Metric vs. Standard — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 27, 2024
The metric system is a decimal-based measurement system used globally, featuring units like meters and kilograms, while the Standard system, known as the U.S. customary system, uses units like feet, pounds, and gallons, primarily in the United States.
Difference Between Metric and Standard
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The metric system, officially known as the International System of Units (SI), is a globally recognized measurement system that is based on multiples of ten. It includes units such as meters (length), liters (volume), and kilograms (mass). On the other hand, the Standard system, more accurately referred to as the U.S. customary system, is primarily used in the United States. It features units like feet, pounds, and gallons for measuring length, weight, and volume, respectively.
One of the main distinctions between the two systems is their unit of measurement for temperature. The metric system uses Celsius, a scale based on the freezing and boiling points of water, which are 0°C and 100°C, respectively. The U.S. customary system uses Fahrenheit, where water freezes at 32°F and boils at 212°F, making temperature conversion between the two systems a bit more complex.
In terms of usage, while the metric system is almost universally adopted and is the standard in scientific research to ensure consistency and accuracy, the U.S. customary system remains deeply ingrained in American daily life, industry, and infrastructure. This coexistence leads to a unique situation where individuals in the U.S. may encounter both systems, for example, in education, where science and medicine heavily favor metric units.
Another difference lies in the context of global interoperability. The metric system's widespread international adoption facilitates global trade, communication, and scientific collaboration. Meanwhile, the persistent use of the U.S. customary system in the U.S. can sometimes lead to confusion or the need for conversion, particularly in industries that operate internationally.
Comparison Chart
Basis
Decimal (based on multiples of ten)
Non-decimal (varied conversion factors)
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Common Units
Meters (length), liters (volume), kilograms (mass)
Feet (length), gallons (volume), pounds (mass)
Temperature
Celsius (0°C for freezing, 100°C for boiling water)
Fahrenheit (32°F for freezing, 212°F for boiling water)
Global Usage
Used worldwide except for a few countries
Primarily used in the United States
Conversion Simplicity
Straightforward due to decimal base
Requires memorization of conversion factors
Scientific Use
Standard in science and medicine
Limited use, metric preferred
International Trade
Facilitates global interoperability
Can cause confusion or require conversion
Compare with Definitions
Metric
A global decimal measurement system.
The scientist measured the sample's volume in liters.
Standard
A measurement system used primarily in the U.S.
The recipe called for a cup of sugar.
Metric
Features straightforward conversions.
1 kilometer equals 1000 meters.
Standard
Has non-decimal conversions.
There are 12 inches in a foot.
Metric
Universal except in the U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia.
Road signs in Europe display distances in kilometers.
Standard
Uses Fahrenheit for temperature.
It's 75°F outside today.
Metric
Uses Celsius for temperature.
Water boils at 100°C.
Standard
Embedded in American daily life.
Speed limits are posted in miles per hour.
Metric
Preferred in science for its simplicity.
The medication dosage is measured in milligrams.
Standard
Can complicate international trade.
Export specifications often require conversion to metric units.
Metric
Of or relating to the metric system of measurement.
Standard
A level of quality or attainment
The government's ambition to raise standards in schools
Their restaurant offers a high standard of service
Metric
(music) Of or relating to the meter of a piece of music.
Standard
Something used as a measure, norm, or model in comparative evaluations
The wages are low by today's standards
The system had become an industry standard
Metric
Of or relating to distance.
Standard
(especially with reference to jazz or blues) a tune or song of established popularity.
Metric
A measure for something; a means of deriving a quantitative measurement or approximation for otherwise qualitative phenomena (especially used in engineering).
What metric should be used for performance evaluation?
What are the most important metrics to track for your business?
It's the most important single metric that quantifies the predictive performance.
How to measure marketing? Use these key metrics for measuring marketing effectiveness.
There is a lack of standard metrics.
Standard
A military or ceremonial flag carried on a pole or hoisted on a rope.
Metric
(mathematics) A function for the measurement of the "distance" between two points in some metric space: it is a real-valued function d(x,y) between points x and y satisfying the following properties: (1) "non-negativity": , (2) "identity of indiscernibles": , (3) "symmetry": , and (4) "triangle inequality": .
Standard
A tree or shrub that grows on an erect stem of full height.
Metric
(mathematics) A metric tensor.
Standard
An upright water or gas pipe.
Metric
Abbreviation of metric system
Standard
Used or accepted as normal or average
It is standard practice in museums to register objects as they are acquired
The standard rate of income tax
Metric
To measure or analyse statistical data concerning the quality or effectiveness of a process.
We need to metric the status of software documentation.
We need to metric the verification of requirements.
We need to metric the system failures.
The project manager is metricking the closure of the action items.
Customer satisfaction was metricked by the marketing department.
Standard
(of a tree or shrub) growing on an erect stem of full height
Standard trees are useful for situations where immediate height is needed
Metric
Relating to measurement; involving, or proceeding by, measurement.
Standard
Serving as or conforming to an established or accepted measurement or value
A standard unit of volume.
Metric
Of or pertaining to the meter as a standard of measurement; of or pertaining to the decimal system of measurement of which a meter is the unit; as, the metric system; a metric measurement.
Standard
Widely recognized or employed as a model of authority or excellence
A standard reference work.
Metric
A function of a topological space that gives, for any two points in the space, a value equal to the distance between them
Standard
Acceptable but of less than top quality
A standard grade of beef.
Metric
A decimal unit of measurement of the metric system (based on meters and kilograms and seconds);
Convert all the measurements to metric units
It is easier to work in metric
Standard
Normal, familiar, or usual
The standard excuse.
Metric
A system of related measures that facilitates the quantification of some particular characteristic
Standard
Commonly used or supplied
Standard car equipment.
Metric
Based on the meter as a standard of measurement;
The metric system
Metrical equivalents
Standard
(Linguistics) Conforming to models or norms of usage admired by educated speakers and writers
Standard pronunciation.
Metric
The rhythmic arrangement of syllables
Standard
An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
Standard
An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.
Standard
The commodity or commodities used to back a monetary system.
Standard
The set proportion by weight of gold or silver to alloy metal prescribed for use in coinage.
Standard
A degree or level of requirement, excellence, or attainment
Their quality of work exceeds the standards set for the field.
Standard
Something, such as a practice or a product, that is widely recognized or employed, especially because of its excellence.
Standard
A set of specifications that are adopted within an industry to allow compatibility between products.
Standard
A requirement of moral conduct
The standards of polite society.
Standard
The ensign of a chief of state, nation, or city.
Standard
A long, tapering flag bearing heraldic devices distinctive of a person or corporation.
Standard
An emblem or flag of an army, raised on a pole to indicate the rallying point in battle.
Standard
The colors of a mounted or motorized military unit.
Standard
Chiefly British A grade level in elementary schools.
Standard
A pedestal, stand, or base.
Standard
The large upper petal of the flower of a pea or related plant. Also called banner, vexillum.
Standard
One of the narrow upright petals of an iris.
Standard
A shrub or small tree that through grafting or training has a single stem of limited height with a crown of leaves and flowers at its apex.
Standard
(Music) A composition that is continually used in repertoires
A pianist who knew dozens of Broadway standards.
Standard
Falling within an accepted range of size, amount, power, quality, etc.
Standard
(of a tree or shrub) Growing alone as a free-standing plant; not trained on a post etc.
Standard
Having recognized excellence or authority.
Standard works in history; standard authors
Standard
Of a usable or serviceable grade or quality.
Standard
Having a manual transmission.
Standard
As normally supplied (not optional).
Standard
(linguistics) Conforming to the standard variety.
Standard
A principle or example or measure used for comparison.
Standard
A level of quality or attainment.
Standard
Something used as a measure for comparative evaluations; a model.
Standard
A musical work of established popularity.
Standard
A rule or set of rules or requirements which are widely agreed upon or imposed by government.
Standard
The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established for coinage.
Standard
(sociolinguistics) standard idiom, a prestigious or standardized language variety; standard language
Standard
A bottle of wine containing 0.750 liters of fluid.
Standard
(India) Grade level in primary education.
I am in fifth standard.
Standard
A vertical pole with something at its apex.
Standard
An object supported in an upright position, such as a lamp standard.
Standard
The flag or ensign carried by a military unit.
Standard
One of the upright members that supports the horizontal axis of a transit or theodolite.
Standard
Any upright support, such as one of the poles of a scaffold.
Standard
A sturdy, woody plant whose upright stem is used to graft a less hardy ornamental flowering plant on, rather then actually planting it.
Standard
A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis.
Standard
The sheth of a plough.
Standard
A manual transmission vehicle.
Standard
(botany) The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.
Standard
(shipbuilding) An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.
Standard
A large drinking cup.
Standard
(historical) A collar of mail protecting the neck.
Standard
(slang) An expression of agreement
Standard
A flag; colors; a banner; especially, a national or other ensign.
His armies, in the following day,On those fair plains their standards proud display.
Standard
That which is established by authority as a rule for the measure of quantity, extent, value, or quality; esp., the original specimen weight or measure sanctioned by government, as the standard pound, gallon, or yard.
Standard
That which is established as a rule or model by authority, custom, or general consent; criterion; test.
The court, which used to be the standard of propriety and correctness of speech.
A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman.
Standard
The proportion of weights of fine metal and alloy established by authority.
By the present standard of the coinage, sixty-two shillings is coined out of one pound weight of silver.
Standard
A tree of natural size supported by its own stem, and not dwarfed by grafting on the stock of a smaller species nor trained upon a wall or trellis.
In France part of their gardens is laid out for flowers, others for fruits; some standards, some against walls.
Standard
The upper petal or banner of a papilionaceous corolla.
Standard
An upright support, as one of the poles of a scaffold; any upright in framing.
Standard
An inverted knee timber placed upon the deck instead of beneath it, with its vertical branch turned upward from that which lies horizontally.
Standard
The sheth of a plow.
Standard
A large drinking cup.
Standard
Being, affording, or according with, a standard for comparison and judgment; as, standard time; standard weights and measures; a standard authority as to nautical terms; standard gold or silver.
Standard
Hence: Having a recognized and permanent value; as, standard works in history; standard authors.
Standard
Not supported by, or fastened to, a wall; as, standard fruit trees.
Standard
A basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated;
They set the measure for all subsequent work
Standard
The ideal in terms of which something can be judged;
They live by the standards of their community
Standard
A board measure = 1980 board feet
Standard
The value behind the money in a monetary system
Standard
An upright pole or beam (especially one used as a support);
Distance was marked by standards every mile
Lamps supported on standards provided illumination
Standard
Any distinctive flag
Standard
Conforming to or constituting a standard of measurement or value; or of the usual or regularized or accepted kind;
Windows of standard width
Standard sizes
The standard fixtures
Standard brands
Standard operating procedure
Standard
Commonly used or supplied;
Standard procedure
Standard car equipment
Standard
Established or widely recognized as a model of authority or excellence;
A standard reference work
Standard
Conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers;
Standard English
Received standard English is sometimes called the King's English
Standard
Regularly and widely used or sold;
A standard size
A stock item
Common Curiosities
How do international companies operate with these two systems?
International companies often use the metric system for global standardization but may adapt products and services to the U.S. customary system for the American market.
What are the benefits of using the metric system?
Its decimal basis makes it easy to learn and use, facilitates international trade, and is the standard in science and medicine for precision and interoperability.
How do schools in the U.S. teach these systems?
U.S. schools teach both systems, with an emphasis on the U.S. customary system in early education and more focus on the metric system in higher science and math courses.
Is there a significant difference in accuracy between the two systems?
The accuracy depends more on the precision of measurement instruments rather than the system itself. However, the metric system is preferred for scientific research due to its universal standardization.
What would it take for the U.S. to fully adopt the metric system?
Full adoption would require significant investment in education, infrastructure updates, and a shift in cultural perception, among other factors.
How do professionals who work in both systems manage conversions?
They often use conversion tools and charts to accurately translate units between systems, especially in fields like engineering and medicine.
Why does the U.S. still use the U.S. customary system?
Historical precedent, the cost of conversion, and cultural attachment play roles in maintaining the U.S. customary system.
Can the metric and U.S. customary systems be used interchangeably?
While they measure the same physical quantities, direct interchangeability requires conversion due to different units and scales.
Are there efforts to convert the U.S. to the metric system?
There have been historical efforts, but full conversion has not been realized due to various challenges, including the cost and resistance to change.
How do temperature conversions work between Celsius and Fahrenheit?
The formula for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit is C+32, and vice versa for Fahrenheit to Celsius.
How do everyday activities in the U.S. incorporate the metric system?
Despite the prevalence of the U.S. customary system, the metric system is used in fields like science, medicine, and many imported products.
Why is the metric system considered more suitable for scientific research?
Its universal consistency and decimal structure simplify calculation and enhance clarity in communication across international borders.
What role do federal regulations play in system usage?
Federal regulations in the U.S. allow for the use of both systems, but they require metric units for certain regulatory purposes, like nutrition labeling.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
