Do you need to convert metric units to imperial on your WordPress site?
If you list measurements on your website in metric, then visitors from other parts of the world may like to know the equivalent imperial measurement.
In this article, we’ll show you how to convert metric units to imperial and vice-versa in WordPress.
Why Convert Metric Units to Imperial?
If you have a WordPress blog that uses lots of measurements, then it’s smart to convert them so that all your readers can understand and use them, no matter where in the world they’re located.
While you could manually convert all of the measurements on your WordPress website by yourself, it’s much easier to use a plugin.
In this article, we’ll cover two approaches to adding a conversion calculator to your site. You can use the links below to jump to the solution that best meets your needs.
Method 1: Converting Units with a Calculator Plugin
First, you need to install and activate the WP Unit Converter plugin. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Once activated, you should visit Settings » WP Unit Converter to configure the plugin. Here you can choose the display the calculator horizontally or vertically.
You can add the unit converter calculator anywhere you like on your website by inserting the shortcode [wpuc_unit_converter].
Simply insert the shortcode into any post or page where you wish to offer the conversion calculator. for more information, check our beginner’s guide on how to install a shortcode in WordPress.
The calculator will convert units of length, temperature, time, weight, area, and speed. If you only wish to convert one type of unit, then the settings page also lists a number of other shortcodes that can be used for length, temperature, weight, and more.
WP Unit Converter also includes a calculator widget that you can drag and drop to your desired sidebar location. To do that, you should visit Appearance » Widgets in your WordPress admin area.
Once there, you need to click the large + icon at the top of the screen and search for the WP Unit Converter widget. After that, you should drag the widget wherever you like in the sidebar.
Don’t forget to click the Update button at the top of the screen to save your widget settings.
Now you can visit your WordPress site to see the unit calculator in action. Here is how it looks on our demo site.
If you would like to learn about other types of calculator plugins you can add to your website, then check our list of the 12 best calculator plugins for your WordPress site.
Method 2: Converting Units with a Form Plugin
You can also add a unit conversion calculator to your WordPress website using a form plugin. The easiest way to do that is using the Formidable Forms plugin, an advanced drag and drop form builder.
The first thing you need to do is install and activate the Formidable Forms plugin. For more details, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you’ll be asked to install Formidable Forms Lite, the free version of the plugin. The free plugin acts as the foundation for the advanced features of the Pro version.
Once you’ve done that, you need to go to Formidable » Global Settings and then click the ‘Click to enter a license key manually’ link.
Then, paste your license key into the box and click the ‘Save License’ button. You can find your license key by logging in to your account on the Formidable Forms website.
Once you’re done, you’ll see a license activation success message. Now you can refresh the page to load the premium features of the plugin.
After that, you can create your first calculator by going to Formidable » Forms and then click ‘Add New’.
This will bring up a list of available form templates to choose from.
In the search box, type ‘Calculator’ and select the ‘Calculator’ category.
This brings up another drop down list where you can choose a conversion calculator from dozens of templates across a range of different niches.
You need to select the Length Conversion Calculator template. You do this by hovering over it and clicking the ‘+’ icon. You can also click the ‘Eye’ icon to preview the calculator.
This brings up a popup where you can name your form and enter a description to help you remember what it’s for. Once you’ve done this, you need to click the Create button.
The plugin will load the Formidable Forms editor interface with the calculator template you selected.
From here, you can simply point and click to customize each form field as needed. For this tutorial, we will leave the form as it is. Go ahead and click the Update button at the top of the screen to save your calculator.
Now that your conversion calculator has been created, it’s time to add it to a new or existing page. To create a separate page to display your new calculator, navigate to Pages » All Pages and then click ‘Add New’.
You should start by entering a title for your calculator page. After that, you should click the ‘+’ icon at the top left corner of the page to add a new page block.
Type ‘formidable’ into the search box to find the correct block.
Then select the ‘Formidable Forms’ option.
This will automatically insert the Formidable Forms block into your website.
Next, you’ll need to select the calculator you created from the drop down list.
You can continue to edit your calculator page by adding text, images, a description of the calculator, and more.
If you’re ready to publish your calculator page, then click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button in the right hand corner of the page.
Your new conversion calculator page is now live for your visitors. This is how it looks on our demo site.
If you’d like to use Formidable Forms to add other online calculators to your WordPress, then check our guide on how to generate more leads with free online calculators.
We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to convert metric units to imperial in WordPress. You may also want to learn how to create a free business email address or check out list of must have plugins to grow your site.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Have a question or suggestion? Please leave a comment to start the discussion.