Metrication in Chile

Chile adopted the metric system in 1848. Previously, the Spanish system of measures was used.

History

Since colonization, Chile had always used a unit system based on the Spanish customary units. In 1843, a law was passed formalizing it, and defining its fundamental unit, the vara, as a fraction of a metre.

Later, during the presidency of Manuel Bulnes, a law was passed on 29 January 1848 was passed, adopting the Metric System. Finally, Chile signed the Metre Convention in 1908.

Exceptions in the 20th century

For a long time, all refrigerators were labeled in cubic feet. This changed around 1990, and since then they have since been labeled in litres.

Current exceptions

• Lumber and pipes are sold in metric length, but their width, thickness and diameter are measured in inches.
• Nails are measured in inches, but weighed by the kilogram.
• Yarn is normally sold in yards.
• Paint cans are usually sold in American gallons and fractions of it.
• Television sets and displays of any kind have their diagonal measures stated in inches.
• Tire pressure is measured in psi.
• The most common paper size is letter (carta). A4 paper is seldomly used.
• The price of copper, Chile's main export, is usually quoted in dollars per pound.
• In the Chiloé islands, the almud (a Spanish unit) is used as a volume measurement for "drys" (between six or eight litres).