Metrication Conversion Guide for 318M and 318S

Note:
Based on IEEE/ASTM SI 10-2002 document

The values stated in either inch-pound or SI units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each
system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each system must be used independently of the other, without combining
values in any way.

1a. LENGTH 1 in. = 25.40 mm

Rules: 1. Convert in. to mm using the factor 25.40 and round to two significant digits.
2. Orange shading: equivalence number for ACI 318M document.
3. Change to m, when conversion reaches 1000 mm.
Example 1: 1/2 in. = 0.5 x 25.40 = 12.70 à use 13 mm

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [in.]
Units [mm] Units [mm] [mm]
1/4 6.35 6.4 6
3/8 9.53 9.5 10
1/2 12.70 13 13
5/8 15.88 16 16
3/4 19.05 19 20
7/8 22.23 22 22
1 25.40 25 25
1 1/4 31.75 32 30
1 1/2 38.10 38 40
1 3/4 44.45 44 45
2 50.80 51 50
2 1/2 63.50 64 65
3 76.20 76 75
3 1/2 88.90 89 90
4 101.60 100 100
5 127.00 130 125
5 1/2 139.70 140 140
6 152.40 150 150
7 177.80 180 175
7 1/2 190.50 190 190
8 203.20 200 200
9 228.60 230 230
9 3/4 247.65 250 245
10 254.00 250 250
11 279.40 280 280
12 304.80 300 300
12.5 317.50 320 315
14 355.60 360 350
16 406.40 410 400
18 457.20 460 450
20 508.00 510 500
24 609.60 610 600
25 635.00 640 635
30 762.00 760 750
36 914.40 910 900

ACI Engineering Page 1 12/07/2021

1a. LENGTH CONTINUED

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [in.]
Units [m] Units [m] [m]
48 1.22 1.2 1.2
50 1.27 1.3 1.3
54 1.37 1.4 1.4
60 1.52 1.5 1.5
72 1.83 1.8 1.8
120 3.05 3.0 3.0
144 3.66 3.7 3.7
1,200 30.48 30 30
1,800 45.72 46 46

1b. CRACK WIDTH 1 in. = 25.40 mm

Rule: Convert in. to mm using the factor 25.40 and round to 2 significant digits.
Example : 0.013 in. = 0.013 x 25.40 = 0.3302 à use 0.33 mm

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [in.]
Units [mm] Units [mm] [mm]
0.012 0.3048 0.30 0.30
0.016 0.4064 0.41 0.41

1c. AGGREGATE SIZE

ASTM E 11 Size and ACI 318M Units

Approx. Size Nomenclature Nomenclature [mm]
in.-lb Units [in.] in.-lb Units are the Same
4 4 in. SI Units
100 mm 100 mm
3.5 3-1/2 in. 90 mm 90 mm
3 3 in. 75 mm 75 mm
2.5 2-1/2 in. 63 mm 63 mm
2 2 in. 50 mm 50 mm
1.5 1-1/2 in. 37.5 mm 37.5 mm
1 1 in. 25.0 mm 25.0 mm
0.875 7/8 in. 22.4 mm 22.4 mm
0.750 3/4 in. 19.0 mm 19.0 mm
0.625 5/8 in. 16.0 mm 16.0 mm
0.500 1/2 in. 12.5 mm 12.5 mm
0.375 3/8 in. 9.5 mm 9.5 mm
0.250 1/4 in. 6.3 mm 6.3 mm
0.187 No. 4 4.75 mm 4.75 mm
0.132 No. 6 3.35 mm 3.35 mm
0.0937 No. 8 2.36 mm 2.36 mm
0.0787 No. 10 2.00 mm 2.00 mm
0.0469 No. 16 1.18 mm 1.18 mm
0.0331 No. 20 850 mm 850 mm
0.0234 No. 30 600 mm 600 mm
0.0165 No. 40 425 mm 425 mm
0.0117 No. 50 300 mm 300 mm
0.0070 No. 80 180 mm 180 mm
0.0059 No. 100 150 mm 150 mm
0.0029 No. 200 75 mm 75 mm

ACI Engineering Page 2 12/07/2021

1d. AREA 1 ft2 = 0.09290 m2

Rule: Convert ft2 to m2 using the factor 0.09290 and round to 2 significant digits.
Therefore 5,000 ft2 = 5,000 x 0.09290 = 464.5 à use 460 m2

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [ft2]
Units [m2] Units [m2] [m2]
5,000 464.50 460 460

1e. AREA PER UNIT LENGTH 1 in.2 / ft = 2117 mm2 / m

Rule: Convert in2/ft to mm2/m using the factor 2117 and round to 2 significant digits.
Therefore : 0.10 in.2/ft = 0.10 x 2117 = 211.7 à use 210 mm2/m

in.-lb Units Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

[in.2/ft] Units [mm2/m] Units [mm2/m] [mm2/m]
0.10 211.70 210 210

1f. VOLUME 1 yd3 = 0.7646 m3

Rule: Convert yd3 to m3 using the factor 0.7646 and round to 2 significant digits.
Example : 50 yd3 = 50 x 0.7646 = 38.23 à use 38 m3

Conversion to SI Equivalent in SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [yd3]
Units [m3] Units [m3] [m3]
50 38.23 38 38
150 114.69 110 110

1g. LOADS 1 lb = 0.004448 kN

Rule: Convert lb to kN using the factor 0.004448 and round to 2 significant digits.
Example : 16,000 lb = 16,000 x 0.004448 = 71.17 à use 71 kN

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [lb]
Units [kN] Units [kN] [kN]
3,000 13.34 13 13
9,000 40.03 40 40
10,000 44.48 44 44
16,000 71.17 71 71

1h. LOADS PER UNIT LENGTH 1 lb / ft = 0.01459 kN / m

Rule: Convert lb/ft to kN/m using the factor 0.01459 and round to 2 significant digits.
Example : 1,500 lb/ft = 1,500 x 0.01459 = 21.89 à use 22 kN/m

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [lb/ft]
Units [kN/m] Units [kN/m] [kN/m]
200 2.918 2.9 3.0
300 4.377 4.4 4.4
1,500 21.885 22 22
3,000 43.770 44 44

ACI Engineering Page 3 12/07/2021

1i. AREA LOADS 1 psf = 0.04788 kN/m2

Rule: Convert psf to kN/m2 using the factor 0.04788 and round to 2 significant digits.
Therefore : 100 psf = 100 x 0.04788 = 4.788 à use 4.8 kN/m2

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [psf]
Units [kN/m2] Units [kN/m2] [kN/m2]
100 4.7880 4.8 4.8

2. TEMPERATURE Degree F = (F-32)/1.8 = Degree C

Rule: To convert °F to °C use the conversion above and round to the nearest degree.
Except for temperatures above 212 deg F, for which the conversion is rounded to 2
significant figures).
Example: 35 °F = (35 – 32)/1.8 = 1.67 à use 2 °C
According to ACI style manual, the degree symbol should be used with
temperature, °F and °C.

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [°F]
Units [°C] Units [°C] [°C]
35 1.6667 2 2
40 4.4444 4 4
50 10.0000 10 10
60 15.5556 16 16
90 32.2222 32 32
95 35.0000 35 35
100 37.7778 38 38
200 93.3333 93 93
300 148.8889 150 150
400 204.4444 200 200
600 315.5556 320 320
1,500 815.5556 820 820

3. CONCRETE UNIT WEIGHT 1 lb/ft3 = 16.02 kg/m3

Rule: Convert the unit weight in lb/ft3 to kg/m3 using the factor 16.02 and round to three (3) significant
digits. (Show to the nearest 5 kg/m3 for values in the 'ones' digit.)
Example: 144 x 16.02 = 2307 à use 2310 kg/m3

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [pcf]
Units [kg/m3] Units [kg/m3] [kg/m3]
70 1121.40 1120 1120
90 1441.80 1440 1440
105 1682.10 1680 1680
110 1762.20 1760 1760
115 1842.30 1840 1840
120 1922.40 1920 1920
140 2242.80 2240 2240
144 2306.88 2310 2310
145 2322.90 2320 2320
150 2403.00 2400 2400
155 2483.10 2480 2480

NOTE:
In SI Units the kg is a unit of mass therefore the term "unit weight" in a SI document should be "unit density."

ACI Engineering Page 4 12/07/2021

4a. CONCRETE STRESS 1000 psi = 6.895 MPa

Rule: Convert psi to MPa using the factor 0.006895 and round to two (2) significant digits (except for
concrete stress levels 5000 psi and above round to the nearest 5 MPa - see shaded equivalents
below).
Example 1: 4440 psi = 4.44 x 6.894757 = 30.61 à use 31 MPa
Example 2: 12,000 psi = 12 x 6.894757 = 82.737 à use 85 MPa

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [psi]
Units [MPa] Units [MPa] [MPa]
50 0.3448 0.34 0.35
70 0.4827 0.48 0.5
80 0.5516 0.55 0.55
100 0.6895 0.69 0.7
125 0.8619 0.86 0.9
150 1.0343 1.0 1.0
200 1.3790 1.4 1.4
225 1.5514 1.6 1.6
250 1.7238 1.7 1.7
260 1.7927 1.8 1.8
300 2.0685 2.1 2.1
400 2.7580 2.8 2.8
500 3.4475 3.4 3.5
700 4.8265 4.8 5.0
800 5.5160 5.5 5.5
1,000 6.8950 6.9 7.0
1,200 8.2740 8.3 8.3
2,000 13.7900 14 14
2,500 17.2375 17 17
3,000 20.6850 21 21
3,500 24.1325 24 24
4,000 27.5800 28 28
4,440 30.6138 31 31
4,500 31.0275 31 31
5,000 34.4750 35 35
6,000 41.3700 40 40
8,000 55.1600 55 55
10,000 68.9500 70 70
11,000 75.8450 75 75
12,000 82.7400 85 85
15,000 103.4250 105 105

4b. MODULUS OF ELASTICITY 1000 psi = 6.895 MPa

Rule: Convert psi to MPa using the factor 0.006895 and round to 2 significant digits.
Therefore : 29,000,000 psi = 29,000,000 x 6.895 / 1000 = 199,995 à use 200,000 MPa

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [psi]
Units [MPa] Units [MPa] [MPa]
29,000,000 199955 200000 200 000

ACI Engineering Page 5 12/07/2021

5. EMPIRICAL EQUATIONS FOR CONCRETE WITH MULTIPLIERS OF

1/12.043 or 0.08304

Rule: To convert the multipliers of use the factor 1/12.043 (or 0.08304) and round to two (2)
significant digits. Show constants or multipliers in front of equation.

Conversion of commonly used multipliers of :

Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units
Units Units
0.1 0.0083 0.0083 0.0083
0.6 0.0498 0.050 0.050
0.75 0.0623 0.062 0.062
1 0.0830 0.083 0.083
1.25 0.1038 0.10 0.10
1.33 0.1104 0.11 0.11
1.7 0.1412 0.14 0.14
1.9 0.1578 0.16 0.16
2 0.1661 0.17 0.17
2.66 0.2209 0.22 0.22
3 0.2491 0.25 0.25
3.3 0.2740 0.27 0.27
3.5 0.2906 0.29 0.29
4 0.3322 0.33 0.33
5 0.4152 0.42 0.42
6 0.4982 0.50 0.50
6.7 0.5564 0.56 0.56
7 0.5813 0.58 0.58
7.5 0.6228 0.62 0.62
8 0.6643 0.66 0.66
10 0.8304 0.83 0.83
12 0.9965 1.0 1.0
15 1.2456 1.2 1.2
16 1.3286 1.3 1.3
20 1.6608 1.7 1.7
25 2.0760 2.1 2.1
33 2.7403 2.7 2.7
40 3.3216 3.3 3.3
50 4.1520 4.2 4.2
65 5.3976 5.4 5.4
100 8.3040 8.3 8.3
160 13.2864 13 13
57000 4733.2800 4700 4700

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6a. STEEL GRADES IN REFERENCED ASTMs FOR REINFORCING BARS, WELDED WIRE
REINFORCEMENT, STEEL STRANDS, AND STRUCTURAL STEEL PLATES & SHAPES

Conversion of reinforcing steel grades per ASTMs listed in the 318: (Minimum yield strengths)
Not included: A 53 - 02, A 307 - 04, A 500 - 03, A 501 - 01
A 185 - 02 and A 497 - 02 refer to A 82
A 185 - 02 and A 497 - 02 refer to A 82
A 775 - 01 and A 934 - 03 refer to A 615, A 706, and A 996
A 884 - 02 refers to A 82, A 185, A 496, and A 497

in.-lb Units SI Units ACI 318M Units

in.-lb Units [ksi] SI Units [MPa]
[ksi] [MPa] [MPa]
ASTM A 36/ A 36M - 03 Plate, Bar Summary Nearest 5 MPa
36 250 and Shapes 36 250 250
ASTM A 82 - 02 WWR 40 280(300)1 280
56 385 42 290 290
65 450 46 315 315
70 485 50 350(345)2 350
ASTM A 242/ A 242M - 03 Plate, Bar 55 380 380
42 290 and Shapes 56 385 385
46 315 60 420(415)3 420
50 345 4 70 485 485
ASTM A 416/ A 416M - 02 Strand 75 520 520
250 1725 150 1035 1035
270 1860 235 1620 1620
ASTM A 421/ A 421M - 02 Strand 240 1655 1655
235 1620 250 1725 1725
240 1655 270 1860 1860
250 1725
ASTM A 496 - 02 WWR 1. ASTM is in the process of
70 485 changing to 280.
ASTM A 572/ A 572M - 03 Plate, Bar 2. Steel plate uses 345 and concrete
42 290 and Shapes reinforcement uses 350: Use 350.
50 345 4 3. Steel plate uses 415 and concrete
55 380 reinforcement uses 420: Use 420.
60 415 4 4. Red values shall not be used.
65 450
ASTM A 588/ A 588M - 03 Plate, Bar
42 290 and Shapes
46 315
50 345 4
ASTM A 615/ A 615M - 03 Rebar
40 280
60 420
75 520
ASTM A 706/ A 706M - 03 Rebar
60 420
ASTM A 722/ A 722M - 98 Rebar
150 1035
ASTM A 767/ A 767M - 00 Rebar
40 300 4
50 350
60 420
75 520
ASTM A 992/ A 992M - 03 Plate, Bar
50 345 4 and Shapes
65 450
ASTM A 996/ A 996M - 03 Rebar
40 280
50 350
60 420

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6b. STEEL STRESSES NOT REFERENCED IN ASTMs
1000 psi = 6.895 MPa

Rule: Convert psi to MPa using the factor 0.006895; round to 2

significant digits (except for 5000 psi and above round up to the
nearest 5 MPa)
Example: 80,000 psi = 80000 x 0.006895 = 551.6 à use 550 MPa

in.-lb Units Conversion to SI Equivalent SI ACI 318M

[psi] Units [MPa] Units [MPa] Units [MPa]
3,000 20.69 21 21
10,000 68.95 70 70
18,000 124.11 125 125
20,000 137.90 140 140
30,000 206.85 205 210
52,000 358.54 360 360
80,000 551.60 550 550
100,000 689.50 690 700
125,000 861.88 860 860
275,000 1896.13 1895 1900

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 7a. REINFORCING BAR SIZE

Conversion of reinforcing steel bar sizes per ASTM:

in.-lbs Units (SI) Units

ACI 318M
ASTM A 615/ A 615M–03
No. 3 No. 10 No. 10
No. 4 No. 13 No. 13
No. 5 No. 16 No. 16
No. 6 No. 19 No. 19
No. 7 No. 22 No. 22
No. 8 No. 25 No. 25
No. 9 No. 29 No. 29
No. 10 No. 32 No. 32
No. 11 No. 36 No. 36
No. 14 No. 43 No. 43
No. 18 No. 57 No. 57

7b. STEEL STRAND SIZE*

Conversion of steel strand sizes per ASTM:

ASTM
in.-lbs Units [in.] SI Units [mm] Designated ACI 318M
Strand No.
ASTM A 416/ A 416M–02
0.250 6.4 6 6
0.313 7.9 8 8
0.375 9.5 9 9
0.438 11.1 11 11
0.500 12.7 13 13
0.600 15.2 15 15

7c. REINFORCING BAR SIZE* (HIGH-STRENGTH)

Conversion of steel strand sizes per ASTM:

in.-lbs SI Units in.-lbs SI Units

Units [in.] [mm] Units [in.] [mm]
ACI 318M ACI 318M
ASTM A 722/ A 722M – 98 ASTM A 722/ A 722M – 98
Type I (Plain) Bar Type II (Deformed) Bar
--- --- --- 5/8 15 15
3/4 19 19 3/4 20 20
7/8 22 22 --- --- ---
1 25 25 1 26 26
1-1/8 29 29 --- --- ---
1-1/4 32 32 1-1/4 32 32
1-3/8 35 35 1-3/8 36 36
1-3/4 46 46
2-1/2 65 65

*Where ACI 318 gives limits on general 'Tendon' sizes, an exact conversion of shall be made.
(Example; 5/8" tendon will be converted to 16 mm)

ACI Engineering Page 9 12/07/2021

8. STEEL WIRE REINFORCEMENT
ASTM does not have a direct SI equivalent (ASTM sizes and dimensions not shaded); Table below shows in.-lb unit sizes
with calculated SI dimensions and suggested SI sizes (shaded). Use the nearest SI size as appropriate.
in.-lb Units SI Units
ASTM A 82–02 (W, MW) and ASTM A 496-02 (D, MD)
Calculated Calculated ACI 318 M -
Size Diameter [in.] Area [in.2] Size
Diameter [mm] Area [mm2] Suggested Size
W 0.5 0.080 0.005 2.03 3.23 MW 5
MW 5 2.50 5.00
D1 0.113 0.01 2.87 6.45
W 1.2 0.124 0.012 3.15 7.74 MW 5
W 1.4 0.134 0.014 3.40 9.08 MW 10
MW 10 3.60 10.00
W 2 or D 2 0.160 : 0.159 0.02 4.06 12.90 MW 15
MW 15 4.40 15.00
W 2.5 0.178 0.025 4.52 16.13 MW 15
W 2.9 0.192 0.029 4.88 18.70 MW 20
D3 0.195 0.03 4.95 19.35
MW 20 5.00 20.00
W 3.5 0.211 0.035 5.36 22.58 MW 25
MW 25 or MD 25 5.60 25
W 4 or D 4 0.226 : 0.225 0.04 5.74 25.81 MW25 or MD25
W 4.5 0.239 0.045 6.07 29.03 MW 30
MW 30 or MD 30 6.20 30
W 5 or D 5 0.252 : 0.250 0.05 6.40 32.26 MW 30 or MD 30
MW 35 or MD 35 6.70 35
W 5.5 0.265 0.055 6.73 35.48 MW 35
W 6 or D 6 0.276 0.06 7.01 38.71 MW 40 or MD 40
MW 40 or MD 40 7.10 40
D7 0.299 0.07 MW 45 or MD 45 7.60 45 MD 45
MW 50 or MD 50 8.00 50
W 8 or D 8 0.319 0.08 8.10 51.61 MW 50 or MD 50
MW 55 or MD 55 8.40 55
D9 0.338 0.09 8.59 58.96 MD 60
MW 60 or MD 60 8.70 60
W 10 or D 10 0.357 : 0.356 0.10 9.07 64.52 MW 65 or MD 65
MW 65 or MD 65 9.10 65
MW 70 or MD 70 9.40 70
D 11 0.374 0.11 9.50 70.97 MD 70
W 12 or D 12 0.391 : 0.390 0.12 9.93 77.42 MW 80 or MD 80
MW 80 or MD 80 10.10 80
D 13 0.406 0.13 10.31 83.87 MD 80
MW 90 or MD 90 10.70 90
W 14 or D 14 0.422 0.14 10.72 90.32 MW 90 or MD 90
D 15 0.437 0.15 11.10 96.77 MD 100
MW 100 or MD 100 11.30 100
W 16 or D 16 0.451 0.16 11.46 103.25 MW 100 or MD 100
D 17 0.465 0.17 11.81 109.68 MD 100
W 18 or D 18 0.479 : 0.478 0.18 12.17 116.13 MW 120 or MD 120
MW 120 or MD 120 12.40 120
D 19 0.491 0.19 12.47 122.58 MD 120
W 20 or D 20 0.505 : 0.504 0.20 12.83 129.03 MW 130 or MD 130
MW 130 or MD 130 12.90 130
D 21 0.517 0.21 13.13 135.48 MD 130
W 22 or D 22 0.529 0.22 13.44 141.90
D 23 0.541 0.23 13.74 148.39
W 24 or D 24 0.533 : 0.553 0.24 14.05 154.80
D 25 0.564 0.25 14.33 161.29
W 26 or D 26 0.575 0.26 14.61 167.70
D 27 0.586 0.27 14.88 174.19
W 28 or D 28 0.597 0.28 15.16 180.60
D 29 0.608 0.29 15.44 187.10
W 30 or D 30 0.618 0.3 15.70 193.50
W 31 or D 31 0.628 0.31 MW 200 or MD 200 15.95 200 MW 200 or MD 200
W 45 or D 45 0.757 0.45 MW 290 or MD 290 19.22 290 MW 290 or MD 290

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