Convert between different units of measurement
Unit conversion is the process of changing a measurement from one unit to another while maintaining the same value. Whether you're converting meters to feet, kilograms to pounds, or Celsius to Fahrenheit, unit conversion allows people worldwide to communicate measurements accurately despite using different measurement systems.
Unit conversions are everywhere. Cooking, construction, travel, development, science—you're constantly switching between metric, imperial, and specialized units.
Example: Running a 5K? That's 3.1 miles.
Example: Luggage weight limit is 23kg? That's about 50 pounds.
| Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 0°C | 32°F | Freezing point of water |
| 20°C | 68°F | Room temperature |
| 37°C | 98.6°F | Human body temperature |
| 100°C | 212°F | Boiling point of water |
Metric System (SI): Used by most countries worldwide. Based on powers of 10, making calculations simple. Units include meters, kilograms, liters, and Celsius.
Imperial System: Used primarily in the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. Units include feet, pounds, gallons, and Fahrenheit. Conversions within the system are less intuitive (12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard).
Temperature:
Length:
Weight:
Weather (°C to °F), distance (km to miles), speed limits, and currency.
International recipes use grams and milliliters vs cups and ounces.
Standardized SI units for experiments, research, and publications.
Material specifications, area calculations, lumber dimensions.
Double the Celsius value and add 30 for a quick estimate. Example: 20°C → (20×2) + 30 = 70°F (actual: 68°F).
Historical reasons. US gallon = 3.785 liters, UK gallon = 4.546 liters. Always specify which one when converting.
Mass: Amount of matter (kg, grams) - constant everywhere. Weight: Force due to gravity (newtons) - varies by location. In everyday use, "weight" usually means mass.
Most are defined exactly (1 inch = exactly 2.54 cm). Some, like currency exchange rates, change constantly.
Remember: 1 cup = 240ml, 1 tablespoon = 15ml, 1 teaspoon = 5ml. For weight, don't confuse volume with weight—1 cup of flour weighs less than 1 cup of water.