Mexican units of measurement
Units of measurement used in Mexico
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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]
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
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
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]