# Units of measure

Custom measurement units — reference unit, conversion ratios, and how unit types relate to each other.

Source: https://support.toolingmetrics.com/en/admin/reference/units-of-measure/
Updated: 2026-10-29

**Units of Measure** define the custom measurement units your organization uses for inventory quantities. They let you track items in any unit — pieces, meters, kilograms, boxes — with automatic quantity conversion when items are expressed in different units.

## Fields

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| **Name** | Unit name. Unique within the organization. Maximum 22 characters. Examples: *Piece*, *Box*, *Meter*, *Kilogram*. |
| **Unit Type** | Defines how this unit relates to the reference unit. See [Unit types](#unit-types) below. |
| **Ratio** | The conversion factor between this unit and the reference unit. Must be greater than zero. |

## Unit types

Every organization has exactly one **Reference** unit. All other units are defined relative to it.

| Type | Description | Ratio meaning |
|---|---|---|
| **Reference** | The base unit for the organization. All other conversions go through this unit. Only one reference unit can exist. | Always 1. |
| **Smaller** | A unit that is a subdivision of the reference unit. | How many of these units make one reference unit. Example: if the reference is *Piece* and ratio is 2, then 2 *Halves* = 1 *Piece*. |
| **Bigger** | A unit that contains multiple reference units. | How many reference units are in one of these. Example: if reference is *Piece* and ratio is 100, then 1 *Pack* = 100 *Pieces*. |

## Example

| Unit | Type | Ratio | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piece | Reference | 1 | — |
| Box (12 pcs) | Bigger | 12 | 1 Box = 12 Pieces |
| Half piece | Smaller | 2 | 2 Half pieces = 1 Piece |

## Notes

- Units of measure apply organization-wide. All items share the same unit list.
- Only one unit can be marked Reference at a time — this is enforced on save. There is no destroy-guard on the reference unit itself, so deleting it is possible but breaks conversions for every unit defined relative to it; avoid deleting a reference unit that is in use.
- Changing a unit's ratio after items are already in stock does not retroactively correct existing quantity records. Update ratios only before the unit is in active use.