---
title: "Everyday Unit Conversions Cheatsheet | FindUtils"
description: "Convert length, area, volume, mass, time, and temperature. Use exact metric and US customary factors with clear unit definitions and examples."
url: https://findutils.com/cheatsheets/everyday-unit-conversions/
---

# Everyday Unit Conversions Cheatsheet

Convert length, area, volume, mass, time, and temperature. Use exact metric and US customary factors with clear unit definitions and examples. 37 commands in 7 sections, filed under [Student & Academic](https://findutils.com/cheatsheets/student/).

## Choose the correct unit

- `Match the quantity`: Length, area, volume, and mass need different factors
- `US customary units`: The gallon and fluid ounce below use US liquid definitions
- `Mass is not volume`: Convert between grams and milliliters only with a known density
- `Exact versus rounded`: Equal signs below show exact factors; ≈ marks a rounded result

## Metric prefixes and length

- `1 km = 1000 m`: Convert kilometers to meters
- `1 m = 100 cm`: Convert meters to centimeters
- `1 cm = 10 mm`: Convert centimeters to millimeters
- `1 kg = 1000 g`: Convert kilograms to grams
- `1 g = 1000 mg`: Convert grams to milligrams
- `1 L = 1000 mL`: Convert liters to milliliters

## US customary length

- `1 in = 2.54 cm`: The international inch uses this exact definition
- `1 ft = 0.3048 m`: The international foot equals 12 inches
- `1 yd = 0.9144 m`: One yard equals 3 feet
- `1 mi = 1.609344 km`: One international mile equals 5280 feet
- `5 ft 6 in = 167.64 cm`: Calculate (5 × 12 + 6) × 2.54

## Area and volume

- `1 m² = 10,000 cm²`: Square the length conversion factor
- `1 km² = 1,000,000 m²`: Square 1000 to convert the area
- `1 hectare = 10,000 m²`: A hectare measures area
- `1 m³ = 1000 L`: Cube the length factor before converting volume
- `1 cm³ = 1 mL`: A cubic centimeter equals a milliliter
- `1 US gal = 3.785411784 L`: Use the US liquid gallon, not the imperial gallon
- `1 US fl oz = 29.5735295625 mL`: A fluid ounce measures volume, not mass

## Mass and time

- `1 lb = 0.45359237 kg`: Use the international avoirdupois pound
- `1 oz = 28.349523125 g`: Use the avoirdupois mass ounce, not the troy ounce
- `1 lb = 16 oz`: This relation uses avoirdupois mass units
- `1 minute = 60 seconds`: Convert minutes to seconds
- `1 hour = 60 minutes`: Convert hours to minutes
- `2.5 hours = 2 hours 30 minutes`: Multiply the decimal part by 60

## Temperature

- `°F = °C × 9/5 + 32`: Convert a Celsius temperature to Fahrenheit
- `°C = (°F - 32) × 5/9`: Convert a Fahrenheit temperature to Celsius
- `K = °C + 273.15`: Convert Celsius to kelvin; kelvin has no degree symbol
- `20 °C = 68 °F = 293.15 K`: Apply the formulas to the same temperature
- `A change of 1 °C = a change of 1.8 °F`: Temperature differences do not use the 32-degree offset

## Sources and related references

- `https://www.nist.gov/pml/owm/metric-si/si-units`: Check SI units and metric prefixes
- `https://www.nist.gov/pml/special-publication-811/nist-guide-si-appendix-b-conversion-factors/nist-guide-si-appendix-b8`: Check the NIST unit conversion factors
- `https://www.nist.gov/pml/us-surveyfoot/revised-unit-conversion-factors`: Check international foot and US liquid volume factors
- `/cheatsheets/percentages-ratios/`: Use ratios after the units match

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