Metric units are units based on the metre, gram or second and decimal (power of ten) multiples or sub-multiples of these.
The most widely used examples are the units of the International System of Units (SI).
By extension they include units of electromagnetism from the CGS and SI units systems, and other units for which use of SI prefixes has become the norm.
Other unit systems using metric units include:
International System of Electrical and Magnetic Units
Metre–tonne–second (MTS) system of units
MKS system of units
Metric units that are part of the SI
The first group of metric units are those that are at present defined as units within the International System of Units (SI).
In its most restrictive interpretation, this is what may be meant when the term metric unit is used.
The SI defines 29 named units and associated symbols:
The second (s) is the unit of time.
The metre (m) is the unit of length.
The kilogram (kg) is the unit of mass.
The ampere (A) is the unit of electric current.
The kelvin (K) is the unit of thermodynamic temperature.
The mole (mol) is the unit of amount of substance.
The candela (cd) is the unit of luminous intensity.
The hertz (Hz) is equal to one reciprocal second ().
The radian (rad) is equal to one ().
The steradian (sr) is equal to one ().
The newton (N) is equal to one kilogram-metre per second squared ().
The pascal (Pa) is equal to one newton per square metre ().
The joule (J) is equal to one newton metre ().
The watt (W) is equal to one joule per second ().
The coulomb (C) is equal to one ampere second ().
The volt (V) is equal to one joule per coulomb ().
The weber (Wb) is one volt second ().
The tesla (T) is one weber per square metre ().
The farad (F) is equal to one coulomb per volt ().
The ohm (Ω) is equal to one volt per ampere ().
The siemens (S) is equal to one ampere per volt ().
The henry (H) is one volt second per ampere  ().
The degree Celsius (°C) is equal to one kelvin ().
The lumen (lm) is equal to one candela steradian ().
The lux (lx) is equal to one lumen per square metre ().
The becquerel (Bq) is equal to one reciprocal second ().
The gray (Gy) is equal to one joule per kilogram ().
The sievert (Sv) is equal to one joule per kilogram ().
The katal (kat) is equal to one mole per second ().
Further, there  are twenty metric prefixes that can be combined with any of these units (with the gram (g) in the case of the kilogram) to form further units that are decimal multiples or submultiples of these to form further SI units.
Metric units that are not part of the SI
Metric units that are not part of the SI include Spatial
Length
The fermi is a unit of distance used in nuclear physics equal to one femtometre (1 fm).Nuclear Size and Shape
The angstrom (symbol Å) is a unit of distance used in chemistry and atomic physics equal to one hundred picometres (100 pm).
The micron (μ) is equal to one micrometre ().
The mo is equal to one ten-thousandth of a shaku (approximately 0.0303030 mm).
The rin is equal to one thousandth of a shaku (approximately 0.303030 mm).
The bu is equal to one hundredth of a shaku (approximately 3.03030 mm).
The metric inch is equal to twenty five millimetres ().
The sun is equal to one tenth of a shaku (approximately 30.3030 mm).
The cun is equal to one tenth of a chi (approximately 33.3333 mm).
The basic module (M) is equal to one hundred millimetres ().
The metric foot is equal to three hundred millimetres ().
The shaku is equal to 10/33 m (approximately 303.030 mm).
The chi is equal to one third of a metre (approximately 333.333 mm).
The jo is equal to ten shaku (approximately 3030.30 mm).
The metric mile is equal to 1.5 km.
The metric lieue is equal to four kilometres ().
The myriametre (mym) is equal to ten kilometres ().
The Scandinavian mile (mil) is equal to ten kilometres ().
The hebdometre is equal to ten megametres ().
The spat (S) is equal to one terametre ().
Area
For the darcy, a unit of dimension L2, see .
The shed  is a unit of area used in nuclear physics equal to 10−24 barns (10−52 m2).
The outhouse  is a unit of area used in nuclear physics equal to 10−6 barns  (100 am2 = 10−34 m2).
The barn (b)  is a unit of area used in nuclear physics equal to one hundred femtometres squared (100 fm2 = 10−28 m2).
The tsubo is equal to 400/121 metres squared (approximately 3.306 m2).
The are (a) is equal to one hundred metres squared (100 m2).
The decare (daa) is equal to one thousand metres squared (1000 m2).
The metric dunam is equal to one thousand metres squared (1000 m2).
The stremma is equal to one thousand metres squared (1000 m2).
The hectare (ha) is equal to ten thousand metres squared (10,000 m2).
Volume
The lambda (λ) is equal to one cubic millimetre (1 mm3).
The food labeling ounce is equal to 30 cm3.
The metric cup is equal to 250 cm3.
The litre (symbol l or L) is equal to one cubic decimetre (1 dm3).
The sho is equal to 2401/1331 litres (approximately 1.804 dm3).
The stere (st) is equal to one cubic metre (1 m3).
Reciprocal length
The dioptre is equal to one inverse metre ().
The kayser (K) is equal to one hundred inverse metres ().
Temporal
Time
The Svedberg (S or Sv)  is a unit of time used in chemistry equal to one hundred femtoseconds ().
The shake  is a unit of time used in nuclear physics equal to ten nanoseconds ().
The sigma is equal to one microsecond ().
The jiffy is sometimes used to mean .
Frequency
The cycle per second is equal to one hertz ().
The Fresnel is equal to one terahertz (1 THz).
Other
The eotvos (E) is equal to  ().
Combined spatial and temporal
For the stokes, a unit of dimension L2 T−1, see .
Speed
The benz is equal to one metre per second (1 m/s).
Acceleration
The gal (Gal) is a CGS unit of acceleration equal to one centimetre per second squared (1 cm/s2).Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
The leo is equal to .
Volume flow rate
The normal litre per minute (NLPM) is approximately equal to (0.001/60) m3/s.
The standard litre per minute (SLPM) is approximately equal to (0.001/60) m3/s.
The sverdrup (Sv) is equal to one million metres cubed per second (106 m3/s) Aldersey-Williams, 2016
Mechanics
Mass
The undecimogramme is equal to ten picograms (10 pg).
The gamma (γ) is equal to one microgram (1 μg).
The li is equal to one ten-thousandth of a jin (50 mg).
The carat (ct) is equal to 200 mg.
The fen is equal to one thousandth of a jin (500 mg).
The qian is equal to one hundredth of a jin (5 g).
The liang is equal to one tenth of a jin (50 g).
The hyakume is equal to one tenth of a kan (375 g).
The metric pound is equal to 500 g.
The jin is equal to 500 g.
The grave is equal to one kilogram (1 kg).
The kan is equal to 15/4 kilograms (3.75 kg).
The hyl is equal to 9.80665 kg (or 9.80665 g).
The dan is equal to one hundred jin (50 kg).
The metric quintal (q) is equal to one hundred kilograms (100 kg).
The tonne (t) is an MTS unit equal to one megagram (1 Mg).
The normal litre (NL) is a unit of mass used in gas flow equal to the product of 1 litre and the density of the gas in specified standard conditions.
Linear mass density
The tex (tex) is equal to one gram per kilometre (1 g/km).François Cardarelli (2004).
Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures.
Springer-Verlag London Ltd.
The number metric (Nm) is equal to 1000 metres per kilogram (1000 m/kg).
Force
The dyne (dyn) is a CGS unit equal to ten micronewtons ().Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
The kilogram-force (kgf), also kilopond (kp), is equal to the product of 1 kg and acceleration due to Earth's gravity ().
The sthène (sn) is an MTS unit equal to one kilonewton ().
Pressure
The barye (Ba) is a CGS unit equal to one dyne per centimeter squared (1 dyn cm−2 = 100 mPa).
The centimetre of water (cmH2O) is approximately 98.0665 pascals (98.0665 Pa).
The millimetre of mercury (mmHg or mm Hg) is approximately 133.3224 pascals (133.3224 Pa).
The torr (Torr) is approximately 133.3224 pascals.
The pièze (pz) is an MTS unit equal to  one sthène per metre squared (1 sn m−2 = 1 kPa).
The centimetre of mercury (cmHg or cm Hg) is approximately 1333.224 pascals (1333.224 Pa).
The metre sea water (msw) is equal to ten kilopascals (10 kPa).
The bar (bar) is equal to one hundred kilopascals (100 kPa).
The technical atmosphere (at) is equal to 98066.5 pascals (1 at = 1 kgf⋅cm−2).
Energy
The electronvolt (eV) is equal to 1.602176634×10−19 J = 160.2176634 zJ.
The erg (erg) is a CGS unit equal to one dyne centimeter (1 dyn cm = 100 nJ).Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
The calorie (cal) is 4.184 J.
The watt hour (W h) is equal to 3.6 kJ.
The foe is equal to 1044 joules.
The einstein (E) is the amount of energy in one mole of photons.
Power
The watt hour per day (W⋅h/d) is equal to 3.6 kJ/(24 h) = 1/24 W.
The donkey power is equal to 250 W.
The metric horsepower is equal to 75 kgf m/s (approximately 735.499 W).
The poncelet (p) is equal to .
Viscosity
The poise (P) is a unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one gram per (centimeter second) or one hundred grams per (metre second) (1 g⋅cm−1⋅s−1 = 100 g⋅m−1 s−1).Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
The poiseuille is a unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one pascal-second (1 Pa⋅s).François Cardarelli (2004).
Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures.
Springer-Verlag London Ltd.
The stokes (St) is a unit of kinematic viscosity equal to one centimetre squared per second or one hundred millimetres squared per second (1 cm2/s = 1 P⋅g⋅cm−3 = 100 mm2/s).Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
Permeability
The darcy is a unit of permeability approximately equal to 9.869233×10−13 m2.
Electromagnetism
Electricity
Current
The abampere (abA) or biot (Bi) is a unit in the EMU-CGS system corresponding to ten amperes ().
The statampere (statA) is a unit in the ESU-CGS system equal to one statcoulomb per second ().
Charge
The statcoulomb (statC) is a unit of electric charge equal to 1 dyn1/2⋅cm, corresponding to approximately .
The abcoulomb (abC) is a CGS unit of electric charge corresponding to ten coulombs ().
The ampere hour is a unit of electric charge equal to .
Capacitance
The statfarad (statF) is a unit of capacitance approximately corresponding to 1.1126 picofarads.
The abfarad (abF) is a unit of capacitance corresponding to one gigafarad (1 GF).
Resistance
The abohm (abΩ) is a unit of electrical resistance corresponding to one nanoohm ().
The Siemens mercury unit is a unit of electrical resistance corresponding to approximately ().
The statohm is a unit of electrical resistance corresponding to approximately .
Potential difference
The abvolt (abV) is a unit of potential difference corresponding to ten nanovolts (10 nV).
The statvolt (statV) is a unit of potential difference equal to 1 cm1/2⋅g1/2⋅s−1, corresponding to .
Light and heat
Illuminance
The nox (nx) is a unit of illuminance equal to 1 millilux (1 mlx).
The phot (ph) is a unit of illuminance equal to 10 kilolux (10 klx).Table 9, BIPM brochure, 8th Ed
The nit (nt) is a unit of luminance equal to one candela per metre squared (1 cd⋅m−2).
Luminance
The lambert (L) is a unit of luminance equal to 104/π cd⋅m−2.
The stilb (sb) is a unit of luminance equal to ten kilocandelas per metre squared (10 kcd⋅m−2).
Other
The einstein (E) is a unit of amount of photons, equal to one mole (1 mol) of photons.
The langley (Ly) is a unit of energy density equal to 1 calorie per square centimetre (41.84 kJ/m^2)
The jansky (Jy) is a unit of flux spectral density equal to 10−26 W⋅m−2⋅Hz−1
The solar flux unit is a unit of flux spectral density equal to 10−22 W⋅m−2⋅Hz−1
The talbot (T) is equal to one lumen second.
The lumerg is equal to 1e-7 lumen seconds.
Radioactivity
The rad (rad) is a unit of absorbed dose equal to ten milligrays (10 mGy).
The roentgen equivalent man (rem) is a unit of equivalent dose equal to ten millisieverts (10 mSv).
The rutherford (Rd) is a unit of radioactivity equal to one megabecquerel (1 MBq).
Other
The abhenry is a unit of inductance corresponding to one nanohenry ().
The mho (℧) is a unit of conductance corresponding to one siemens .
The abmho is a unit of conductance corresponding to .
The debye (D) is a unit of electric dipole moment equal to 10−18 statC⋅cm, corresponding to approximately .
The gauss (G) is a unit of magnetic flux density corresponding to one hundred microteslas ().
The maxwell (Mx) is a unit of magnetic flux corresponding to ten nanowebers ().
The oersted (Oe) is a unit of magnetic field equal to , corresponding to approximately .
Concentration
The molar (M) is equal to one mole per litre, or 1 mol/dm3.
Information and computing{{dubious|date=June 2020}}
The bit (bit) is the binary unit of information.
The byte (B) is equal to eight bits.
The baud (Bd) is a unit of symbol rate equal to one symbol per second.
The floating point operation per second (FLOPS) is a unit of computational speed.
Dimensionless units
The percent (%) is equal to one part in a hundred (0.01).
The permille (‰) is equal to one part in a thousand (0.001).
The permyriad (‱) is equal to one part in ten thousand ().
The part per million (ppm) is equal to one part in a million ().
The part per billion (ppb) is equal to one part in a billion ().
The part per trillion (ppt) is equal to one part in a trillion ().
The part per quadrillion (ppq) is equal to one part in a quadrillion ().
See also
Electrostatic units
Gaussian units
Gravitational metric system
History of the metric system
Introduction to the metric system
Metric system
Outline of the metric system
RKM code
Unified Code for Units of Measure
References
