Convert Units with Confidence
Published · Updated
Ready to try it? Open Unit converter and follow the example below.
Check the measurement type and source unit before trusting a result.
Match the quantity
Length, mass and temperature are different kinds of measurements. Choose the relevant category in the unit converter before entering a value. A number copied from a label is incomplete without its unit, and similarly named units can have different meanings.
Estimate the answer first
One metre is 100 centimetres, so 2.5 metres should become 250 centimetres. Use a known relationship like this to check that you selected the correct direction. A result that is dramatically larger or smaller than expected often points to the wrong source unit.
Treat temperature differently
Temperature conversions may involve an offset as well as a scale factor. For example, 0 degrees Celsius corresponds to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not reuse the formula for converting a temperature reading when your task concerns a temperature interval without checking the distinction.
Preserve useful precision
Keep enough digits for your purpose, but do not treat a long decimal display as proof that the original measurement was precise. Check the unit requested by the receiving form and copy that label alongside the result. Currency conversion is a separate operation because exchange rates are dated values rather than fixed unit relationships.
