Metric vs Imperial: Complete Unit Conversion Guide for Europeans (2026)
Europe runs on metric — kilometres, kilograms, litres, degrees Celsius. But the moment you visit the UK, order from an American recipe, shop for TV sizes or read an old family cookbook, imperial units jump out: miles, pounds, inches, Fahrenheit, pints. This guide gives you every conversion that actually matters in daily European life — plus a free printable cheat sheet you can stick on the fridge.
1. Length: kilometres ↔ miles
The big one. Road signs in the UK are in miles, while the rest of Europe uses kilometres. The magic numbers: 1 mile = 1.609 km and 1 km = 0.621 miles.
| Metric | Imperial | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 0.62 mi | 1 mi | 1.61 km |
| 5 km | 3.11 mi | 5 mi | 8.05 km |
| 10 km | 6.21 mi | 10 mi | 16.09 km |
| 42 km (marathon) | 26.2 mi | 26.2 mi | 42.2 km |
| 100 km | 62.14 mi | 100 mi | 160.93 km |
2. Height & small lengths: cm ↔ feet/inches
Heights are still given in feet and inches in the UK and Ireland — and TV/laptop screens everywhere are sold in inches.
| Metric | Imperial | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11 in | 5 ft | 152 cm |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 3 in | 5 ft 6 in | 168 cm |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 7 in | 6 ft | 183 cm |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 11 in | 6 ft 2 in | 188 cm |
| 2.54 cm | 1 in | 30.48 cm | 1 ft |
3. Weight: kg ↔ pounds & ounces
Gym weights, luggage allowances and baby weights are often quoted in pounds (lb). 1 kg = 2.205 lb, 1 lb = 454 g.
| Metric | Imperial | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | 2.20 lb | 1 lb | 0.45 kg |
| 5 kg | 11.02 lb | 10 lb | 4.54 kg |
| 20 kg (luggage) | 44.09 lb | 50 lb | 22.68 kg |
| 70 kg | 154.32 lb | 200 lb | 90.72 kg |
| 1000 kg (1 tonne) | 2204.6 lb | 1 ton (US) | 907 kg |
4. Temperature: °C ↔ °F
Weather apps in the US default to Fahrenheit. The formulas: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32, °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9.
| °C | °F | Feels like |
|---|---|---|
| −10 °C | 14 °F | Deep winter |
| 0 °C | 32 °F | Freezing point |
| 10 °C | 50 °F | Cool spring day |
| 20 °C | 68 °F | Room temperature |
| 30 °C | 86 °F | Hot summer day |
| 37 °C | 98.6 °F | Body temperature |
| 100 °C | 212 °F | Boiling point |
5. Volume: litres ↔ gallons, pints & cups
UK pubs serve pints (568 ml — bigger than the US 473 ml pint!), American recipes use cups (237 ml), and car fuel economy in the UK is quoted in miles per gallon (using the bigger UK gallon of 4.546 L).
| Metric | Imperial / US |
|---|---|
| 1 litre | 0.22 UK gal · 0.26 US gal · 4.23 US cups |
| 1 UK pint | 568 ml |
| 1 US cup | 237 ml |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 ml |
| 1 teaspoon | 5 ml |
| 250 ml (recipe cup) | ≈ 1 metric cup — close to 1 US cup |
6. UK exceptions every European should know
- 🛣️ Road distances & speed limits in the UK are in miles/mph (the only European country doing this).
- 🍺 Beer and milk in pubs and shops are sold in pints.
- 📏 People's height is commonly given in feet and inches in the UK and Ireland.
- ⛽ Fuel economy is advertised in mpg (miles per UK gallon) even though fuel is sold per litre.
- ⚖️ Body weight is often quoted in stones and pounds (1 stone = 6.35 kg) in the UK.
📥 Free download: Metric ↔ Imperial Cheat Sheet
All the tables above on one printable page — stick it on the fridge or keep it in your travel folder.
A real file downloads instantly — then use your browser's Print → "Save as PDF". No sign-up.
Need an exact number?
Use our free Unit Converter tool — 7 categories (length, weight, temperature, area, volume, speed, data), instant results, works offline in your browser.