Conversion Tables

Unit Conversions
The S.I. and English Systems
The System International (International Standard System) of units uses units of Newtons
(N) and meters (m) for its units of force and length. The English System (imperial,
engineering) uses pounds (lb, force) and feet (ft) or inches (in). The unit of time, seconds
(sec) is the same in both systems.
Below are various tables that convert units from English to S.I. and back (e.g., 1 meter =
39.4 inches), as well as common conversions within each system (e.g., 1 ft = 12 inches). In
general, the Conversion Factors are listed to 6 significant digits (even though your answer
should not be that extensive).
4a. Geometric Conversions
4d. Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density
4b. Force and Stress Conversions 4e. Temperature
4c. Same System Conversions
A useful interactive conversion tool, with many more units, is Engineering Exchange's
online Unit Conversions program. Another tool, by Joshua Madison, may be downloaded
here (no length conversions; remember, pressure has the same units as stress).
Some useful approximate
conversions:

A pound is 4.45 newtons; a meter is 39.4 inches.

4a. Lengths, Areas and Volumes - English Units to S.I. Units and Back
To Convert From

multiply

to get / To Convert from

multiply by

to get

Length
inches, in

25.4

inches, in

0.0254

meters, m

feet, ft

0.3048

meters, m

yards, yd

0.9144

meters, m

1.09361 yards, yd

miles, mi

1.609344

kilometers, km

0.621371 miles, MI

millimeters, mm

0.0393701 inches, in
39.3701 inches, in
3.280840 feet, ft

Area
square inch, in 2 , si

645.16

square inch, in 2 , si

0.00064516

square meter, m 2

1550.00 square inch, in 2

square feet, ft2 , sf

0.09290304

square meter, m 2

10.7639 square feet, ft2 , sf

0.836127

square meter, m 2

1.19599 square yard, yd2

cubic inch, in 3 , ci

16387.064

cubic millimeters, mm 3

cubic inch, in 3 , ci

16.387064 cubic centimeters, cc, cm3

cubic foot, ft3 , cf

0.0283168

cubic meters, m 3

35.3147 cubic foot, ft3 , cf

0.764555

cubic meters, m 3

1.30795 cubic yard, yd3

3.78541

Liters, l = 0.001 m 3

square yard, yd2 , sy

square millimeters, mm 2

0.00155000 square inch, in 2

Volume

cubic yard, yd3 , cy

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61.0237 x 103
6 cubic inch, in
0.06102374 cubic inch, in 3

0.264172 gallon, gal.

Conversion Tables

Other Geometric Properties of a Cross-section

416231

mm 4 = 10-12 m 4

2.402 x 10-6 in 4

16387.064

mm 3 = 10-9 m 3

61.0237 x 10- 3
6 in

in 4
Section Modulus, in 3

Excerpts/adaptions from: Aluminum Design Manual, Aluminum Association, Inc., October, 1994, Table A1-1,
pg. Appendix 1-4. Underlined values units represent an "exact" conversion factor.
- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4b. Force, Stress, Loads and Mass - English Units to S.I. Units and Back
To Convert From

multiply

to get / To Convert from

multiply by

to get

Force
pound, lb

4.44822

newton, N

kilopound, kip =
1000 lb

4.44822 kilonewton, kN = 1000 N

0.224809

lb

0.224809

kip = 1000 lb

0.0208854

lb/ft2 , psf

Stress [Force per Unit Area]

47.8803
0.0478803

pascals, Pa = N/m 2
kilopascal, kPa, kN/m2

20.8854

psf

kilopounds per sq. ft,

47.8803

kPa

0.0208854

ksf

pounds per sq. inch,

6894.76

Pa

0.000145038

psi

psi

6.89476

kPa

0.145038

psi

kilopounds per sq. in,

6.89476

= MN/m2 = N/mm 2

0.145038

ksi

megapascal, MPa

Bending Moment, Torque [Force x Length]

1.35582

newton-meter, N-m

0.737561

lb-ft

pound-inch, lb-in

0.112985

N-m

8.850732

lb-in

Distributed (or "Running") Load [Force per Unit Length]

14.5939

newtons per meter, N/m

0.06852178

plf

pounds per (linear)

175.127

N/m

0.00571015

pli

Excerpts/adapted from: Aluminum Design Manual, Aluminum Association, Inc., October, 1994, Table A1-2, pg.
Appendix 1-4.
- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4c. Same System Conversions; Things you should know

Multiply by

to get / To Convert from

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multiply by

to get

Conversion Tables

Length
in

0.083333

feet, ft

12 in

ft

0.333333

yards, yd

3 ft

ft

1.89393 x10 -4

miles, MI

5280 feet, ft

mm

0.001

meters, m

1000 mm

cm

0.01

100 cm

in 2

0.00694444

ft2

144 in 2

ft2

0.111111

yd2

9 ft2

0.0166666

minutes, min

Area

Time
second, s

60 s

second

2.77777 x10 -4

hour, h

3600 s

second

1.1574 x 10-5

day, d

86400 s

minutes, min

6.9444 x10 -4

day,d

1440 min

Weight
lb

0.005

ton (U.S.)

2000 lb

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

4d. Force and Weight; and Density - English Units to S.I. Units and Back
In the S.I. system, weight is often expressed in kilograms (a mass); in the United States,
weight is expressed in pounds (a force). Be careful! The force of 1 kg. is 9.81 N (in
standard gravity).
To Convert From

Multiply by

to get / To Convert from

multiply by

to get

Pounds, Newtons and Kilograms

4.44822

Newton, N

0.224809 lb

lb

0.453592

kg

2.20462 lb

0.101972

kg

9.80665 N

lb

0.0310

slug (lb-s2/ft)

32.2 lb

Weight Density (force/volume); including kilogram force

0.157087 kilonewtons per kN/m3

6.36590 lb / ft3

lb / in 3

271.447

kN/m3

0.00368 lb / in 3

lb / in 3

0.000578703

lb / ft3

1728 lb / in 3

N / m3

0.101972

kg / m 3

9.80665 N / m 3

kN / m 3

101.972

kg / m 3

0.0090665 kN / m 3

lb / ft3

16.0185

kg / m 3

0.0624279 lb / ft3

515.379

kg / m 3

0.0019403 slug / ft3

Mass Density (mass/volume)

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature -

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Conversion Tables

4e. Temperature Conversions

function

to get / To Convert from

function

(5/9)(F-32)

degrees Centigrade C

1.8 C + 32

degrees Fahrenheit, F

deg. F

F+459.67

degrees Rankine, R

R-459.67

deg. F

deg. Centigrade

C+273.15

Kelvin, K

K-273.15

deg. Centigrade

change in degrees F (or

(5/9)(DF)

change in deg. C (or K)

1.8(DC)

change in deg. F.

degrees Fahrenheit, F

to get

- Top - Geometric Conversions - Force and Stress Conversions - Same System Conversions - Pounds, Newtons & Kilograms; Density - Temperature Elastic Constants - Strength - Density & Thermal Coefficients - Unit
Conversions Tables

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