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Metric Weights and Measures and their equivalents
In general, weights & measures in France and the Continent are metric.
Credit for originating the metric system is usually given to Gabriel Mouton, a French vicar, somewhere around 1670, but the basis of the system we know today was designed during the French Revolution in the 1790's, and brought order out of the conflicting and confusing traditional systems of weights and measures then being used in Europe.
Units legally used in business in France
Kilometre |
1000 metres |
Metre |
|
Decimetre |
1/10 of a metre |
Centimetre |
1/100 of a metre |
Millimetre |
1/1000 of a metre |
| |
|
Hectare |
100 ares |
Decare |
10 ares |
Are |
100 square metres |
Square metre |
An area equal to that of a square each side of which measures one metre |
Square decimetre |
1/100 square metre |
Square centimetre |
1/100 square decimetre |
Square millimetre |
1/100 square centimetre |
| |
|
Cubic metre |
A volume equal to that of a cube each edge of which measures one metre |
Cubic decimetre |
1/1000 cubic metre |
Cubic centimetre |
1/1000 cubic decimetre |
Litre |
A cubic decimetre |
Decilitre |
1/10 litre |
Centilitre |
1/100 litre |
Millilitre |
1/1000 litre |
Hectolitre |
100 litres |
| |
|
Tonne |
1000 kilograms |
Kilogram |
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Hectogram |
1/10 kilogram |
Gram |
1/1000 kilogram |
Carat (metric) |
1/5 gram |
Milligram |
1/1000 gram |
The USA and UK
With the switch of the UK to the metric system (although not completely), only the USA still uses the weights and measures system it inherited from Britain. However, although some American measures have the same name as old English measures, they're not the same...
- The American pint has 16 fluid ounces whereas the UK pint has 20 fluid ounces (US=473.176473 ml UK=568.26125 ml)
Note: this is especially important to note when ordering a beer!
- The American gallon has 8 pints as does the UK but the measure is different
- (US=3.785411784 Litres UK=4.54609 Litres)
People in Britain still commonly refer to the old traditional measurements though.
Here's how to convert the metric system of weights and measures into their Imperial equivalents and vice versa:
| Unit |
Conversion factor |
New Unit |
| inches |
25.4 |
millimetres |
| millimetres |
0.0394 |
inches |
| inches |
2.54 |
centimetres |
| centimetres |
0.3937 |
inches |
| feet |
0.3048 |
metres |
| metres |
3.281 |
feet |
| yards |
0.9144 |
metres |
| metres |
1.094 |
yards |
| miles |
1.609 |
kilometres |
| kilometres |
0.6214 |
miles |
| sq inches |
6.452 |
sq centimetres |
| sq centimetres |
0.155 |
sq inches |
| sq metres |
10.76 |
sq feet |
| sq feet |
0.0929 |
sq metres |
| sq yards |
0.8361 |
sq metres |
| sq metres |
1.196 |
sq yards |
| sq miles |
2.589 |
sq kilometres |
| sq kilometres |
0.3861 |
sq miles |
| acres |
0.4047 |
hectares |
| hectares |
2.471 |
acres |
| cu inches |
16.39 |
cu centimetres |
| cu centimetres |
0.06102 |
cu inches |
| cu feet |
0.02832 |
cu metres |
| cu metres |
35.315 |
cu feet |
| cu yards |
0.7646 |
cu metres |
| cu metres |
1.308 |
cu yards |
| cu inches |
0.01639 |
litres |
| litres |
61.03 |
cu inches |
| pints |
0.5682 |
litres |
| litres |
1.76 |
pints |
| US pints |
0.47311 |
litres |
| litres |
2.114 |
US pints |
| US gallon |
3.785 |
liters |
| gallons |
4.546 |
litres |
| litres |
0.02642 |
US gallons |
| litres |
0.22 |
gallons |
| grains |
0.0648 |
grams |
| grams |
15.43 |
grains |
| ounces |
28.35 |
grams |
| grams |
0.03527 |
ounces |
| pounds |
453.6 |
grams |
| grams |
0.002205 |
pounds |
| pounds |
0.4536 |
kilograms |
| kilograms |
2.205 |
pounds |
| tons |
1016.05 |
kilograms |
| kilograms |
0.0009842 |
tons |
Metric measurements in the UK and US are the same.
Find out French Weights and Measures equivalents in your country: Dictionary of Units
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Other France pages:
Travel to France for a Europe Tour with Joie de Vivre!
Tour Routes in France
When to travel to France for your tour: weather and seasons
Useful facts, dates and links to help you plan your tour of France
Food in France: a brief gastronomic tour
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