Imperial vs. Metric System | InterExchange (2024)

FAQs

Is the metric system better than the imperial system? ›

Metric is simply a better system of units than imperial

The metric system is a consistent and coherent system of units. In other words, it fits together very well and calculations are easy because it is decimal. This is a big advantage for use in the home, education, industry and science.

The customary system of measurement, also called the U.S. Customary System, uses customary units. It is based on the English system of measurement. Customary units are a system of measurement commonly used in the United States for everyday purposes, such as measuring length, weight, capacity, and temperature.

All over the world, countries have transitioned from local and traditional units of measurement to the metric system. This process began in France during the 1790s, and has persistently advanced over two centuries, accumulating into 95% of the world officially only using the modern metric system.

The biggest reasons the U.S. hasn't adopted the metric system are simply time and money. When the Industrial Revolution began in the country, expensive manufacturing plants became a main source of American jobs and consumer products.

Post-1994 federal law also mandates most packaged consumer goods be labeled in both customary and metric units. The U.S. has fully adopted the SI unit for time, the second. The U.S. has a national policy to adopt the metric system. All U.S. agencies are required to adopt the metric system.

The basis of the argument is that while the metric system of units is based on scientific constants, the imperial system is based on the size of everyday items. From Real Clear Science: While the metric units' association with physical constants makes them accurate, it makes them less practical for common use.

In the military, metric units are primarily used to ensure interoperability with allied forces, but also for ease of use. Ground forces measure distances in “klicks,” a slang word for kilometers. Most military firearms are measured in metric units (with a few legacy exceptions such as . 50-caliber guns).

Systems of Measurement

Only three countries – the U.S., Liberia and Myanmar – still officially or actually stick to the imperial system, while official use does not necessarily reflected everyday practice.

In Great Britain, it was Imperial weights and measures and Fahrenheit. "Because Britain had so much influence here in North America, Canada and the United States sided with the Imperial system as well," said Krashinsky.

Some say we should switch because the metric system is easier and more widely used throughout the world. They point out that many fields—from science to health care—already use it. Others argue that switching would be too expensive and even dangerous.

Why is the metric system easier? ›

Because of its decimal nature, calculations using the metric system are easier and faster when compared to the alternative system of measurement. It has also allowed for greater accuracy. Adopting the system has also aided consistency of measurements across local sectors and trade across our borders.

Mexico uses the metric system of weights and measures (as opposed to the Imperial system, which is what Americans use).

Yet problems arise as many hospitals still weigh patients in pounds (rather than kilograms) and medications prescribe dosing instruction in milliliters and grams. The conversion has become enough of an issue that some hospitals are urging doctors to switch to metric scales to avoid mistakes.

The only major disadvantage in using the metric system is that it's not well-suited for working with fractions. For example, 1/6 meter is approximately equivalent to 167 millimeters and 1/3 kilogram is approximately equal to 333 grams.

The French are widely credited with originating the metric system of measurement. The French government officially adopted the system in 1795, but only after more than a century of sometimes contentious bickering over its value and suspicion surrounding the intent of metric proponents.

Because of its decimal nature, calculations using the metric system are easier and faster when compared to the alternative system of measurement. It has also allowed for greater accuracy. Adopting the system has also aided consistency of measurements across local sectors and trade across our borders.

There's a very good reason for this—it's so everyone is doing the measuring the same way, all over the world. Most other countries already use the metric system for measuring everything. Another good reason to use metric is that you don't have so much to remember—no 12 inches in a foot or 5,280 feet in a mile.

While 15% of American adults under 45 use miles for long distances, just 2% of older Americans do. Americans also skew imperial on short distances, though younger adults are more metric-curious. While 86% of Americans say they would use yards, feet, and inches, just 8% would use meters and centimeters.