CHAPTER 1

CONVERSION FACTORS
FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING
PRACTICE

Civil engineers throughout the world accept both the United States Customary
System (USCS) and the System International (SI) units of measure for both
applied and theoretical calculations. However, the SI units are much more
widely used than those of the USCS. Hence, both the USCS and the SI units are
presented for essentially every formula in this book. Thus, the user of the book
can apply the formulas with confidence anywhere in the world.
To permit even wider use of this text, this chapter contains the conversion
factors needed to switch from one system to the other. For engineers unfamiliar
with either system of units, the author suggests the following steps for becom-
ing acquainted with the unknown system:

1. Prepare a list of measurements commonly used in your daily work.

2. Insert, opposite each known unit, the unit from the other system. Table 1.1
shows such a list of USCS units with corresponding SI units and symbols
prepared by a civil engineer who normally uses the USCS. The SI units
shown in Table 1.1 were obtained from Table 1.3 by the engineer.
3. Find, from a table of conversion factors, such as Table 1.3, the value used to
convert from USCS to SI units. Insert each appropriate value in Table 1.2 from
Table 1.3.
4. Apply the conversion values wherever necessary for the formulas in this
book.
5. Recognize—here and now—that the most difficult aspect of becoming
familiar with a new system of measurement is becoming comfortable with
the names and magnitudes of the units. Numerical conversion is simple, once
you have set up your own conversion table.

Be careful, when using formulas containing a numerical constant, to convert

the constant to that for the system you are using. You can, however, use the for-
mula for the USCS units (when the formula is given in those units) and then
convert the final result to the SI equivalent using Table 1.3. For the few formu-
las given in SI units, the reverse procedure should be used.

1
2 CHAPTER ONE

TABLE 1.1 Commonly Used USCS and SI Units*

Conversion factor
(multiply USCS unit
by this factor to
USCS unit SI unit SI symbol obtain SI unit)

Square foot Square meter m2 0.0929

Cubic foot Cubic meter m3 0.2831
Pound per Kilopascal kPa 6.894
square inch
Pound force Newton N 4.448
Foot pound Newton meter Nm 1.356
torque
Kip foot Kilonewton meter kNm 1.355
Gallon per Liter per second L/s 0.06309
minute
Kip per square Megapascal MPa 6.89
inch

*This table is abbreviated. For a typical engineering practice, an actual table would be
many times this length.

TABLE 1.2 Typical Conversion Table*

To convert from To Multiply by†

Square foot Square meter 9.290304 E  02

Foot per second Meter per second
squared squared 3.048 E  01
Cubic foot Cubic meter 2.831685 E  02
Pound per cubic inch Kilogram per cubic meter 2.767990 E  04
Gallon per minute Liter per second 6.309 E  02
Pound per square inch Kilopascal 6.894757
Pound force Newton 4.448222
Kip per square foot Pascal 4.788026 E  04
Acre foot per day Cubic meter per second 1.427641 E  02
Acre Square meter 4.046873 E  03
Cubic foot per second Cubic meter per second 2.831685 E  02

*This table contains only selected values. See the U.S. Department of the Interior Metric Manual,
or National Bureau of Standards, The International System of Units (SI), both available from the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), for far more comprehensive listings of conversion factors.
†
The E indicates an exponent, as in scientific notation, followed by a positive or negative number,
representing the power of 10 by which the given conversion factor is to be multiplied before use. Thus,
for the square foot conversion factor, 9.290304  1/100  0.09290304, the factor to be used to convert
square feet to square meters. For a positive exponent, as in converting acres to square meters, multiply
by 4.046873  1000  4046.8.
Where a conversion factor cannot be found, simply use the dimensional substitution. Thus, to con-
vert pounds per cubic inch to kilograms per cubic meter, find 1 lb  0.4535924 kg and 1 in3 
0.00001638706 m3. Then, 1 lb/in3  0.4535924 kg/0.00001638706 m3  27,680.01, or 2.768 E  4.
 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICE 3

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

To convert from To Multiply by

Acre foot, acre ft Cubic meter, m3 1.233489 E  03

Acre Square meter, m2 4.046873 E  03
Angstrom, Å Meter, m 1.000000* E  10
Atmosphere, atm Pascal, Pa 1.013250* E  05
(standard)
Atmosphere, atm Pascal, Pa 9.806650* E  04
(technical
 1 kgf/cm2)
Bar Pascal, Pa 1.000000* E  05
Barrel (for petroleum, Cubic meter, m2 1.589873 E  01
42 gal)
Board foot, board ft Cubic meter, m3 2.359737 E  03
British thermal unit, Joule, J 1.05587 E  03
Btu, (mean)
British thermal unit, Watt per meter 1.442279 E  01
Btu (International kelvin, W/(mK)
Table)in/(h)(ft2)
(°F) (k, thermal
conductivity)
British thermal unit, Watt, W 2.930711 E  01
Btu (International
Table)/h
British thermal unit, Watt per square 5.678263 E  00
Btu (International meter kelvin,
Table)/(h)(ft2)(°F) W/(m2K)
(C, thermal
conductance)
British thermal unit, Joule per kilogram, 2.326000* E  03
Btu (International J/kg
Table)/lb
British thermal unit, Joule per kilogram 4.186800* E  03
Btu (International kelvin, J/(kgK)
Table)/(lb)(°F)
(c, heat capacity)
British thermal unit, Joule per cubic 3.725895 E  04
cubic foot, Btu meter, J/m3
(International
Table)/ft3
Bushel (U.S.) Cubic meter, m3 3.523907 E  02
Calorie (mean) Joule, J 4.19002 E  00
Candela per square Candela per square 1.550003 E  03
inch, cd/in2 meter, cd/m2
Centimeter, cm, of Pascal, Pa 1.33322 E  03
mercury (0°C)

(Continued)
4 CHAPTER ONE

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Centimeter, cm, of Pascal, Pa 9.80638 E  01

water (4°C)
Chain Meter, m 2.011684 E  01
Circular mil Square meter, m2 5.067075 E  10
Day Second, s 8.640000* E  04
Day (sidereal) Second, s 8.616409 E  04
Degree (angle) Radian, rad 1.745329 E  02
Degree Celsius Kelvin, K TK  tC  273.15
Degree Fahrenheit Degree Celsius, °C tC  (tF  32)/1.8
Degree Fahrenheit Kelvin, K TK  (tF  459.67)/1.8
Degree Rankine Kelvin, K TK  TR /1.8
(°F)(h)(ft2)/Btu Kelvin square 1.761102 E  01
(International meter per watt,
Table) (R, thermal Km2/W
resistance)
(°F)(h)(ft2)/(Btu Kelvin meter per 6.933471 E  00
(International watt, Km/W
Table)in) (thermal
resistivity)
Dyne, dyn Newton, N 1.000000† E  05
Fathom Meter, m 1.828804 E  00
Foot, ft Meter, m 3.048000† E  01
Foot, ft (U.S. survey) Meter, m 3.048006 E  01
Foot, ft, of water Pascal, Pa 2.98898 E  03
(39.2°F) (pressure)
Square foot, ft2 Square meter, m2 9.290304† E  02
Square foot per hour, Square meter per 2.580640† E  05
ft2/h (thermal second, m2/s
diffusivity)
Square foot per Square meter per 9.290304† E  02
second, ft2/s second, m2/s
Cubic foot, ft3 (volume Cubic meter, m3 2.831685 E  02
or section modulus)
Cubic foot per minute, Cubic meter per 4.719474 E  04
ft3/min second, m3/s
Cubic foot per second, Cubic meter per 2.831685 E  02
ft3/s second, m3/s
Foot to the fourth Meter to the fourth 8.630975 E  03
power, ft4 (area power, m4
moment of inertia)
Foot per minute, Meter per second, 5.080000† E  03
ft/min m/s
Foot per second, Meter per second, 3.048000† E  01
ft/s m/s
 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICE 5

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Foot per second Meter per second 3.048000† E  01

squared, ft/s2 squared, m/s2
Footcandle, fc Lux, lx 1.076391 E  01
Footlambert, fL Candela per square 3.426259 E  00
meter, cd/m2
Foot pound force, ftlbf Joule, J 1.355818 E  00
Foot pound force per Watt, W 2.259697 E  02
minute, ftlbf/min
Foot pound force per Watt, W 1.355818 E  00
second, ftlbf/s
Foot poundal, ft Joule, J 4.214011 E  02
poundal
Free fall, standard g Meter per second 9.806650† E  00
squared, m/s2
Gallon, gal (Canadian Cubic meter, m3 4.546090 E  03
liquid)
Gallon, gal (U.K. Cubic meter, m3 4.546092 E  03
liquid)
Gallon, gal (U.S. dry) Cubic meter, m3 4.404884 E  03
Gallon, gal (U.S. Cubic meter, m3 3.785412 E  03
liquid)
Gallon, gal (U.S. Cubic meter per 4.381264 E  08
liquid) per day second, m3/s
Gallon, gal (U.S. Cubic meter per 6.309020 E  05
liquid) per minute second, m3/s
Grad Degree (angular) 9.000000† E  01
Grad Radian, rad 1.570796 E  02
Grain, gr Kilogram, kg 6.479891† E  05
Gram, g Kilogram, kg 1.000000† E  03
Hectare, ha Square meter, m2 1.000000† E  04
Horsepower, hp Watt, W 7.456999 E  02
(550 ftlbf/s)
Horsepower, hp Watt, W 9.80950 E  03
(boiler)
Horsepower, hp Watt, W 7.460000† E  02
(electric)
horsepower, hp Watt, W 7.46043† E  02
(water)
Horsepower, hp (U.K.) Watt, W 7.4570 E  02
Hour, h Second, s 3.600000† E  03
Hour, h (sidereal) Second, s 3.590170 E  03
Inch, in Meter, m 2.540000† E  02

(Continued)
6 CHAPTER ONE

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Inch of mercury, in Hg Pascal, Pa 3.38638 E  03

(32°F) (pressure)
Inch of mercury, in Hg Pascal, Pa 3.37685 E  03
(60°F) (pressure)
Inch of water, in Pascal, Pa 2.4884 E  02
H2O (60°F)
(pressure)
Square inch, in2 Square meter, m2 6.451600† E  04
Cubic inch, in3 Cubic meter, m3 1.638706 E  05
(volume or section
modulus)
Inch to the fourth Meter to the fourth 4.162314 E  07
power, in4 (area power, m4
moment of inertia)
Inch per second, in/s Meter per second, 2.540000† E  02
m/s
Kelvin, K Degree Celsius, °C tC  TK  273.15
Kilogram force, kgf Newton, N 9.806650† E  00
Kilogram force meter, Newton meter, 9.806650† E  00
kgm Nm
Kilogram force second Kilogram, kg 9.806650† E  00
squared per meter,
kgfs2/m (mass)
Kilogram force per Pascal, Pa 9.806650† E  04
square centimeter,
kgf/cm2
Kilogram force per Pascal, Pa 9.806650† E  00
square meter,
kgf/m2
Kilogram force per Pascal, Pa 9.806650† E  06
square millimeter,
kgf/mm2
Kilometer per hour, Meter per second, 2.777778 E  01
km/h m/s
Kilowatt hour, kWh Joule, J 3.600000† E  06
Kip (1000 lbf) Newton, N 4.448222 E  03
Kipper square inch, Pascal, Pa 6.894757 E  06
kip/in2 ksi
Knot, kn (international) Meter per second, m/s 5.144444 E  01
Lambert, L Candela per square 3.183099 E  03
meter, cd/m2
Liter Cubic meter, m3 1.000000† E  03
Maxwell Weber, Wb 1.000000† E  08
Mho Siemens, S 1.000000† E  00
 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICE 7

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Microinch, in Meter, m 2.540000† E  08

Micron, m Meter, m 1.000000† E  06
Mil, mi Meter, m 2.540000† E  05
Mile, mi (international) Meter, m 1.609344† E  03
Mile, mi (U.S. statute) Meter, m 1.609347 E  03
Mile, mi (international Meter, m 1.852000† E  03
nautical)
Mile, mi (U.S. nautical) Meter, m 1.852000† E  03
Square mile, mi2 Square meter, m2 2.589988 E  06
(international)
Square mile, mi2 Square meter, m2 2.589998 E  06
(U.S. statute)
Mile per hour, mi/h Meter per second, 4.470400† E  01
(international) m/s
Mile per hour, mi/h Kilometer per hour, 1.609344† E  00
(international) km/h
Millibar, mbar Pascal, Pa 1.000000† E  02
Millimeter of mercury, Pascal, Pa 1.33322 E  02
mmHg (0°C)
Minute, min (angle) Radian, rad 2.908882 E  04
Minute, min Second, s 6.000000† E  01
Minute, min (sidereal) Second, s 5.983617 E  01
Ounce, oz Kilogram, kg 2.834952 E  02
(avoirdupois)
Ounce, oz (troy or Kilogram, kg 3.110348 E  02
apothecary)
Ounce, oz (U.K. fluid) Cubic meter, m3 2.841307 E  05
Ounce, oz (U.S. fluid) Cubic meter, m3 2.957353 E  05
Ounce force, ozf Newton, N 2.780139 E  01
Ounce forceinch, Newton meter, 7.061552 E  03
ozfin Nm
Ounce per square foot, Kilogram per square 3.051517 E  01
oz (avoirdupois)/ft2 meter, kg/m2
Ounce per square yard, Kilogram per square 3.390575 E  02
oz (avoirdupois)/yd2 meter, kg/m2
Perm (0°C) Kilogram per pascal 5.72135 E  11
second meter,
kg/(Pasm)
Perm (23°C) Kilogram per pascal 5.74525 E  11
second meter,
kg/(Pasm)
Perm inch, permin Kilogram per pascal 1.45322 E  12
(0°C) second meter,
kg/(Pasm)

(Continued)
8 CHAPTER ONE

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Perm inch, permin Kilogram per pascal 1.45929 E  12

(23°C) second meter,
kg/(Pasm)
Pint, pt (U.S. dry) Cubic meter, m3 5.506105 E  04
Pint, pt (U.S. liquid) Cubic meter, m3 4.731765 E  04
Poise, P (absolute Pascal second, 1.000000† E  01
viscosity) Pas
Pound, lb Kilogram, kg 4.535924 E  01
(avoirdupois)
Pound, lb (troy or Kilogram, kg 3.732417 E  01
apothecary)
Pound square inch, Kilogram square 2.926397 E  04
lbin2 (moment of meter, kgm2
inertia)
Pound per foot Pascal second, 1.488164 E  00
second, lb/fts Pas
Pound per square Kilogram per square 4.882428 E  00
foot, lb/ft2 meter, kg/m2
Pound per cubic Kilogram per cubic 1.601846 E  01
foot, lb/ft3 meter, kg/m3
Pound per gallon, Kilogram per cubic 9.977633 E  01
lb/gal (U.K. liquid) meter, kg/m3
Pound per gallon, Kilogram per cubic 1.198264 E  02
lb/gal (U.S. liquid) meter, kg/m3
Pound per hour, lb/h Kilogram per 1.259979 E  04
second, kg/s
Pound per cubic inch, Kilogram per cubic 2.767990 E  04
lb/in3 meter, kg/m3
Pound per minute, Kilogram per 7.559873 E  03
lb/min second, kg/s
Pound per second, Kilogram per 4.535924 E  01
lb/s second, kg/s
Pound per cubic yard, Kilogram per cubic 5.932764 E  01
lb/yd3 meter, kg/m3
Poundal Newton, N 1.382550 E  01
Poundforce, lbf Newton, N 4.448222 E  00
Pound force foot, Newton meter, 1.355818 E  00
lbfft Nm
Pound force per foot, Newton per meter, 1.459390 E  01
lbf/ft N/m
Pound force per Pascal, Pa 4.788026 E  01
square foot, lbf/ft2
Pound force per inch, Newton per meter, 1.751268 E  02
lbf/in N/m
Pound force per square Pascal, Pa 6.894757 E  03
inch, lbf/in2 (psi)
 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PRACTICE 9

TABLE 1.3 Factors for Conversion to SI Units of Measurement

(Continued)

To convert from To Multiply by

Quart, qt (U.S. dry) Cubic meter, m3 1.101221 E  03

Quart, qt (U.S. liquid) Cubic meter, m3 9.463529 E  04
Rod Meter, m 5.029210 E  00
Second (angle) Radian, rad 4.848137 E  06
Second (sidereal) Second, s 9.972696 E  01
Square (100 ft2) Square meter, m2 9.290304† E  00
Ton (assay) Kilogram, kg 2.916667 E  02
Ton (long, 2240 lb) Kilogram, kg 1.016047 E  03
Ton (metric) Kilogram, kg 1.000000† E  03
Ton (refrigeration) Watt, W 3.516800 E  03
Ton (register) Cubic meter, m3 2.831685 E  00
Ton (short, 2000 lb) Kilogram, kg 9.071847 E  02
Ton (long per cubic Kilogram per cubic 1.328939 E  03
yard, ton)/yd3 meter, kg/m3
Ton (short per cubic Kilogram per cubic 1.186553 E  03
yard, ton)/yd3 meter, kg/m3
Ton force (2000 lbf) Newton, N 8.896444 E  03
Tonne, t Kilogram, kg 1.000000† E  03
Watt hour, Wh Joule, J 3.600000† E  03
Yard, yd Meter, m 9.144000† E  01
Square yard, yd2 Square meter, m2 8.361274 E  01
Cubic yard, yd3 Cubic meter, m3 7.645549 E  01
Year (365 days) Second, s 3.153600† E  07
Year (sidereal) Second, s 3.155815 E  07

*Commonly used in engineering practice.

†
Exact value.
From E380, “Standard for Metric Practice,” American Society for Testing and
Materials.