Metric measurements - KS2 Maths - Year 3

What are metric measurements?

The metric system is used to measure the length, mass or capacity of an object.

Length is measured in millimetres (mm), centimetres (cm), metres (m) or kilometres (km).

Mass or weight is measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg).

Capacity is measured in millilitres (ml) and litres (l).

Why not see how much you know about this topic already? Then work through the page and see if you can beat your score.

Length is measured using different units.

For small lengths you use millimetres (mm) and centimetres (cm).

For longer lengths and distances you use metres (m) or kilometres (km).

Let's have a look at how you might measure some different lengths and distances.

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You would use millimetres (mm) and centimetres (cm) for small lengths. Like this pencil. Can you see the pencil is 5cm or 50mm long?
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For longer lengths you can use metres (m). This bed is 1m 20cm wide. That is the same as 120cm.
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Kilometres (km) are used for measuring long distances, like a car journey. For example, Lucas lives 5km from his grandparents.
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You'd also use kilometres for even longer distances; for example, distances between countries. It is 390km to cycle from London to Paris.

Here is a table that will help you convert between millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres.

Weight is measured in grams (g) and kilograms (kg).

You can use grams to measure the weight of light objects and kilograms to measure the weight of heavy objects.

1 kilogram (1kg) = 1000 grams (1000g)

Let's have a look at how you might measure some different weights.

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You might use grams (g) to measure the weight of light objects, like ingredients for baking. This flour weighs 80 grams.
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You measure the weight of heavier objects in kilograms (kg), for example the weight of a person. Jamie weighs 55 kilograms.

You measure the capacity of containers in millilitres (ml) and litres (l).

1 litre (1l) = 1000 millilitres (1000ml)

Let's have a look at how you might measure some different capacities.

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You would use millilitres (ml) to measure the capacity of a small container, like this jug. Can you read the scale to work out the capacity?
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For larger containers, like this bucket, you might use litres (l). Can you read the scale to work out the capacity?

These two tables are 215cm and 2 metres 35cm in length.

What is the difference in their length in centimetres?