6 Tools

Medical Unit Converters

Accurate, real-time converters for medication doses, laboratory values, temperature, weight, height, and volume. Built to eliminate unit errors in clinical practice — the most preventable cause of medication mistakes.

Real-time conversion 50+ unit types NIST-exact factors No data stored
Advertisement · 728×90
No converters match this filter.
Most Searched Clinical Conversions
Analyte / Unit From To Factor Tool
Glucose mg/dL mmol/L ÷ 18.016 Lab Converter
Cholesterol mg/dL mmol/L ÷ 38.67 Lab Converter
Creatinine mg/dL μmol/L × 88.42 Lab Converter
HbA1c % (NGSP) mmol/mol (IFCC) (% − 2.15) × 10.929 Lab Converter
Temperature °C °F (°C × 9/5) + 32 Temp Converter
Weight kg lbs × 2.20462 Weight Converter
Drug Dose mg/kg total mg × patient weight (kg) Dose Converter
⚡
Bidirectional & Real-Time
Type in either field and the opposite unit updates instantly — no calculate button needed. Saves critical seconds at the bedside.
🧮
Exact Conversion Factors
We use molar mass-based factors for lab values and NIST-defined exact factors for physical units — not rounded approximations that compound errors.
🩺
Clinical Context Built In
Every converter displays clinical reference ranges alongside results — normal glucose, fever thresholds, safe dose ranges — so you always know what a number means.
Advertisement · 300×250

About Medical Unit Converters

In clinical practice, unit errors are among the most preventable causes of medication incidents. A nurse misreading mg/dL as mmol/L, a prescriber confusing mcg with mg, or a pharmacist working between two measurement systems without a reliable converter — these errors have real consequences. MediCalc Pro's converters are built with clinical safety as the primary design goal, not just mathematical convenience.

SI Units vs. Conventional Units in Laboratory Results

The United States, Japan, and a handful of other countries report most lab values in conventional units (e.g. mg/dL for glucose, cholesterol, and creatinine). The rest of the world uses SI units (Système International d'Unités), reporting the same values as mmol/L or μmol/L. When interpreting international research, travelling patients, or cross-system referrals, accurate conversion is essential.

Our Lab Values Converter handles 40+ analytes using their specific molar mass conversion factors — not generic approximations. HbA1c alone has two separate unit systems (NGSP % and IFCC mmol/mol) with a non-linear relationship, which we handle correctly.

Analytes supported in the Lab Values Converter:

Glucose HbA1c Total Cholesterol LDL HDL Triglycerides Creatinine Urea / BUN Uric Acid Sodium Potassium Calcium Magnesium Phosphate Haemoglobin Bilirubin Albumin TSH Free T4 Free T3 Cortisol Ferritin Iron Vitamin D PSA CRP Troponin I INR / PT + more

Drug Dose Unit Conversions — Why They Matter

Dosing errors are frequently linked to confusion between dose expressions. A prescription for 1 mg/kg looks similar to 1 mcg/kg but represents a 1000-fold difference. Our Medication Dose Converter handles conversions between mcg, mg, g, mg/kg, mg/m², and mEq — and flags results that fall outside published safe dose ranges for common drug classes.

Temperature in Clinical Practice

Clinical temperature thresholds differ between medical traditions. The fever threshold in the US (100.4°F / 38.0°C) matches international definitions, but hypothermia classification and hyperpyrexia thresholds are sometimes expressed inconsistently. Our Temperature Converter displays colour-coded bands that map converted values directly to clinical categories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert glucose from mg/dL to mmol/L? +
Divide the mg/dL value by 18.016 (the molecular weight of glucose divided by 10). For example, fasting glucose of 90 mg/dL = 90 ÷ 18.016 = 4.99 mmol/L. Use our Lab Values Converter for instant results across 40+ analytes without manual calculation.
What is the difference between mg/kg and mg/m² drug dosing? +
mg/kg dosing scales linearly with body weight and is used for most standard medications. mg/m² dosing uses body surface area (BSA), which better accounts for physiological differences between patients of very different sizes — making it the preferred method for chemotherapy and some paediatric dosing. Use our BSA Calculator to determine m² from height and weight, then our Dose Converter to apply the dose.
How do I convert HbA1c between % and mmol/mol? +
HbA1c is reported in NGSP % (United States) or IFCC mmol/mol (most of Europe and internationally). The conversion formula is: mmol/mol = (% − 2.15) × 10.929. For example, HbA1c 7.0% = (7.0 − 2.15) × 10.929 = 53 mmol/mol. This is a non-linear relationship at the extremes, so using our Lab Values Converter is recommended over manual calculation.
Are the conversion factors used here accurate enough for clinical use? +
Yes. All physical unit conversions use exact NIST-defined factors (e.g. 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly; 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg exactly). All laboratory analyte conversions use molar mass-based factors sourced from NIST and the Royal College of Pathologists. Results are computed to full floating-point precision and displayed to clinically appropriate decimal places.
Do the converters work offline? +
Yes. All conversions are computed in your browser with no server calls required. Once the page has loaded, you can disconnect from the internet and the converters will continue to work. No personal data is stored or transmitted at any point.

Related Tools on MediCalc Pro

For weight-based drug dosing from converted values, see the Weight-Based Dose Calculator. For IV fluid volume and drip rate calculations, see the IV Drip Rate Calculator. For renal function and creatinine interpretation, see Creatinine Clearance (CrCl). For converting body weight to BSA for chemotherapy dosing, see the BSA Calculator.

References & Standards

  • NIST Special Publication 330: The International System of Units (SI). 2019.
  • IFCC Scientific Division. "Standardisation of HbA1c measurements." Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. 2002.
  • Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. SI Units in Pathology Reference Intervals. 2018.
  • Young DS. Effects of Drugs on Clinical Laboratory Tests. 5th ed. AACC Press, 2000.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer: These converters are for informational and educational purposes only. Always verify critical clinical values with your local laboratory reference ranges and consult a qualified healthcare professional for all clinical decisions.
Advertisement · 728×90