Glance over the conversions for a few minutes a day for two weeks, and you'll be well on the way to metric fluency.

The basic units of the metric system are the meter, the liter, and the gram, which measure length, volume and weight, repectively. For measuring quantities much smaller or larger than these units, you simply add a prefix. These are listed below. There are many other prefixes, but they're mostly used for scientific measures.

2torial #0570: Learn2 Convert Measurements Feeling flummoxed about feet and meters ? With international trade, CNN, and of course the Internet, the global village is becoming better acquainted with itself. Unfortunately, a few key locations measure distance, weight, temperature, and liquids with the U.S. or Imperial system, while the rest of the world uses the metric system. This causes confusion, especially for travelers or people engaged in any sort of business transaction. So whether you're buying a bag of mangoes in Malawi or selling a tofu factory in Tokyo, you'll want be more familiar with the conversions between the two systems. Although there are small differences between U.S. and Imperial (or British) measures, all non-metric measures are listed as the U.S standard. If you're already living in a metric paradise and you're curious what it's like in the squalid realm of U.S. measures, just reverse the supplied figures. Memorizing exact metric equivalents to US measures is one skill, but the ability to make a quick and close estimate is a bit more useful. Estimation guidelines, while they aren't mathematically precise, are sufficiently accurate for most situations. (Those persons who need precise measurements will find them, as well.) In some cases, there are mnemonic (ni-MON-ic) devices, or memorizing tricks, which will help you remember the conversion. Use these or make up your own, and your comfort level with conversions will increase markedly. Skill 1: Know your distance   These are arranged from smallest to largest.   Millimeter (mm): A millimeter is equal to .039 inches. Estimate: 6 millimeters for every 1/4 inch.   Centimeter (cm): A centimeter equals .39 inches. Estimate: 2.5 centimeters to an inch. An average-sized paper clip is one centimeter across.   Meter (m): A meter equals 1.09 yards. Estimate: 3.3 feet in every meter.   Kilometer (km): A kilometer is equal to .621 miles. A mile = 1.6 kilometers. Estimate: 1.5 kilometers for every mile. Skill 2: Know your weights These are listed from smallest to largest, so that you can see how all weight measures are based on the gram. Gram (g): A gram equals .035 ounces, or 1000 milligrams. Estimate: 28 grams to an ounce. Multiply ounces by 28 to get grams. An average-sized paper clip weighs one gram.   Kilogram (kg): A kilogram is 2.2 pounds. Estimate: two pounds in a kilogram. Wow, it's TWICE as hard to diet in a metric country.   Metric Ton (t): A ton equals 1,000 kilograms, or 2,240 pounds. Estimate: 2000 pounds to a metric ton. Wow, it's TWICE as hard for your car, too. Skill 3: Know your volumes These are listed largest to smallest, so that you can see how all volume measures are based on the liter. Liter (l): A liter is only slightly larger than a quart--about a quart plus a 1/4 cup (two ounces). A liter is equal to 2.1 pints. Estimate: two pints to a liter. A liter is equal to 1.06 quarts. Estimate: equal amounts. A liter is equal to 0.26 gallons. Estimate: four liters to a gallon.   Milliliter (mL): A milliliter is equal to 0.03 fluid ounces, while 1 ounce is 29.6 mL. Estimate: Multiply milliliters by 0.03 to get ounces. A milliliter equals 0.67 tablespoons, while a tablespoon equals 14.78 mL. Estimate: 15 mL to each tablespoon. Fifteen for dinner? Don't run out of tablespoons! A milliliter equals 0.2 teaspoons, while a teaspoon equals 4.9 mL. Estimate: Five mL to each teaspoon. Multiply teaspoons by five to get milliliters. It takes five to make a tea party. Skill 4: Know your temperatures Fahrenheit and Celsius are the units of temperature in U.S. and metric systems respectively. Note that the term Celsius has replaced the term Centigrade.   Estimate Celsius: subtract Fahrenheit degrees by 32 and divide by two.   Estimate Fahrenheit: multiply Celsius degrees by two and add 32. Here are some familiar points on the scale:   Water freezes: 0 degrees Celsius, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit Water boils:100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit Normal body temperature: 37 degrees Celsius, or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit Comfortable room temperature: 20-25 degrees Celsius, or 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit Skill 5: Know your areas Hectare: A hectare is a square that's 100 meters by 100 meters (10,000 square meters), or a square 300 feet by 300 feet (90,000 square feet). In U.S. acres, a hectare is 2.47 acres. Estimate: 2.5 acres per hectare. Heck, I can remember two and half!   And if you've always wondered how large an acre is, it's 43,560 square feet. In metric terms, that's 4,047 square meters. Estimate: 40,000 square feet, or 4,000 square meters per acre. Or, picture a square that's 200 feet by 200 feet. Get out there in your "40 X 4" to check out that land parcel. Skill 6: Know your nautical measurements Sailors all over the world use knots to describe wind and craft speed, but they understand these measurements in terms of their respective measurement systems.To know how the other side thinks, see below.   Fathom: In U.S. measurements, a fathom is six feet. In metric terms, it's 1.8 meters. Estimate: 2 meters for every fathom. U.S.: When you think of a fathom, think about being six feet under(!). Metric: The term "fathom" comes from a person's TWO arms outstretched.   Knot: A knot may also be termed a nautical mile, and it's equal to 1.151 miles, or 1.852 kilometers on land. Estimate: one nautical mile is equal to one land mile or two kilometers. Hey, there's "knot" much difference between nautical miles and miles on land.   League: A league is three nautical miles. Twenty thousand leagues under the sea would be just over 69,000 miles on land! Skill 7: Know how to improvise measures with nearby objects Just because you don't have a ruler or tape measure on hand, doesn't mean you can't make some terrific measure estimates. If you know the lengths of certain body parts, or other accessible objects, you'll always have a good standard of measure on hand.   One of the knuckles of your hand is probably close to one inch long. Likewise, the width of one of your fingernails is one centimeter.   A U.S. standard-size piece of paper is 8 1/2 by 11 inches, or 215mm by 275 mm. In other countries, A4 is the standard size, which is 210 by 297mm, or roughly 8 1/2 by 12 inches.   Take the most common paper currency in your country, and measure its length or width. Then you'll always have a reliable standard that's equal to a certain measure.   If you're very keen on measured body parts, other good ones are your forearm, the width of your palm, the lenght of your foot, and how many of your strides equals ten yards (or meters). Skill 8: Know your abbreviations Note that you don't abreviate with periods, unless it's the last word of the sentence. m for meter   cm for centimeter   mm for millimeter   km for kilometer   g for gram   mg for milligram   kg for kilogram   L for liter   mL for milliliter   t for metric ton   ha for hectare Skill 9: Know where to find exact measurements when you need them These are very specific measurements, sometimes to the billionth of a unit. Numbers to the right of the decimal point are in groups of two or three for easier reading. The characters ^2 and ^3 refer to square or cubic measures: 3 meters^2 is three square meters, 9 inches^3 is nine cubic inches. Units Metric Equivalent US Equivalent acre 0.404 685 64 hectares 43,560 feet^2 acre 4,046,856 4 meters^2 4,840 yards^2 acre 0.004 046 856 4 0.001 562 5 miles^2 kilometers^2 statute are 100 meters^2 119.599 yards^2 barrel (petroleum, US) 158.987 29 liters 42 gallons (proof spirits, US) 151.416 47 liters 40 gallons (beer, US) 117.347 77 liters 31 gallons bushel 35.239 07 liters 4 pecks cable 219.456 meters 120 fathoms chain (surveyor's) 20.116 8 meters 66 feet cord (wood) 3.624 556 meters^3 128 feet^3 cup 0.236 588 2 liters 8 ounces, liquid (US) degrees, Celsius (water boils at 100 degrees C, freezes at 0 degrees C) multiply by 1.8 and add 32 to obtain degrees F degrees, Fahrenheit subtract 32 and divide by 1.8 to obtain degrees C (water boils at 212 degrees F, freezes at 32 degrees F) dram, avdp. 1.771 845 2 grams 0.0625 5 ounces, avdp. dram, troy 3.887 934 6 grams 0.125 ounces, troy dram, liquid (US) 3.696 69 milliliters 0.125 ounces, liquid fathom 1.828 8 meters 6 feet foot 30.48 centimeters 12 inches foot 0.304 8 meters 0.333 333 3 yards foot 0.000 304 8 kilometers 0.000 189 39 miles, statute foot^2 929.030 4 centimeters^2 144 inches^2 foot^2 0.092 903 04 meters^2 0.111 111 1 yards^2 foot^3 28.316 846 592 liters 7.480 519 gallons foot^3 0.028 316 847 meters^3 1,728 inches^3 furlong 201.168 meters 220 yards gallon, liquid (US) 3.785 411 784 liters 4 quarts, liquid gill (US) 118.294 118 milliliters 4 ounces, liquid grain 64.798 91 milligrams 0.002 285 71 ounces, advp. gram 1,000 milligrams 0.035 273 96 ounces, advp. hand (height of horse) 10.16 centimeters 4 inches hectare 10,000 meters^2 2.471 053 8 acres hundredweight, long 50.802 345 kilograms 112 pounds, avdp. hundredweight, short 45.359 237 kilograms 100 pounds, avdp. inch 2.54 centimeters 0.083 333 33 feet inch^2 6.451 6 centimeters^2 0.006 944 44 feet^2 inch^3 16.387 064 centimeters^3 0.000 578 7 feet^3 inch^3 16.387 064 milliliters 0.029 761 6 pints, dry inch^3 16.387 064 milliliters 0.034 632 0 pints, liquid kilogram 0.001 tons, metric 2.204 623 pounds, avdp. kilometer 1,000 meters 0.621 371 19 miles, statute kilometer^2 100 hectares 247.105 38 acres kilometer^2 1,000,000 meters^2 0.386 102 16 miles^2, statute knot (1 nautical mi/hr) 1.852 kilometers/hour 1.151 statute miles/hour league, nautical 5.559 552 kilometers 3 miles, nautical league, statute 4.828.032 kilometers 3 miles, statute link (surveyor's) 20.116 8 centimeters 7.92 inches liter 0.001 meters^3 61.023 74 inches^3 liter 0.1 dekaliter 0.908 083 quarts, dry liter 1,000 milliliters 1.056 688 quarts, liquid meter 100 centimeters 1.093 613 yards meter^2 10,000 centimeters^2 1.195 990 yards^2 meter^3 1,000 liters 1.307 951 yards^3 micron 0.000 001 meter 0.000 039 4 inches mil 0.025 4 millimeters 0.001 inch mile, nautical 1.852 kilometers 1.150 779 4 miles, statute mile^2, nautical 3.429 904 kilometers^2 1.325 miles^2, statute mile, statute 1.609 344 kilometers 5,280 feet or 8 furlongs mile^2, statute 258.998 811 hectares 640 acres or 1 section mile^2, statute 2.589 988 11 kilometers^2 0.755 miles^2, nautical minim (US) 0.061 611 52 milliliters 0.002 083 33 ounces, liquid or one-sixtieth of a dram ounce, avdp. 28.349 523 125 grams 437.5 grains ounce, liquid (US) 29.573 53 milliliters 0.062 5 pints, liquid ounce, troy 31.103 476 8 grams 480 grains pace 76.2 centimeters 30 inches peck 8.809 767 5 liters 8 quarts, dry pennyweight 1.555 173 84 grams 24 grains pint, dry (US) 0.550 610 47 liters 0.5 quarts, dry pint, liquid (US) 0.473 176 473 liters 0.5 quarts, liquid point (typographical) 0.351 459 8 millimeters 0.013 837 inches pound, avdp 453.592 37 grams 16 ounces, avdp pound, troy 373.241 721 6 grams 12 ounces, troy quart, dry (US) 1.101 221 liters 2 pints, dry quart, liquid (US) 0.946 352 946 liters 2 pints, liquid quintal 100 kilograms 220.462 26 pounds, avdp. rod 5.029 2 meters 5.5 yards scruple 1.295 978 2 grams 20 grains section (US) 2.589 988 1 kilometers^2 1 mile^2, statute or 640 acres span 22.86 centimeters 9 inches stere 1 meter^3 1.307 95 yards^3 tablespoon 14.786 76 milliliters 3 teaspoons teaspoon 4.928 922 milliliters 0.333 333 tablespoons ton, long or deadweight 1,016.046 909 kilograms 2,240 pounds, avdp. ton, metric 1,000 kilograms 2,204.623 pounds, avdp. ton, metric 1,000 kilograms 32,150.75 ounces, troy ton, register 2.831 684 7 meters^3 100 feet^3 ton, short 907.184 74 kilograms 2,000 pounds, avdp. township (US) 93.239 572 kilometers^2 36 miles^2, statute yard 0.914 4 meters 3 feet yard^2 0.836 127 36 meters^2 9 feet^2 yard^3 0.764 554 86 meters^3 27 feet^3 yard^3 764.554 857 984 liters 201.974 gallons -end- Learn More!