Italian units of measurement

A variety of units of measurement were used in the various independent Italian states and Italian dependencies of foreign empires up to the unification of Italy in the 19th century.

The Kingdom of Naples included the island of Sicily (with Palermo).

The Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia was part of the Austrian Empire, which also shared ruling family with Modena, Parma and Tuscany (capital Florence).

The Papal States included the areas of Latium (with the capital Rome), Umbria, Romagna (with Bologna) and the Marches (with Ancona).

Milan adopted the metric system in 1803, during the Napoleonic wars, albeit reusing names of older units.

[1][2] After the Congress of Vienna, the various Italian states reverted to their original systems of measurements.

In 1845 Sardinia passed legislation to introduce the metric system within five years.

In 1860 Parma, Modena, Tuscany, Umbria, Romagna and the Marches, and the Two Sicilies (Naples) were assimilated into Sardinia and under the Law 132 of 28 July 28, 1861 the metric system became the official system of measurement throughout the (this year) Italian kingdom.

[3] The last to be incorporated were Venetia (1866), and the rest of the Papal States (1870).

The following is a comprehensive list of units used prior to the adoption of the metric system, along with the local names assigned to metric-based units after the system change.

This practice introduced an additional layer of complexity, making the transition to the metric system unnecessarily cumbersome.

passo) = 7+1⁄2 palmi [14] 1 miglio = 7000 palmi = 1.147 miles [14] 1 miglio = 1000 passi (geographical mile) = 1855.11 m [10] 1 palmo = 9.5297 in [17] 1 canna = 2.06480 m [12] 1 canna = 8 palmi [12][17] 1 canna = 8 palmi = 2.06479 m [16] 1 cortena = 4 canne [18] 1 corda = 4 cortene = 33.037 m [18] 1 miglio = 45 corde = 1486.66 m [10] 1 canna = 10 palmi = 2.065 m [9] 1 palmo# = 12 once = 8.79 in [19] 1 palmo† = 8.796 in [19] 1 palmo‡ = 8.347 in [19] 1 palmo mercantile† = 24.908 cm [16] 1 palmo architettonica# = 22.319 cm [16] 1 palmo d'ara = 12.500 cm [16] 1 once# = 10 decimi [19] 1 pie# (foot) = 16 once = 11.72 in [19] 1 pié = 11.592 in [19] 1 braccia da mercante† = 67 cm [8] 1 braccia par le tele‡ = 63.5 cm [8] 1 braccia d'ara = 75 cm [8] 1 canna = 78.4 in [19] 1 canna# = 10 palmi [19] 1 canna# = 7 1/2 piedi = 2.23190 m [12] 1 canna mercantile† = 8 palmi = 1.99263 m [16] 1 canna architettonica# = 10 palmi = 2.2319 m [16] 1 canna d'ara = 9 palmi = 1.125 m [16] 1 catena# = 10 stajoli = 25+1⁄2 palmi [19] 1 miglio = 1000 passi = 1487.93 m [10] 1 oncia# = 10 decimi = 18.6 mm [11] 1 piede = 297.587 mm [6] 1 braccio = 30.732 in [19] 1 canna = 10 palmi = 2.234 m [9] 1 pié = 15.384 in [19] 1 braccio = 35+1⁄3 in [19] 1 piede = 38 cm [9] 1 braccio = 64 cm [9] 1 punto = 12 atomi [20] 1 oncia = 12 punti [20] 1 braccio di legno = 12 once [20] 1 braccio = 21.344 in [20] 1 pertica = 6 braccia [20] 1 piè = 22.428 in [20] 1 punto = 12 atomi [21] 1 oncia = 12 punti [21] 1 piè liprando = 12 once = 20.228 in [21] 1 canna = 8 palmi = 2.1 m [16] 1 miglio = 4333+1⁄3 piedi liprando = 1.3835 mile [21] 1 raso = 14 oncie [21] 1 piede manuale = 2⁄3 piede liprando [6] 1 piede manuale = 8 once = 342.511 mm [6] 1 trabucco = 6 piedi liprandi = 3.096 m [9] 1 trabucco = 6 piedi liprandi [21] 1 pertica = 2 trabucci [21] 1 pertica = 12 piedi liprandi = 6.16519 m [12] 1 miglio = 800 trabucchi = 2466.08 m [10] 1 piede = 293 mm [9] 1 raso = 14 oncie [21] 1 raso = 0.6 m [9] 1 trabucco = 6 piedi liprandi [21] 1 pertica = 2 trabucci [21] 1 palmo = 5+1⁄3 once [21] 1 palmo = 248 mm [9] 1 piè manuale = 2⁄3 piè liprando [21] 1 braccio = 2+1⁄3 palmi [21] 1 braccio = 28 once = 581.22 mm [8] 1 canna = about 9 palmi [21] 1 canna piccola = 9 palmi = 2.24186 m [16] 1 canna = 10 palmi = 2.49095 m [16] 1 canna grossa = 12 palmi = 2.98914 m [12][16] 1 quattrino = 4 denari = 9.728 mm [22] 1 soldo = 12 denari [23] 1 palmo = 10 soldi = 11.49 in [23] 1 braccio = 2 palmi [23] 1 canna = 4 braccia [23] 1 canna = 5 braccii = 2.91825 m [12] 1 canna# = 5 braccia [23] 1 canna† = 4 braccia = 2.3346 m [16] 1 canna (a.k.a.

percha) = 5 bracchia [16] 1 miglio = 2833+1⁄3 braccia = 1.0277 mile [23] 1 miglio = 2833+1⁄3 braccii = 1653.67 m [10] 1 braccio = 2 palmi = 583 mm [9] One libbra (pound) differed between 307[2] and 398 g.[1] Several countries used both a light and a heavy pound.

Dedicated use:  # gold   ∆ silver   § jewels   † apothecaries'   ‡ silk   @ spices, drugs and pigments   ¥ commercial   ¢ oil     ship cargoes: Σ grain   flour etc   § salt 1 grano (grain) = 1⁄6912 libbra [1][2] 1 carato = 4 grani [24] 1 tomin = 12 grani [24] 1 denaro (scruple) = 24 grani [1][2] 1 ottavo (drachm) = 3 denari [1][2] 1 carato = 6 denaro (a.k.a.

scrupolo) [24] 1 oncia (ounce) = 8 ottavi [1][2] 1 oncia = 4 quarto (quarta) [25] 1 libbra (pound) = 12 oncie [1][2] 1 rubbo = 25 libbre [1][2] 1 quintale = 4 rubbi [26] 1 cantaro = 6 rubbi [1][2] 1 cantaro = 100 rotoli [27] 1 denaro#∆ = 24 grani [28] 1 oncia#∆ = 24 denari [28] 1 marco#∆ = 8 once = 7.5562 troy ounce [28] 1 marco di zecca = 8 once [29] 1 denaro€ = 10 grani [28] 1 grosso€ = 10 denari [28] 1 oncia€ = 10 grossi [28] 1 libbra metrica€ = 10 once = 1 kg [28] 1 rubbio€ = 10 libbre [28] 1 grano∆‡ (a.k.a.

centarello) = 100 kg [33] 1 marco = 238.499 g [29] 1 libbra sottile = 301 g [9] 1 libbra sottile = 301.23 g [30] 1 libbra grossa = 12 once = 477 g [9] 1 libbra grossa = 12 once = 476.999 g [30] 1 centinaio sottile = 100 libbre = 30.123 kg [12] 1 centinajo (–1869) = 100 libbre sottile [33] 1 centinajo (–1869) = 100 libbre grossa [33] Austrian, but not part of Lombardy-Venetia.

scrupoli)[14] 1 oncia† = 10 drachme [14] 1 oncia#∆‡@ = 10 dramme [14] 1 libbra = 12 once = 0.321 kg [9] 1 libbra = 12 once = 0.70722 lb [14] 1 libbra† = 12 once [14] 1 libbra#∆‡@ = 12 once [14] 1 libbra‡@ (–1840) = 320.759 g [30] 1 rotolo = 861 g [9] 1 rotolo = 2+7⁄9 libbre [14] 1 rotolo di puglia = 1000 trappesi = 890.997 g [34] 1 cantaio piccolo (1840 6/4-) = 32.076 kg [27] 1 cantaro = 100 rotoli = 89.100 kg [12] 1 cantaio grosso¢ (1840 6/4-) = 89.1 kg [27] 1 taro = 20 grani [35] 1 onza# = 70 tarì = 26.4473 g [35] 1 libbra = 12 oncie = 0.70723 lb [17] 1 rotolo = 30 once = 12 once alla grossa = 793.42 g [34] 1 rottolo sottile = 30 oncie = 1.76 lb [17] 1 rottolo grosso = 38 oncie = 1.925 lb [17] 1 cantaro = 79.15 kg [27] 1 cantaro = 100 rotoli = 79.342 kg [12] 1 libbra = 12 once = 317 g [9] 1 libbra = 317.368 g [30] 1 cantaro = 100 rotoli = 79.34 kg [9] 1 denaro = 24 grani [36] 1 oncia = 24 denari [36] 1 libbra = 12 once [36] 1 centinaio = 100 libbre = 33.907 kg [12] 1 rubbio§ = 600 libbre [31] 1 rubbioΣ = 640 libbre [31] 1 rubbio = 720 libbre [31] 1 denaro∆¥ = 24 grani = 1.178 g [22] 1 oncia = 12 denari [22] 1 libbra = 12 once = 339 g [9] 1 libbra = 6912 grani = 339.072 g [30] 1 libbra = 0.7477 lb [36] 1 decina = 10 libbre = 3.391 kg [37] 1 cantaro (a.k.a.

migliajo) (–1870) = 1000 libbre = 339.07 kg [27] 1 libbra = 0.7277 [36] 1 rubbo = 25 libbre [33] 1 centinajo = 2⁄3 cantari [33] 1 centinajo = 4 rubbi = 32.96 kg [33] 1 carato = 4 grani [36] 1 ferlino = 10 carati [36] 1 ferlino = 10 carati = 1.885 g [38] 1 ferlino§ = 1.9225 g [38] 1 ottavo = 2 ferlini [36] 1 oncia = 8 ottavi [36] 1 oncia = 16 ferlini [38] 1 libbra mercantile¥ = 12 once = 362 g [9] 1 libbra = 0.7984 [36] 1 libbra = 12 once [36] 1 libbra#∆‡ = 361.851 g [30] 1 peso = 25 libbre = 9.046 kg [32] 1 ferlino = 10 carati = 1.80 g [38] 1 oncia = 16 ferlini [38] 1 centinajo (–1859) = 34.514 kg [33] 1 denaro = 24 grani [20] 1 oncia = 24 denari [20] 1 marco = 234.997 g [29] 1 libbra = 12 once = 0.7197 lb [20] 1 libbra = 328 g [30] 1 rubbio = 25 libbre [20] 1 grano‡ = 53.363 mg [22] 1 denaro¥ = 24 grane = 1280.71 mg [22] 1 cantaro = 4 rubbi [27] 1 cantaro di comercio¥ = 25 libbre = 10.164 kg [27] 1 cantaro grosso (a.k.a.

quadrao) = 38 are [1] 1 tavola = 1⁄100 giornata [1] 1 tornatura = 100 palmi2 = 1 are [5] 1 campo = 0.6881 acre [5] 1 tavola = 4 trabucchi quadri [41] 1 pertica = 24 tavole = 654.52 m2 [41] 1 migliajo = 1000 passi quadrati = 3022.99 m2 [41] 1 cavezzo2 = 36 piedi2 [13] 1 tavola = 4 cavezzi2 [13] 1 biolca = 72 tavole = 0.7009 acres [13] 1 canna quadrata (centesimo) = 6.999 m2 [16] 1 decima = 10 centesimi = 69.987 m2 [15] 1 decima = 10 canne quadrate [42] 1 moggio = 10 decime [15] 1 moggio = 50,626 palmi2 = 0.8684 acre [14] 1 moggio = 10 decime = 699.87 m2 [42] 1 canna (quartiglio) = 4.263 m2 [16] 1 mondelli = 1024 canne quadrate [42] 1 bisaccia = 16 mondelli = 4365.72 m2 [42] 1 scorzo = 28 catene agrimensorie [41] 1 quarta = 4 scorzi = 4621.19 m2 [41] 1 rubbio = 370300 palmi2 # = 4.5658 acres [19] 1 rubbio = 184.8438 ar [42] 1 staro = 12 tavola [20] 1 biolca = 6 stari = 0.7528 acre [20] 1 biolca = 288 pertica2 [20] 1 giornata = 100 pertica2 = 0.9393 acre [21] 1 giornata = 100 tavole = 38.01 ar [43] 1 giornata = 100 tavole = 3800.96 m2 [41] 1 saccato = 16500 braccia2 = 1.389 acre [23] Dry and wet capacity (volume) were usually two separate systems, but a few units were universally handled, mostly in countries that had had experience with the metric system.

[12] Dedicated use:  # firewood   † grain   ‡ salt   ∆ oats and legumes   Σ coal One mina varied from 12 to 120 litres.

[1] 1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre [5] 1 mina€ = 10 pinte [5] 1 soma€ = 10 mine [5] 1 moggio = 8 mezzeni = 333.3 litres [9] 1 moggio = 8 stala = 146.2 litres [9] 1 soma∆ = 164.51 L [44] 1 coppo€ = 1 dl [1] 1 pinta€ = 1 L [1] 1 mina€ = 1 dal [1][44] 1 soma€ = 1 hl [1][44] 1 stajo = 1.9978 bushels [13] 1 sacco = 2 staja [13] 1 quarto (–1840) = 6 misuri [45] 1 mezzetta = 2 quarte = 27.77 L [45] 1 mezzetto (–1840) = 2 quarti = 27.66 L [45] 1 tomolo = 55.54 litres [9] 1 tomolo = 24 misure = 1.5646 bushels [46] 1 carro = 36 tomoli [46] 1 canna da legna# = 256 cubic palmi = 4.74 m3 [16] 1 salma generale = 7.8 bushels [17] 1 salma grosso = 10 bushels [17] 1 salma = 4 bisace = 275 litres [9] 1 salma = 16 tomoli [9] 1 scorzo = 4 quartucci [19] 1 starello = 1+3⁄8 scorzi [19] 1 quarta = 4 starelli [19] 1 rubbio = 4 quarte [19] 1 rubbio∆ = 249.458 L [31] 1 rubbio = 294.465 L [31] 1 decina†‡ = 4.601 L [37] 1 staro = 4 decine [37] 1 rubbio = 8.355 bushels [36] 1 rubbio = 22 scorzi = 294.5 litres [9] 1 rubbio = 7.974 bushels [36] 1 quarterone = 4 quarticini [36] 1 stajo = 4 quarteroni [36] 1 corba (dry and liquid) = 2 staja [36] 1 corba (dry and liquid) = 2.232 bushels (20.7617 gallons, liquid) [36] 1 corba = 2 staia = 60 boccali = 78.6 litres [9] 1 mina = 8 quarteroli [20] 1 stajo (a.k.a.

staro) = 2 mine = 1.334 bushels [20] 1 coppo† = 2.876 L [40] 1 emine# = 23.006 L [47] 1 sacco# = 5 emine = 115.027 L [48] 1 sacco# (1818–) = 5 emine = 115,275 L [48] 1 sacco camerale = 6 emine [48] 1 copello = 20 cucchiari [21] 1 quartière = 4 copelli [21] 1 mina = 2 quartière [21] 1 stajo = 2 mine [21] 1 sacco = 3 staje = 3.2635 bushels [21] 1 sacco = 5 mine = 115.3 litres [9] 1 gombetta = 4 misurette = 1.21 L [49] 1 quarto = 12 gombette [21] 1 mina = 8 quarti = 2.4804 gallons [21] 1 mina = 116.5 litres [9] 1 mina† = 116.532 L [39] 1 saccoΣ = 3 misure (coppi) = 157.75 L [48] 1 quartuccio = 2 bussoli [23] 1 mezzetta = 2 quartucci [23] 1 mezzetta = 2 quartucci = 0.761 L [45] 1 metadella = 2 mezzette [23] 1 quarto = 4 metadelle [23] 1 mina = 2 quarti [23] 1 stajo = 2 mine [23] 1 sacco = 3 staja [23] 1 sacco# = 3 staja = 73.09 L [48] 1 moggio = 8 sacci = 16.5904 bushels [23] 1 moggio = 8 sacci# [48] 1 moggio = 8 sacca = 584.7 litres [9] There are also a unit cantara:[27] no specifics.

Dedicated use:  # wine   † spirits   ‡ oil 1 barile da vino# = 45.6 L [1] 1 barile da olio‡ = 33.4 L [1] 1 pinta€ = 10 coppi = 1 litre [5] 1 mina€ = 10 pinte [5] 1 soma€ = 10 mine [5] 1 quartuccio = 4 gotti = 670.7 mL [12] 1 barile#† = 24 bozze = 64.386 L [50] 1 mezzo = 2 zaine (bicchieri) = 393.5 mL [51] 1 boccale = 2 mezzi [51] 1 boccale = 0.787 L [52] 1 quartaro = 4 pinte [39] 1 mina (secchia) = 2 quartari = 12.592 L [39] 1 brenta = 96 boccali = 75.6 litres [9] 1 brenta = 75.554 L [53] 1 coppo€ = 1 dl [1][40] 1 pinta€ = 1 L [1][54] 1 mina€ = 1 dal [1][39] 1 soma€ = 1 hl [1] 1 boccale = 1.83 L [52] 1 fiasco = 2 boccali = 0.55028 gallon [13] 1 fiasco# = 2 boccali = 2.083 L [55] 1 barile = 20 fiasci [13] 1 barile#† = 60 caraffi [14] 1 botta#† = 12 barile [14] 1 botte#† = 12 barili = 523.5 litres [9] 1 carro#† = 2 botti [14] 1 caraffa = 3 bicchieri = 0.7271 L [12] 1 caraffa#† = 0.1929 gallons [14] 1 quarto‡ = 6 misurelle [46] 1 stajo‡ = 16 quarti = 2.61633 gallons [46] 1 stajo‡ = 20 pignate [46] 1 salma‡ = 16 staja [46] 1 barile#† = 43.625 L [50] 1 quartuccio = 4 bicchieri = 0.8597 L [12] 1 salma = 22 gallons [17] 1 barile#† = 34.386 L [50] 1 foglietta = 4 quartucci [19] 1 foglietta = 4 quartucci (cartocci) [56] 1 boccale = 1.8232 L [12] 1 boccale = 4 fogliette [12][19] 1 barile = 32 boccale [19] 1 barile# = 15.412 gallon [19] 1 barile‡ = 15.185 gallon [19] 1 botte = 16 barile [19] 1 fogliette = 4 quartucci [51] 1 foglietta# = 456 mL [56] 1 mezzo = 2 fogliette = 911.6 mL [51] 1 boccale = 2 mezzi [51] 1 boccale# = 4 fogliette = 1.823 L [52] 1 boccale‡ = 1⁄4 cugnatella = 2.053 L [52] 1 soma = 43.386 gallons [19] 1 barile#† = 32 boccali = 58.342 L [50] 1 barile = 32 boccali = 75.5 litres [9] 1 brenta = 175.023 L [53] 1 soma# = 116,683 L [44] 1 soma‡ = 164,23 L [44] 1 botte = 8 some [44] 1 soma = 18.49 gallons [19] 1 foglietta# = 327 mL [56] 1 boccale = 4 fogliette [19] 1 boccale = 0.346 gallon [19] 1 boccale = 1.31 L [52] 1 quarterone = 15 boccale [19] 1 corba = 4 quarterone [19] 1 corba = 2 staia = 60 boccali = 78.6 litres [9] See Lombardy–Venetia and Milan.

[20] 1 boccale = 2 quartini [21][54] 1 pinta = 2 boccali [21] 1 pinta = 4 quartini = 1.3696 L [12] 1 pinta (–1818) = 2 boccale = 1.369 L [54] 1 rubbio = 6 pinte = 2.4804 gallons [21] 1 brenta = 6 rubbi [21] 1 carro = 10 brente [21] 1 boccale = 2 quartini [21] 1 boccale = 0.68 L [52] 1 pinta = 2 boccali [21] 1 rubbio = 6 pinte = 2.4804 gallons [21] 1 brenta = 6 rubbi [21] 1 brenta = 49.285 L [53] 1 carro = 10 brente [21] 1 carro = 10 brente = 493.11 litres [9] 1 amola = 4 quarti = 0.8833 L [12] 1 barile = 90 amole [21] 1 barile = 50 pinte = 17.084 gallons [21] 1 barile = 70 litres [9] 1 barile#† = 79.02 L [50] 1 mezzaruòla = 2 barilli [21] 1 mezzetta# = 2 quartucci [23] 1 mezzetta† = 2 quartucci = 0.57 L [45] 1 mezzetta‡ = 2 quartucci = 0.522 L [45] 1 boccale# = 2 mezzette [23] 1 boccale = 4 quartucci = 1.1396 L [12] 1 fiasco# = 2 boccale [23] 1 fiasco# = 2 boccali = 2.279 L [55] 1 barile# = 20 fiasci = 12.0444 gallons = 133+1⁄3 libbre (weight)[23] 1 barile† = 20 fiasci = 12.0444 gallons = 120 libbre (weight)[23] 1 barile‡ = 16 fiasci = 120 libbre (weight)[23] 1 soma‡ = 2 barile [23] 1 boccale = 1.14 L [52] 1 barile# = 20 fiaschi = 45.6 litres [9] 1 barile‡ = 16 fiaschi = 33.43 litres [9] Borgato, Maria Teresa (6–9 September 2006).

"The first applications of the metric system in Italy" (PDF).

The Global and the Local:The History of Science and the Cultural Integration of Europe.

Cracow, Poland: The Press of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures.

International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology.

New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. p. 8. international critical tables 1926.