Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Biology

C | Measurements and the Metric System

BiologyC | Measurements and the Metric System
Measurements and the Metric System
Measurement Unit Abbreviation Metric Equivalent Approximate Standard Equivalent
Length nanometer nm 1 nm = 10−9 m
  • 1 mm = 0.039 inch
  • 1 cm = 0.394 inch
  • 1 m = 39.37 inches
  • 1 m = 3.28 feet
  • 1 m = 1.093 yards
  • 1 km = 0.621 miles
micrometer µm 1 µm = 10−6 m
millimeter mm 1 mm = 0.001 m
centimeter cm 1 cm = 0.01 m
meter m
  • 1 m = 100 cm
  • 1 m = 1000 mm
kilometer km 1 km = 1000 m
Mass microgram µg 1 µg = 10−6 g
  • 1 g = 0.035 ounce
  • 1 kg = 2.205 pounds
milligram mg 1 mg = 10−3 g
gram g 1 g = 1000 mg
kilogram kg 1 kg = 1000 g
Volume microliter µl 1 µl = 10−6 l
  • 1 ml = 0.034 fluid ounce
  • 1 l = 1.057 quarts
  • 1 kl = 264.172 gallons
milliliter ml 1 ml = 10−3 l
liter l 1 l = 1000 ml
kiloliter kl 1 kl = 1000 l
Area square centimeter cm2 1 cm2 = 100 mm2
  • 1 cm2 = 0.155 square inch
  • 1 m2 = 10.764 square feet
  • 1 m2 = 1.196 square yards
  • 1 ha = 2.471 acres
square meter m2 1 m2 = 10,000 cm2
hectare ha 1 ha = 10,000 m2
Temperature Celsius °C — 1 °C = 5/9 × (°F − 32)
Table C1
PreviousNext
Order a print copy
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Feb 14, 2022 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.