Metric units

The Metric System, the International System of Units, or the Système d'Unité (SI) in French, is the widely used system of measurement globally.

It is based on seven base units:

1. Length - standard unit: meter

2. Mass - standard unit: kilogram

3. Time - standard unit: second

4. Electric current - standard unit: ampere

5. Temperature - standard unit: Kelvin

6. Amount of substance - standard unit: mole

7. Luminous intensity - standard unit: candela

Mass Unit Measurement

• 1 Metric ton/Tonne = 1 000 kg

• 1 000 Kilogram (kg) = 1 000 g

• 1 000 Gram (g) = 1 kg

• 10 Decigram (dg) = 1g 

• 100 Centigram (cg) = 1g

• 1 000 Milligram (mg) = 1 g

• 1 000 000 Microgram (µg) = 1000 mg

• 1 Nanometer = 1 000 000 mg

• 1 Picometer = 1 000 000 000 mg

Length Unit Measurement

Legend: 

Measurement units in green are known by most 

Measurement units in red are less known/rarely used

• 1 Gigameter = 1 000 000 0000 m

• 1 Megameter = 1 000 000 m

• 1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 m

• 1 Decameter = 10 m

• 1 Hectometer = 100 m

• 1 Meter (m) = 100 cm

• 10 Decimeter (dm) = 1 meter

• 100 Centimeter (cm) = 1 meter

• 1000 Millimeter (mm) = 1 meter

• 1 Micrometer (μm/mc) = 1000 mm (the following are mainly used in Biology, )

• 1 Nanometer (nm) = 1 000 000 mm

• 1 Picometer (pm) = 1 000 000 000 mm

• 1 Femto (f) = 1 000 000 000 000 mm

• 1 Atto (a) = 1 000 000 000 000 000 mm

Metric and Imperial Conversions

conversion in new units

value in old unit x ______________________

conversion in old units

E.g. 8 ft to in

   12

8 x  ____

  1