Mexican units of measurement

A number of units of measurement were used in Mexico to measure length, mass, area, capacity, etc. The Metric system was optional from 1857, and has been compulsory since 1896.^[1][2]

System before metric system

The Units of the system (from Spanish, Castillian) were legally defined during the transition period of the metric system.^[1]

Length

A number of units were used. One vara (lit. "pole", "yard") was equal to 0.838 m (32.99 inches) as it was legally defined also use inches and feet.^[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:

1 linea (lit. "line") = 1⁄432 vara

1 pulgada (lit. "thumbful", "inch") = 1⁄36 vara

1 pie (lit. "foot") = 1⁄3 vara

1 milla (lit. "mile") = 5000 pies^[3]

1 legua (lit. "league") = 5000 varas.^[1][3]

Mass

A number of units were used. One libra (lit. "pound") was equal to 0.46024634 kg as it was legally defined.^[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:

1 tomin = 1⁄768 libra

1 adarme = 1⁄256 libra

1 ochava ("eighth") = 1⁄128 libra

1 onza ("ounce") = 1⁄16 libra

1 arroba = 25 libras

1 quintal ("hundredweight") = 100 libras

1 terco = 160 libras^[1]

Area

A number of units were used. One fanega was equal to 35662.8 m² as it was legally defined.^[1] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:

1 caballeria = 12 fanegas

1 labor = 18 fanegas

1 sitio = 492.28 fanegas.^[1][3]

Capacity

Two systems, dry and liquid, were used.

Dry

Several units were used. One cuartillo (lit. "quart") was equal to 1.8918 L as it was legally defined.^[1][3] Some other units and legal equivalents are given below:

1 almud ("gallon") = 4 cuartillos

1 fanega = 48 cuartillos

1 carga = 96 cuartillos.^[1][3]

Liquid

Several units were used. Some units and legal equivalents are given below:

1 cuartillo (for wine) = 0.456264 L

1 cuartillo (for oil) = 0.506162 L

1 jarra = 18 cuartillos.^[1][3]

One frasco was equal to 2+1⁄2 quarts, and one baril was equal to 20 gallons, with local variations.^[4]

References

1. Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 9. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
2. Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 7. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
3. Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. pp. 164–165. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
4. Clarke, F.W. (1891). Weights Measures and Money of All Nations. New York: D. Appleton & Company. pp. 51.