What Are the Units of Measurement in the Metric System?

Length

• The standard metric unit to measure length is the meter. Other units in this system include the millimeter, which is 0.001 meter, the centimeter, which is 0.01 meter, the kilometer, which measures 1,000 meters and the lesser used decimeter, which measures 0.1 meter. A meter is slightly longer than a yard in U.S. measurement, which is three feet.

Volume

• The standard unit of measurement for volume is the liter. It is broken down in the same way as the meter, with other units including the milliliter, measuring 0.001 liter, the centiliter, measuring 0.01 liter, the deciliter, measuring 0.1 liter, and the kiloliter, measuring 1,000 liters. One liter is a little more than one quart, with one teaspoon being the equivalent of about 5 milliliters.

Mass

• The standard mass unit is the gram. One ounce in U.S. measurement is equivalent to a little over 28 grams. A milligram is 0.001 gram, while 0.01 gram is a centigram, 0.1 gram is a decigram, and 1,000 grams is called a kilogram. One gram is about the mass of a paperclip, with one kilogram weighing the same as one liter of fresh water.

Temperature

• Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius in the metric system. On the Celsius scale, the boiling point of water at sea level is 100 degrees and the freezing point of water is 0 degrees.