How To Choose The Right Metric Conversion Tool For You

Metric conversion tools are a very highly sought after toolset on the internet and there are many options available. Finding a website to convert kilometers to miles, for example, is relatively easy, but if you are a student or someone in a position that has the need to regularly convert between various metric and English standards of measure you will want a tool that does more than just give you the answer.

Finding a tool that can serve your needs may not be at the forefront of your mind, especially when most tools seem very similar to each other, but there are differences and we've compiled a list of options you should consider if you want a single resource for all of your metric conversion needs.

1. The best metric conversion tool that you can use should be accurate. This may sound like an obvious statement, but when your business or school grade depends on the accuracy of the tool you use and there are no certification services available for metric conversion websites, you need to do a little legwork. The best way to do this is to pick several metric conversions that you know the answer to or perform the same conversion on several sites you are considering. Compare the results for accuracy. If a site does not give accurate results, cross them off your list.

Now that you are comfortable with the results, it's time to focus on how easy the site is to find the results you need. The largest metric conversion sites are capable of performing thousands of conversions, but how easy is it to find the ones you want?

2. A site search tool is a time saver! Navigating through lists of conversion types and then lists of units is probably not how you want to spend your time when you are looking to convert 'kilometers to miles' or 'pounds to kilograms'. A site search tool can make finding the conversion you need painless. An advanced search tool should allow for various combinations. For example, you should be able to type 'kilometers to miles' but it also should find results using the standard unit abbreviations. In our example, typing 'km to mi', 'km to miles', or 'kilometers to mi' should all yield the results you are looking for.

Even a search tool may not be fast enough for those who do the same conversions frequently. Creating bookmarks with your browser can help, if the address contains the units you selected, but can you access those same bookmarks from any computer or mobile device and do you want to clutter your browsers favorites with metric conversion bookmarks?

3. Save your favorites! We recommend using a site that allows you to save your favorite or most used metric conversions. Let's say you frequently convert 'feet to meters'. Even with the convenience of a search tool it requires additional input. The ability to pick your favorite conversions and have them all in one place for single click access is the best method of all. Make sure the site you choose gives you the ability to save your favorites to an account so it can be accessed from anywhere, otherwise they will only save to cookies, which are only local to the current computer or device you are using.

For many people when they want to convert from 'kilometers to miles' they just want the result, but if you are a student or want to understand the conversion process you need more information than just 100 kilometers = 62.137 miles.

4. Algebraic steps / Dimensional analysis shows you the way. It may sound complicated, but part of learning the metric system is to be able to convert between units and to show your work. We recommend finding a site that will show you the steps for every metric conversion they do using common conversion units. For example, when converting length, a fairly common conversion is 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters. It makes sense to use common conversion values between metric and English units because you will have less to remember and the formula's you use will be easier to understand.

Some other features to consider are:

- Auto calculating as you type
- Automatically convert to common unit types
- Ability to convert back and forth between units and swap them without having to reselect the units again

Finding a metric conversion tool to do everything you want with all the options available can be time consuming. However, the payoff will be worth it because you will have a single tool you can come back to, again and again, that saves you a lot of time and makes your life easier and we can all appreciate that.