Unit Converter NZ
This converter turns a value in one unit of measurement into its equivalent in another, covering ten categories: length, weight, temperature, volume, area, speed, pressure, energy, data storage and cooking measurements. Click a category button, then type a number into the value field and choose the unit you are converting from and the unit you want on the right from the two dropdown menus. The result appears instantly as you type, using exact standard conversion factors rather than rounded estimates, so figures such as 25.4 millimetres to an inch or 453.592 grams to a pound can be trusted. A swap button between the two sides reverses the direction in one click, and each category includes a quick reference table of common conversions, such as 100 km/h to mph or 0 degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit, so you can check a familiar figure without retyping it. This is useful for following an American recipe that uses cups and ounces, checking your weight in kilograms against a UK reading in stone, converting an overseas speed limit or oven temperature into numbers you understand, or working out how many gigabytes a file transfer at a given connection speed will use. Because New Zealand uses the metric system while imperial units still appear in imported goods, older trades measurements and American media, having every conversion in one place saves you hunting for separate tools.
How to use the unit converter
Click the category button at the top to choose the type of measurement you want to convert: Length, Weight, Temperature, and so on. Then type the number you want to convert in the left field, select the unit you are converting from on the left, and select the unit you want to convert to on the right. The result updates instantly as you type. Press the swap button (the arrows between the two sides) to reverse the direction of the conversion.
Length conversions
New Zealand officially uses the metric system, so most everyday measurements use millimetres, centimetres, metres, and kilometres. However, imperial measurements still appear in some contexts. Building materials are sometimes described in inches, American recipes use cups and ounces, and clothing sizes often reference inches. Here are the most common length conversions:
One inch is exactly 25.4 millimetres, or 2.54 centimetres. A foot (12 inches) is 30.48 centimetres. A yard (3 feet) is 0.9144 metres. A mile is 1.60934 kilometres, so if you are visiting somewhere that uses miles for road distances (such as the USA or UK), multiply by 1.609 to convert to kilometres. Five miles is about 8 kilometres.
Weight conversions
New Zealand uses kilograms and grams for everyday weight measurements. The pound (lb) and ounce (oz) appear in imported products, American recipes, and sometimes in informal conversation. One kilogram is 2.20462 pounds. A pound is 453.59 grams. If a US recipe calls for 1 lb of mince, that is about 450 grams. If someone says they weigh 150 lbs, that is about 68 kilograms. A stone (used informally in the UK and sometimes in NZ) is 14 pounds, or about 6.35 kilograms.
Temperature conversions
New Zealand uses Celsius (also called Centigrade). The USA uses Fahrenheit. The formula to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius is: subtract 32, then multiply by 5/9. For example, a body temperature of 98.6 F is 37 C. An oven temperature of 375 F is about 190 C. Water freezes at 32 F (0 C) and boils at 212 F (100 C) at sea level. A useful rough rule: to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, double it and add 30 (not exact but close enough for a quick estimate).
Volume conversions
Litres and millilitres are standard in New Zealand. The US cup (237 ml) differs slightly from the metric cup used in Australian and NZ cooking (250 ml), so if you are using an American recipe, note that their cup is about 5% smaller. One US gallon is 3.785 litres. One UK (imperial) gallon is 4.546 litres, which is why fuel economy quoted in miles per gallon differs between US and UK sources. One US fluid ounce is 29.57 ml.
Speed conversions
New Zealand road speeds are in kilometres per hour (km/h). When driving in countries that use miles per hour (mph) such as the USA and UK, remember that 100 km/h is about 62 mph. The NZ open road speed limit of 100 km/h is about 62 mph. A speed camera trigger of 60 km/h in a 50 zone is about 37 mph. To convert km/h to mph, multiply by 0.621.
Why New Zealand still encounters imperial units
New Zealand officially adopted the metric system in the 1970s, but imperial measurements persist in a few areas. Building and construction still use some imperial measurements informally, particularly for timber and pipe sizes. Screen sizes (TV, monitor, phone) are universally quoted in inches. American recipes and packaging use cups, ounces, and Fahrenheit. Firearms and ammunition use inches and calibres. Body measurements in clothing, particularly for international online shopping, often require knowing your measurements in both systems.