Metrication in the United Kingdom

Common card · No. 242271

Metrication is the act or process of converting to the metric system of measurement. The United Kingdom, through voluntary and mandated laws, has metricated most of government, industry, commerce, and scientific research to the metric system; however, the previous measurement system (imperial units) is still used in society. As of 2026, imperial units remain authorised as primary units only for road traffic signs and speed measurement (the mile, yard, foot and inch); for draught beer and cider and for milk sold in returnable containers (the pint); and for transactions in precious metals (the troy ounce). Their use is compulsory for road distance and speed signs and for draught beer and cider, but optional for milk and precious metals, which may equally be sold in metric units. Imperial units may also be used alongside metric units as "supplementary indications" for trade. Due to metrication many imperial units have been phased out. In England, the national curriculum requires pupils to...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Better2together, Public domain