How to switch an iPhone between metric and imperial units
2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open Settings, tap General, then Language & Region, then Measurement System, and tap Metric, US or UK. The choice is separate from the region and from the temperature unit, which has its own row.
- Device
- iPhone
- Shown on
- iOS 26.5 (iPhone 17)
- App
- Settings
- Path
- Settings › General › Language & Region › Measurement System
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
Kilometres or miles, kilograms or pounds: the iPhone takes the measurement system from its region at first. You can change it on its own, for example when you have moved and want to keep the units you know. Apple lists three systems: metric, US and UK.
The screenshots show iOS 26.5 on an iPhone 17. On older versions the rows have the same names, with a slightly different look.
Step by step
Open Settings and tap General
General is the first row of the first group in the main Settings list.
Tap Language & Region
It is in the second group of the General page, below Keyboard.
Tap Measurement System
The row shows the current system at the right. In the picture it is Metric.
Tap Metric, US or UK
The tick moves to your choice.
Good to know
Celsius or Fahrenheit is the row above, Temperature: how to change the region, date format and temperature unit on iPhone.
In short: Settings, General, Language & Region, Measurement System.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.