In-depth
Unit Converter: A Complete Guide to Conversions
Converting between different units of measurement is an everyday need: from American cooking recipes to car fuel consumption, from traveling abroad to reading technical documents. This converter lets you quickly switch between the metric system and the imperial (Anglo-Saxon) system, covering length, weight, temperature, volume, and much more.
Metric System vs Imperial System
The International System (SI), based on the metric system, is used in most of the world, including Italy. The imperial system is still in use in the United States, the United Kingdom (partially), and a few other countries.
| Quantity | Metric System | Imperial System |
|---|---|---|
| Length | meter (m) | foot (ft), mile (mi) |
| Weight/Mass | kilogram (kg) | pound (lb), ounce (oz) |
| Volume | liter (l) | gallon (gal), fluid ounce (fl oz) |
| Temperature | Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) |
| Speed | km/h | mph |
Length Conversions
Length conversions are among the most requested. Here are the main factors:
| From | To | Factor | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | miles | × 0.6214 | 10 km = 6.21 mi |
| 1 mile | km | × 1.6093 | 5 mi = 8.05 km |
| 1 meter | feet | × 3.2808 | 1.80 m = 5.91 ft |
| 1 foot | cm | × 30.48 | 6 ft = 182.88 cm |
| 1 inch | cm | × 2.54 | 12 in = 30.48 cm |
| 1 meter | yards | × 1.0936 | 100 m = 109.36 yd |
Weight Conversions
| From | To | Factor | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | pounds | × 2.2046 | 70 kg = 154.32 lb |
| 1 pound | kg | × 0.4536 | 150 lb = 68.04 kg |
| 1 ounce | grams | × 28.3495 | 8 oz = 226.80 g |
| 1 kg | ounces | × 35.274 | 1 kg = 35.27 oz |
Temperature Conversions
Temperature is the only quantity that requires formulas with an offset, not a simple multiplication:
- From Celsius to Fahrenheit: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32
- From Fahrenheit to Celsius: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9
- From Celsius to Kelvin: K = °C + 273.15
Useful reference points: 0 °C = 32 °F (ice), 37 °C = 98.6 °F (human body), 100 °C = 212 °F (boiling water).
Volume Conversions
| From | To | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| 1 liter | US gallons | × 0.2642 |
| 1 US gallon | liters | × 3.7854 |
| 1 UK gallon | liters | × 4.5461 |
| 1 liter | US fluid ounces | × 33.814 |
| 1 US cup | ml | × 236.588 |
Note: the US gallon (3.785 l) is different from the UK gallon (4.546 l). Always verify which system is being used.
Useful kitchen conversions
Many international recipes use volumetric measurements. Here are the most common equivalents:
- 1 cup = 236 ml ≈ 240 ml (common approximation)
- 1 tablespoon = 15 ml
- 1 teaspoon = 5 ml
- 1 stick of butter = 113 g
How to use the converter
Select the measurement category (length, weight, volume, temperature, etc.), choose the source and target units, enter the value, and press "Convert." The result is calculated instantly with precision up to several decimal places. You can quickly reverse the units to perform the opposite conversion.
