Thai units of measurement

Before metrication, the traditional system of measurement used in Thailand employed anthropic units. Some of these units are still in use, albeit standardised to SI/metric measurements. When the Royal Thai Survey Department began cadastral survey in 1896, Director R. W. Giblin, F.R.G.S., noted, "It so happens that 40 metres or 4,000 centimetres are equal to one sen," so all cadastral plans are plotted, drawn, and printed to a scale of 1:4,000. The square wa, ngan and rai are still used in measurements of land area.

The baht is still used as a unit of measurement in gold trading. However, one baht of 96.5% gold bullion is defined as 15.16 grams rather than the generic standard of 15 grams. The baht has also become the name of the currency of Thailand, which was originally fixed to the corresponding mass of silver.

List of units UnitThai scriptIPA pronunciationMeaning equivalentRelative equivalentMetric equivalent LengthKrabiatกระเบียดQuarter of a finger 0.5208 cmNioนิ้วSiamese inchCf. Digit (unit)finger (unit) 4 krabiat 2.083 cmKhuepคืบSpan12 nio25 cmSokศอกCubit2 khuep50 cmWaวาFathom (outstretched arms)4 sok2 mSenเส้นCf. Rope (unit)line of rope Chain (unit)20 wa40 mYotโยชน์ Yojana 400 sen16 km AreaTarang waตารางวาSquare wa 4 m2Nganงาน Work100 tarang wa 400 m2Raiไร่ Plantation4 ngan 1 Square sen1,600 m2 (16 a) VolumeYip mueหยิบมือPinch 7.8125 mLKam mueกำมือGrain held in an enclosed hand4 yip mue31.25 mLFai mueฟายมือGrain held in the palm4 kam mue125 mLThananทะนานCoconut shell used for measuring8 fai mue1 LThangถังBucket20 thanan20 LSatสัดMeasuring basket25 thanan25 LKwianเกวียนCartload 100 thang2 m3 Weight/massSaluengสลึง 3.75 gBaht or Batบาท Tical4 salueng15 gTamluengตำลึงTael4 baht60 gChangชั่งCatty20 tamlueng1,200 gHapหาบPicul50 chang60 kg

References .