurements in science, industry, and commerce. The
metric system is much simpler to use than the existing English system since all its units of measurement are
divisible by 10.

Conversion Factors
The following list provides the conversion relationship between U.S. customary units and SI (International System )
units. The proper conversion procedure is to multiply the specified value on the left (primarily U.S. customary
values) by the conversion factor exactly as given below and then round to the appropriate number of significant
digits desired. For example, to convert 11.4 ft to meters: 11.4 X 0.3048 = 3.47472, which rounds to 3.47 meters. Do
not round either value before performing the multiplication, as accuracy would be reduced.

Conversion Symbols
The prefixes and symbols listed below are commonly used to form names and symbols of the decimal multiples and
sub multiples of the SI units.

INTERIM UNITS OF MEASURE

 
AS USED IN THE METRIC
STANDARD ITEM TABLE EQUIVALENT
CUBIC YARD cubic meter (m3)
GALLON/MGALLON liter (L), cubic meter (m3)
HUNDRED WEIGHT kilogram (kg)
LINEAR FOOT meter (m)
MBOARD FEET cubic meter (m3)
MILE kilometer (km)
NAUTICAL MILE Nautical Mile
POUND kilogram (kg) for mass
newton (N) for force
SQUARE FOOT square meter (m2)
SQUARE YARD square meter (m2)
TON tonne (t)
 
 
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT METRIC
USED IN SPECIAL PROVISIONS EQUIVALENT
AND GENERAL SPECIAL PROVISIONS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GAGE;GAUGE METAL THICKNESS gage (mm)
FAHRENHEIT TEMPERATURE kelvin (K) or degree Celsius (C)
FATHOM WATER DEPTH meter (m)
FOOT/LBS TORQUE newton-meter (N-m)
LBS/SQ. IN PRESSURES kilopascal (kPa)
megapascal (MPa)
(if very large number)
LBS/SQ. FT kilopascal (kPa)
LBS/SQ YD kilopascal (kPa)
INCH LINEAR millimeter (mm)
KIPS;KSI TENSION kilopascal (kPa) or
megapascal (MPa)
LBS/CU. FT. DENSITY kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m3)
MIL THICKNESS micrometer (um)
FT. LBS./SEC. HORSE POWER watt (W)
 

Length Conversion Factors

Length
To convert from to multiply by
mile (US Statute) kilometer (km) 1.609347
inch (in) millimeter (mm) 25.4 *
inch (in) centimeter (cm) 2.54 *
inch (in) meter (m) 0.0254 *
foot (ft) meter (m) 0.3048 *
yard (yd) meter (m) 0.9144 *

 Area Conversion Factors

Area
To convert from to multiply by
square foot (sq ft) square meter (sq m) 0.09290304 E
square inch (sq in) square meter (sq m) 0.00064516 E
square yard (sq yd) square meter (sq m) 0.83612736 E
acre (ac) hectare (ha) 0.4047

Volume Conversion Factors

Volume
To convert from to multiply by
cubic inch (cu in) cubic meter (cu m) 0.00001639
cubic foot (cu ft) cubic meter (cu m) 0.02831685
cubic yard (cu yd) cubic meter (cu m) 0.7645549
gallon (gal) liter 4.546
Canada liquid
gallon (gal) cubic meter (cu m) 0.004546
Canada liquid
gallon (gal) liter 3.7854118
U.S. liquid**
gallon (gal) cubic meter (cu m) 0.00378541
U.S. liquid
fluid ounce (fl oz) milliliters (ml) 29.57353
fluid ounce (fl oz) cubic meter (cu m) 0.00002957
Force Conversion Factors
Force
To convert from to multiply by
kip (1000 lb) kilogram (kg) 453.6
kip (1000 lb) newton (N) 4,448.222
pound (lb) kilogram (kg) 0.4535924
avoirdupois
pound (lb) newton (N) 4.448222

Pressure or Stress Conversion Factors

Pressure or stress
kip per square megapascal (MPa) 6.894757
inch (ksi)
pound per kilogram per 4.8824
square foot (psf) square meter (kg/sq m)
pound per square pascal (Pa) 47.88
foot (psf)
pound per square pascal (Pa) 6,894.757
inch (psi)
pound per square megapascal (MPa) 0.00689476
inch (psi)
 

Mass Conversion Factors

Mass (weight)
pound (lb) kilogram (kg) 0.4535924
avoirdupois
ton, 2000 lb kilogram (kg) 907.1848
grain kilogram (kg) 0.0000648
Mass (weight) per length
kip per linear kilogram per meter (kg/m) 0.001488
foot (klf)
pound per linear kilogram per meter (kg/m) 1.488
foot (plf)
Mass per volume (density)
pound per cubic kilogram per cubic 16.01846
foot (pcf) meter (kg/cu m)
pound per cubic kilogram per cubic 0.5933
yard (lb/cu yd) meter (kg/cu m)

Temperature Conversion Factors

Temperature
degree Fahrenheit (F) degree Celsius (C) tc=(tF-32)/1.8
degree Fahrenheit (F) kelvin (K) tk = (tF+459.7)/1.8
kelvin (K) degree Celsius (C) tc=tk-273.15
Energy and heat
British thermal joule (J) 1055.056
unit(Btu)
calorie (cal) joule (J) 4.1868E
Btu/degree F x hr x ft2 W/m2 - degree K 5.678263
kilowatt-hour (kwh) joule (J) 3,600,000E
British thermal calories per gram 0.55556
 unit per pound (Btu/lb) (cal/g)
British thermal unit watt (W) 0.2930711
per hour (Btu/hr)

Power Conversion Factors

Power
horsepower (hp) watt (W) 745.6999 E
(550 ft-lb/sec)
Velocity
mile per hour (mph) kilometer per hour(km/hr) 1.60934
mile per hour (mph) meter per second (m/s) 0.44704
Permeability
darcy centimeter per 0.000968
second (cm/sec)
feet per day (ft/day) centimeter per 0.000352
second (cm/sec)
----------
*indicates that the factor given is exact.
**One U.S. gallon equals 0.8327 Canadian gallon.
t--A pascal equals 1.000 newton per square meter.

Note:
One U.S. gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds (U.S.) at 60 degrees F.
One cubic foot of water weighs 62.4 pounds (U.S.).
One milliliter of water has a mass of 1 gram and has a volume of one cubic
centimeter.
One U.S. bag of cement weighs 94 lbs.

More Useful Conversion Factors

USEFUL CONVERSION FACTORS

Quantity From English To Metric Multiply

Units Units by*

Length mile km 1.609347

yard m 0.9144**
foot m 0.3048**
inch mm 25.40**

Area square mile km 2 2.590

acre m 2 4047
acre hectare 0.4047
square yard m 2 0.8361
square foot m 2 0.092 90
square inch mm 2 645.2

Volume acre foot m 3 1 233

cubic yard m 3 0.7646
cubic foot m 3 0.028 32
cubic foot L (1000 cm 3) 28.32
100 board feet m 3 0.2360
gallon L (1000 cm 3) 3.785

Mass lb kg 0.4536
kip (1000 lb) metric ton (1000kg) 0.4536

---------------------
 * 4 significant digits
**denotes exact conversion

USEFUL CONVERSION FACTORS

Quantity From English Units To Metric Units Multiply by*

Moment of mass lb . ft kg . m 0.1383

Moment of inertia lb . ft2 kg . m 2 0.042 14

Second moment of area in4 mm4 416 200

Section modulus in3 mm3 16 390

Power ton (refrig) kW 3.517

Btu/s kW 1.054
hp (electric) W 745.7
Btu/h W 0.2931

Volume rate of flow ft 3/s m 3/s 0.028 32

cfm m 3/s 0.000 471 9
cfm L/s 0.4719
mgd m 3/s 0.0438

Velocity, speed ft/s m/s **0.3048

Acceleration f/s 2 m/s 2 0.3048

Momentum lb . ft/sec kg . m/s 0.1383

Angular momentum lb . ft 2/s kg . m 2/s 0.042 14

Plane Angle degree rad 0.017 45

mrad 17.45
---------------------------------
* 4 significant digits
**denotes exact conversion

Sheet Metal Conversion Factors

SHEET METAL Most specification references use gage number followed by the decimal inch thickness. Example:
22 gage (0.034 inch) Metric specifications use the absolute mm thickness. It is not the intent of this guidance to
change the thickness of currently used sheeting. The following chart may be used to specify sheet metal. The
thickness under "Specify" is thinner than the actual gage thickness, since specifications give minimum thickness.

Gage Inch Exact Specify Percent Thinner

(mm) (mm) Than "Exact"
Value
32 0.0134 0.3404 0.34 0.1
30 0.0157 0.3988 0.39 2.2
28 0.0187 0.4750 0.47 1.1
26 0.0217 0.5512 0.55 0.2
24 0.0276 0.7010 0.70 0.1
22 0.0336 0.8534 0.85 0.4
20 0.0396 1.0058 1.0 0.6
18 0.0516 1.3106 1.3 0.8
16 0.0635 1.6129 1.6 0.8
14 0.0785 1.9939 1.9 4.7
12 0.1084 2.7534 2.7 1.9
10 0.1382 3.5103 3.5 0.3
8 0.1681 4.2697 4.2 1.6
This schedule was developed since no existing material was found to clearly identify existing sheeting in metric
units. Until a more efficient method is developed to address this issue, specifiers may wish to retain the gage
number in specifications, and couple this with a rounded mm size in parenthesis.

Hard Conversions for Construction Materials

HARD CONVERSION FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
Structural Steel, M270

Min. Tensile Strength Min. Yield Strength Min. Yield

Strength
Grade (MPa) (MPa)
(ksi)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
36 400 250 36
50 450 345 50
50W 485 345 50
70W 620 480 70
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Reinforcing Bars, M31M

Grade Tensile and Yield Strengths

Metric English Tensile Strength Min. Yield Strength Min. Yield
Strength
Value Value (MPa) (MPa)
(ksi)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
300 40 500 300 40
400 60 600 400 60
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------

Coefficient of Thermal Expansion

Metric Value English Value

--------------------------------------------
Steel 0.0000117/oC 0.0000065/oF
Concrete 0.0000108/oC 0.000006/oF
--------------------------------------------
Unit Weights

Metric Value English Value

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steel 7848.3 kg/m3 490 pcf
Concrete 2402.5 kg/m3 150 pcf
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pipe Conversion Factors

Pipe is one of the most ubiquitous products in construction. It is made of a wide variety of materials, including
galvanized steel, black steel, copper, cast iron, concrete, and various plastics such as ABS, PVC, CPVC,
polyethylene, and polybutylene, among others.
But like wood 2-by-4's which are not really 2 inches by 4 inches, pipe is identified by "nominal" or "trade" names that
are related only loosely to actual dimensions. For instance, a 2-inch galvanized steel pipe has n inside diameter of
about 2-1/8 inches and an outside diameter of about 2-5/8 inches. It is called "2-inch pipe" only for the sake of
convenience.

Since few, if any, pipe products have actual dimensions that are in even, round inch-pound numbers, there is no
need to convert them to even, round metric numbers. Instead, only their names will change--from inch-pound to
metric. Pipe cross sections will not change. Fittings, flanges, couplings, valves, and other piping components will be
renamed in like manner as will pipe threads. Here are the inch-pound names for pipe products (called NPS or
"nominal pipe size") and their metric equivalents (called DN or "diameter nominal"). The metric names conform to
International Standards Organization (ISO) usage and apply to all plumbing, natural gas, heating oil, drainage, and
miscellaneous piping used in buildings and civil works projects.

NPS DN NPS DN
----------------------------------------
1/8" 6 mm 8" 200 mm
3/16" 7 mm 10" 250 mm
1/4" 8 mm 12" 300 mm
3/8" 10 mm 14" 350 mm
1/2" 15 mm 16" 400 mm
5/8" 18 mm 18" 450 mm
3/4" 20 mm 20" 500 mm
1" 25 mm 24" 600 mm
1-1/4" 32 mm 28" 700 mm
1-1/2" 40 mm 30" 750 mm
2" 50 mm 32" 800 mm
2-1/2" 65 mm 36" 900 mm
3" 80 mm 40" 1000 mm
3-1/2" 90 mm 44" 1100 mm
4" 100 mm 48" 1200 mm
4-1/2" 115 mm 52" 1300 mm
5" 125 mm 56" 1400 mm
6" 150 mm 60" 1500 mm
**(For pipe over 60 inches, use 1 inch equals 25 mm)
 CONVERSION FACTORS

Length Area
12 inches = 1 foot 144 sq. inches = 1 square foot
3 feet = 1 yard 9 sq. feet = 1 square yard
220 yards = 1 furlong 4840 sq. yards = 1 acre
8 furlongs = 1 mile 640 acres = 1 square mile
5280 feet = 1 mile 1 sq.mile = 1 section
1760 yards = 1 mile 36 sections = 1 township

Volume
1728 cu. inches = 1 cubic foot
27 cu. feet = 1 cubic yard

Capacity (Dry) Capacity (Liquid)

16 fluid ounces = 1 pint
2 pints = 1 quart 4 gills = 1 pint
8 quarts = 1 peck 2 pints = 1 quart
4 pecks = 1 bushel 4 quarts = 1 gallon (8 pints)

Mass
437.5 grains = 1 ounce Troy Weights
16 ounces = 1 pound (7000 grains) 24 grains = 1 pennyweight
14 pounds = 1 stone 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce (480 grains)
100 pounds = 1 hundredweight [cwt] 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
20 cwt = 1 ton (2000 pounds)

Apothecaries' Measures Apothecaries' Weights

60 minims = 1 fl.dram 20 grains = 1 scruple
8 fl.drams = 1 fl.ounce 3 scruples = 1 dram
16 fl.ounces = 1 pint 8 drams = 1 ounce (480 grains)
12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
LENGTH

angstroms divide by 10 000 000 000 #

astronomical units x 149 598 550 000
barleycorns x 0.008 467
centimetres x 0.01 #
chains (surveyors') x 20.1168 #
cubits x (0.45 to 0.5)
ells (UK) x 0.875 (but many variations)
ems (pica) x 0.004 233 3
fathoms x 1.8288 #

feet (UK and US) x 0.3048 #

feet (US survey) x 0.304 800 609 6
furlongs x 201.168 #
hands x 0.1016 #
inches x 0.0254 #
kilometres x 1000 #
leagues x (4000 to 5000)
light years x 9 460 500 000 000 000
links (surveyors') x 0.201 168 #

metres [m] 1

microns (=micrometres) x 0.000 001 #

miles (UK and US) x 1609.344 #
miles (nautical) x 1852 #
parsecs x 30 856 770 000 000 000
perch (=rods or poles) x 5.0292 #
picas (computer) x 0.004 233 333
picas (printers') x 0.004 217 518
points (computer) x 0.000 352 777 8
points (printers') x 0.000 351 459 8
yards x 0.9144 #
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AREA

acres x 4046.856 422 4 #

ares x 100 #
circular inches x 0.000 506 707 479
hectares x 10 000 #
hides x 485 000 (with wide variations)
roods x 1011.714 105 6 #
square centimetres x 0.000 1 #
square feet (UK and US) x 0.092 903 04 #
square feet (US survey) x 0.092 903 411 613
square inches x 0.000 645 16 #
square kilometres x 1 000 000 #

square metres 1

square miles x 2 589 988.110 336 #

square millimetres
squares (of timber)
square rods (or poles)
square yards
townships
x 0.000 001 #
x 9.290 304 #
x 25.292 852 64 #
x 0.836 127 36 #
x 93 239 571.972

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
VOLUME

barrels (oil) x 158.987 294 928 #

bushels (UK) x 36.368 72 #
bushels (US) x 35.239 070 166 88 #
centilitres x 0.01 #
cubic centimetres x 0.001 #
cubic decimetres 1
cubic decametres x 1 000 000 #
cubic feet x 28.316 846 592 #
cubic inches x 0.016 387 064 #

cubic metres x 1000 #

cubic millimetres
cubic yards
decilitres
fluid ounces (UK)
fluid ounces (US)
gallons (UK)
gallons, dry (US)
gallons, liquid (US)
x 0.000 001 #
x 764.554 857 984 #
x 0.1 #
x 0.028 413 062 5 #
x 0.029 573 529 562 5 #
x 4.546 09 #
x 4.404 883 770 86 #
x 3.785 411 784 #

litres [l or L] 1

litres (1901 - 1964) x 1.000 028

millilitres x 0.001 #
pints (UK) x 0.568 261 25 #
pints, dry (US) x 0.550 610 471 357 5 #
pints, liquid (US) x 0.473 176 473 #
quarts (UK) x 1.136 522 5 #
quarts, dry (US) x 1.101 220 942 715 #
quarts, liquid (US) x 0.946 352 946 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
MASS

carats, metric x 0.000 2 #

grains x 0.000 064 798 91 #
grams x 0.001 #
hundredweights, long x 50.802 345 44 #
hundredweights, short x 45.359 237 #

kilograms [kg] 1

ounces, avoirdupois x 0.028 349 523 125 #

ounces, troy x 0.031 103 476 8 #
pounds x 0.453 592 37 #
slugs (or g-pounds) x 14.593 903
stones x 6.350 293 18 #
tons (UK or long) x 1016.046 908 8 #
tons (US or short) x 907.184 74 #
tonnes x 1000 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DENSITY

grains/gallon(UK) divide by 70 157

grains/gallon(US) divide by 58 418
grams/cubic centimetre 1
grams/litre divide by 1000 #
grams/millilitre 1
kilograms/cubic metre divide by 1000 #
megagrams/cubic metre 1
milligrams/millilitre divide by 1000 #
milligrams/litre divide by 1 000 000 #

kilograms/litre 1

ounces/cubic inch x 1.729 994 044

ounces/gallon(UK)
ounces/gallon(US)
pounds/cubic inch
pounds/cubic foot
pounds/gallon(UK)
pounds/gallon(US)
tonnes/cubic metre
tons(UK)/cubic yard
tons(US)/cubic yard
x 0.006 236 023
x 0.007 489 152
x 27.679 905
x 0.016 018 463
x 0.099 776 373
x 0.119 826 427
1
x 1.328 939 184
x 1.186 552 843

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
ENERGY
British thermal units(IT)x 1055.056
Btu (th) x 1054.350
Btu (mean) x 1055.87
calories - cal (IT) x 4.1868 #
 - cal (th) x 4.184 #
- cal (mean) x 4.190 02
- cal (15C) x 4.185 80
- cal (20C) x 4.181 90
Calorie (food) x 4186 (approx.)
centigrade heat units x 1900.4
ergs divide by 10 000 000 #
foot pounds-force x 1.355 818
foot poundals x 0.042 140
gigajoules [GJ] x 1000 000 000 #
horsepower hours x 2 684 520 (approx.)

joules [J] 1

kilocalories (IT) x 4186.8 #

kilocalories (th) x 4184 #
kilogram-force metres x 9.806 65 #
kilojoules [kJ] x 1000 #
kilowatt hours [kWh] x 3 600 000 #
megajoules [MJ] x 1 000 000 #
newton metres [Nm] x 1 #
therms x 105 500 000 (approx.)
watt seconds [Ws] 1
watt hours [Wh] x 3600 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
FORCE

dynes divide by 100 000 #

kilograms force x 9.806 65 #
kilonewtons [kN] x 1000 #
kips x 4448.222
meganewtons [MN] x 1 000 000 #

newtons [N] 1

pounds force x 4.448 222

poundals x 0.138 255
sthenes (=kN) x 1000
tonnes force x 9806.65 #
tons(UK) force x 9964.016
tons(US) force x 8896.443

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To change into
miles per gallon (UK) miles per gallon (US) multiply by 0.833
miles per gallon (UK) miles per litre multiply by 0.22
miles per litre miles per gallon (UK) multiply by 4.546
miles per gallon (UK) kilometres per litre multiply by 0.354

miles per gallon (US) miles per gallon (UK) multiply by 1.2
miles per gallon (US) miles per litre multiply by 0.2642
miles per litre miles per gallon (US) multiply by 3.785
miles per gallon (US) kilometres per litre multiply by 0.4251

X miles per gallon gallons per 100 miles: divide 100 by X

(both gallons must of the same type)

X miles per gallon (UK) litres per 100 km: divide 282.5 by X
X miles per gallon (US) litres per 100 km: divide 235.2 by X
X km per litre litres per 100 km: divide 100 by X
X miles per litre litres per 100 km: divide 62.14 by X
POWER

Btu/hour x 0.293 071

Btu/minute x 17.584 267
Btu/second x 1055.056
calories/hour x 0.001 163 #
calories/minute x 0.069 78 #
calories/second x 4.1868 #
ft lb-force/minute x 0.022 597
ft lb-force/second x 1.355 82
gigawatts [GW] x 1 000 000 000
horsepower (electric) x 746 #
horsepower (metric) x 735.499

watts [W] 1

joules/hour divide by 3600 #

joules/minute divide by 60 #
joules/second 1
kilocalories/hour x 1.163
kilocalories/minute x 69.78
kg-force metres/hour x 0.002 724
kg-force metres/minute x 0.163 444
kilowatts [kW] x 1000 #
megawatts [MW] x 1 000 000 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRESSURE

atmospheres x 101 325 #

bars x 100 000 #
centimetres of mercury x 1333.22
centimetres of water x 98.066 5 #
feet of water x 2989.066 92 #
hectopascals [hPa] x 100 #
inches of water x 249.088 91 #
inches of mercury x 3386.388
kg-force/sq.centimetre x 98 066.5 #
kg-force/sq.metre x 9.806 65 #
kilonewton/sq.metre x 1000 #
kilopascal [kPa] x 1000 #
kips/sq.inch x 6 894 760
meganewtons/sq.metre x 1 000 000 #
metres of water x 9806.65 #
millibars x 100 #

pascals [Pa] 1

millimetres of mercury x 133.322

millimetres of water x 9.806 65 #
newtons/sq.centimetre x 10 000
newtons/sq.metre 1
newtons/sq.millimetre x 1 000 000 #
pounds-force/sq.foot x 47.880
pounds-force/sq.inch x 6894.757
poundals/sq.foot x 1.448 16
tons(UK)-force/sq.foot x 107 252
tons(UK)-force/sq.inch x 15 444 256
tons(US)-force/sq.foot x 95 760
tons(US)-force/sq.inch x 13 789 500
tonnes-force/sq.cm x 98 066 500 #
tonnes-force/sq.metre x 9806.65 #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
SPEED

centimetres/minute divide by 6000 #

centimetres/second divide by 100 #
feet/hour divide by 11 811
feet/minute x 0.005 08 #
feet/second x 0.3048 #
inches/minute divide by 2362.2
inches/second x 0.0254 #
kilometres/hour divide by 3.6 #
kilometres/second x 1000 #
knots x 0.514 444
Mach number x 331.5
metres/hour divide by 3600 #
metres/minute divide by 60 #

metres/second [m/s] 1

miles/hour x 0.447 04 #
miles/minute x 26.8224 #
miles/second x 1609.344 #
yards/hour divide by 3937
yards/minute x 0.015 24 #
yards/second x 0.9144 #
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TORQUE
dyne centimetres divide by 10 000 000 #
gram-force centimetres x 0.000 098 066 5 #
kg-force centimetres x 0.098 066 5 #
kg-force metres x 9.806 65 #
newton centimetres divide by 100 #

newton metres [Nm] 1

ounce-force inches divide by 141.612

pound-force inches x 0.112 984
pound-force feet x 1.355 818
poundal feet x 0.042 140
ton(UK)-force feet x 3 037.032
ton(US)-force feet x 2 711.636
tonne-force metres x 9 806.65 #