COMMON QUESTIONS
Uniquely American Questions
This section discusses conversions and measurements in the United States as they apply to international visitors.
CONVERSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS
NOTE: While many U.S. citizens use the metric system, it is not
in widespread use.
Clothing Sizes: Men, Women, Children | Electric Current Standard | Energy | Length Measures | Liquid Measures | Speed | Temperature | Velocity and Fuel Consumption | Weight Measures
Clothing Sizes (approximate)
MEN
Suits, Pants, Overcoats, Sweaters
Imperial - 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42
Continental - 44 | 46 | 48 | 49.5 | 51 | 52.5
American - 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42
Shoes
Imperial - 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12
Continental - 39.5 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44.5 | 46 | 47
American - 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
Hats
Imperial - 6.625 | 6.75 | 67/8 | 7 | 7.125 | 7.25 | 7.375
Continental - 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61
American - 6.75 | 6.375 | 7 | 7.125 | 7.25 | 7.375 | 7.5
Socks
Imperial - 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5
Continental - 38-39 | 39-40 | 40-41 | 41-42
American - 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5
Shirts
Imperial - 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | 17
Continental - 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43
American - 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 15.5 | 16
Dresses, Coats, Suits, Skirts, Pants
Imperial - 30 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 36 | 38 | 39
Continental - 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48
American - 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20
Blouses, Sweaters
Imperial - 32 | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42
Continental - 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48
American - 10(30) | 12(32) | 14(34) | 16(36)
Shoes
Imperial - 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5
Continental - 35 | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37 | 37.5 | 38
American - 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8
Stockings
Imperial - 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11
Continental - 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
American - 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11
CHILDREN
Dresses, Coats, Suits, Skirts, Pants - Junior/Misses
Imperial - 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15
Continental - 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 12
American - 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 15
Shoes - Girls and Boys
Imperial - 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3
Continental - 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36
American - 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Most Apparel - Girls and Boys
Imperial - 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26
Continental - 98 | 104 | 110 | 116 | 122
American - 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6X
Electric Current Standard
U.S. current is 110 volts, 60 cycles alternating current (A.C.). Appliances
running on 220-240 volts will not work in the U.S. Purchase conversion
kits at appliance or hardware stores.
Energy
1,000 British thermal units (Btu)=0.293 kWh
100,000 Btu=1 therm
1 horsepower=0.7457 kilowatt
1 calorie (dietician's)=4.1855 kilojoules
Length Measures
.04 inches = 1 millometer
.39 inches = 1 centimeter
3.28 feet or 1.094 yards = 1 meter
1,094 yards or .62 miles = 1 kilometer
Liquid Measures
1 teaspoon (t.) = 5 ml.
1 tablespoon (T.) = 15 ml.
1 ounce (oz.) = 30 ml.
1 cubic cm (cm3) = 0.0610 in3
1 cubic decimeter (dm3) = 0.0353 ft3
1 cubic meter (m3) = 1, 000 dm3 = 1.3080 yd3
1 liter (1) = 1 dm3 = 0.2642 US gal
1 hectoliter (h) = 100 l = 2.8378 US bu
1 cubic inch (in3) = 16.387 cm3
1 cubic foot (ft3) = 0.0283 m3
1 cubic yard (yd3) = 27 ft3 = 0.7646 m3
1 US dry pint = 0.5506 l
1 US bushel = 64 US dry pints = 35.239 l
1 US gallon = 8 US liquid pints = 3.7854 l
NOTE: If you are given a prescription in a different
measurement than listed above, ask your doctor or pharmacy for an equivalent
you can understand.
Speed
Speed is measured in miles per hour (mph). To convert from kilometers
per hour (km/h) to miles per hour (mph) or vice versa:
miles per hour x 1.61 = km per hour
kilometers per hour/1.61 = mph
Temperature
To convert Farenheit (F¼) to Celsius (C¼): Subtract 32 and divide by 1.8.
To convert Celsius (C¼) to Farenheit (F¼): Multiply by 1.8 and add 32.
Boiling point: 212 F¼/100 C¼
Freezing point: 32 F¼ and 0 C¼.
Velocity and Fuel Consumption
Miles/hour - 1.609344 kilometers/hour; 0.868976 international knots
Miles/US gallon - 0.42514 kilometers/liter
US gallons/mile - 235.215 liters/100 kilometers
Weight Measures
1 gram (G) = 1,000 mg = 0.0353 oz
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 g = 2.2046 lb
1 tonne (t) = 1,000 kg = 1.1023 short tons
1 tonne = 0.9842 long ton
1 ounce (oz) = 437.5 grains = 28.350 g
1 pound (lb) = 16 oz. = 0.4536 kg
1 short cwt = 100 lb = 45.359 kg
1 long cwt = 112 lb = 50.802 kg
1 long cwt = 2,000 lb = 0.9072 t
1 long ton = 2, 240 lb = 1.0161 t
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