Converting Customary and Metric Units

5th Grade MathMeasurement and Data4 pages

About this worksheet

Unit conversion practice for 5th grade math in both measurement systems (Common Core 5.MD.1). Twelve drill conversions come first: the metric set uses powers of ten (4.5 m to centimeters, 5,400 mg to grams) while the customary set mixes units, as in 4 yd 2 ft to feet and 56 inches to feet and inches. Three multi-step problems then apply the skill: Maya's punch fills 22 cups of 200 milliliters, a box of 8 textbooks weighs in at 11 pounds 12 ounces, and Caleb prices the wooden border of a 4-yard by 9-foot garden at $105.

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$Converting Customary and Metric Units: Measurement and Data - page 1$

$Converting Customary and Metric Units: Measurement and Data - page 2$

$Converting Customary and Metric Units: Measurement and Data - page 3$

$Converting Customary and Metric Units: Measurement and Data - page 4$

Curriculum objectives covered

5.MD.1

“Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.”

Questions 1 to 12 convert within each system, including compound units such as 4 yd 2 ft, and questions 13 to 15 use those conversions inside multi-step problems about punch, a book shipment and a garden border.

What's inside this worksheet

Section 1: Metric System Conversions

Six conversions run in both directions: 4.5 m to 450 cm and 0.6 km to 600 m go bigger-to-smaller, while 3,250 g, 850 mL and 5,400 mg all divide by 1,000.

Section 2: Customary System Conversions

Students convert 5 ft to inches and 48 oz to pounds, then handle compound units: 4 yd 2 ft = 14 ft, 2 1/2 gal = 10 qt, 56 in = 4 ft 8 in, and 3 lb 4 oz = 52 oz.

Section 3: Multi-Step Real-World Problems

Maya totals 2.4 L, 1,250 mL and 750 mL of punch into 4,400 mL and serves 22 full cups. Eight textbooks at 1 lb 6 oz each, plus a 12-ounce box, weigh 188 oz. Caleb converts 4 yards to feet, finds a 42-foot perimeter, and pays $105 at $2.50 per foot.

Answer key

Every drill shows its factor (× 100, ÷ 16, and so on), and the word problems are worked line by line, including the remainder split 188 ÷ 16 = 11 lb 12 oz.

How teachers use it

Two-day split

Sections 1 and 2 fit a practice day; hold section 3 for the next lesson. Question 15 alone involves a conversion, a perimeter and a price, which deserves unhurried time.

Metric-customary contrast

Ask students why section 1 never needs long multiplication but section 2 does. The powers-of-ten answer connects this sheet straight back to the place value unit.

Spotting compound-unit slips

Question 12 (3 lb 4 oz) is the accuracy check. Students who write 34 oz concatenated the numbers instead of converting, and they will make the same slip in question 14.

More 5th Grade Math worksheets

Operations with Fractions Place Value and Decimals Geometry Order of Operations

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