Free Calculators for South East Asia
South East Asia includes a diverse group of countries: the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. Most use the metric system officially, but there are local variations, traditional units and frequent exposure to imperial measurements through American media, tourism and international business.
This guide covers the conversions and tools most useful for users across the region. All tools are free at CalConvs.com.
The Philippines: A Unique Mix of Metric and American
The Philippines officially uses the metric system but has strong American cultural influences from over a century of close ties with the US. American recipes, pound-based weight references, Fahrenheit temperatures and MPG figures appear regularly in Filipino media.
| Common Conversion Need | Tool to Use |
|---|---|
| Converting a US recipe temperature (e.g. 350 F) | Temperature Converter: 350 F = 177 C |
| Converting pounds to kilograms for a diet plan | Weight Converter: 1 lb = 0.454 kg |
| Converting miles to kilometres | Length Converter: 1 mile = 1.609 km |
| Working out square footage of a property | Area Converter: 1 sq ft = 0.0929 m² |
Traditional Land Units Across the Region
Several traditional units remain in everyday use in different countries across South East Asia, particularly for land, weight and trade.
| Traditional Unit | Metric Equivalent | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 rai | 1,600 m² (about 0.395 acres) | Thailand |
| 1 ngaan | 400 m² (0.25 rai) | Thailand |
| 1 talang wa | 4 m² | Thailand |
| 1 cong | 1,000 m² (about 0.247 acres) | Vietnam |
| 1 sao | 360 m² | Vietnam (northern) |
| 1 katti | 0.605 kilograms (about 1.333 lbs) | Singapore, Malaysia |
| 1 tahil | 37.79 grams | Malaysia, Singapore |
| 1 hectare (metric) | 10,000 m² or 2.471 acres | Regional standard |
Use the Area Converter for hectares, square metres, acres and square feet. For Thailand, multiply rai by 1,600 to get square metres.
Thailand: Rai and Metric
Thailand uses the metric system officially but rai, ngaan and talang wa remain the primary land measurement units in property transactions and everyday life.
Thai Land Unit Conversions
1 rai = 1,600 m² = 0.4 hectares = 0.395 acres
1 ngaan = 400 m² (4 ngaan = 1 rai)
100 talang wa = 1 ngaan
Example: A plot of 2 rai 1 ngaan = (2 × 1,600) + 400 = 3,600 m²
Example: 5 rai = 5 × 1,600 = 8,000 m² or 0.8 hectares
Temperature Across South East Asia
The entire South East Asian region uses Celsius officially. The main conversion need is for US content, American tourists and international brands that publish Fahrenheit temperatures.
| Celsius | Fahrenheit | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 20 to 25 C | 68 to 77 F | Comfortable air-conditioned indoor temperature |
| 25 to 30 C | 77 to 86 F | Typical daytime temperature year-round in coastal areas |
| 30 to 35 C | 86 to 95 F | Hot and humid, typical in Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines in summer |
| 35 to 40 C | 95 to 104 F | Very hot, hot season in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines |
| Above 40 C | Above 104 F | Extreme heat events during dry season |
Health Tools and Asian BMI Thresholds
Health services across South East Asia use metric units: kilograms, centimetres and Celsius. An important regional note for health calculations:
WHO and Asian-Specific BMI Classifications
The WHO and several Asian health authorities recommend lower BMI thresholds for assessing health risks in Asian populations.
Underweight: below 18.5 Normal weight: 18.5 to 22.9
At risk of metabolic complications: 23.0 to 24.9
Obese Class 1: 25.0 to 29.9 Obese Class 2: 30.0 and above
Consult your local healthcare provider for guidance specific to your country and health profile.
- BMI Calculator: standard WHO classifications with awareness of regional thresholds
- Calorie Calculator: daily energy needs in kilocalories
- TDEE Calculator: total daily energy expenditure for weight management
- Macro Calculator: protein, carbohydrate and fat targets in grams
Singapore and Malaysia: Fully Metricated with Local Nuances
Singapore and Malaysia are fully metricated for official and commercial purposes. However, some traditional weight units (katti, tahil) still appear in wet markets and traditional trade contexts. Property in Singapore is commonly listed in both square metres and square feet due to historical British influence.
For Singapore property: 1 square foot = 0.0929 square metres. A 1,000 sq ft apartment equals 92.9 m². Use the Area Converter for any property size conversion.
Vietnam: Metric with Traditional Land Units
Vietnam uses metric officially. In land measurement, the cong (1,000 m²) and sao (360 m² in northern Vietnam) remain commonly used in rural areas and older property documents. Urban property is increasingly listed in square metres. Always confirm which unit system is being used when reviewing Vietnamese property listings.
Related Tools for South East Asia Users
- Temperature Converter: Celsius and Fahrenheit
- Weight Converter: kilograms, grams and pounds
- Area Converter: square metres, hectares, acres and square feet
- BMI Calculator: with awareness of Asian-specific thresholds
- All Unit Converters: browse all converters on CalConvs
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square metres is 1 rai in Thailand?
One rai equals exactly 1,600 square metres, which is 0.4 hectares or approximately 0.395 acres. Thai property is commonly listed in rai and ngaan. One rai equals 4 ngaan. For international comparison, multiply rai by 1,600 to get square metres or by 0.395 to get acres.
Do Philippine food labels show kilojoules or kilocalories?
Philippine food labels show kilocalories (kcal) as the primary energy unit, consistent with US labelling conventions due to the Philippines' historical ties with the US. This differs from Australia and some Asian countries that use kilojoules. The CalConvs calorie and nutrition tools use kilocalories, so no conversion is needed for Filipino users.
Is the BMI scale different for Filipino, Thai or Indonesian people?
The standard WHO BMI scale is used officially across South East Asia. However, research consistently shows that Asian populations, including Filipinos, Thais, Indonesians, Vietnamese and Malaysians, tend to develop metabolic complications such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease at lower BMI values than Western populations. Several regional health ministries have adopted an overweight threshold of 23 kg/m² for Asian adults. Consult a local healthcare provider for a contextually appropriate interpretation of your BMI.
What speed units are used in Thailand?
Thailand uses kilometres per hour (km/h) for all speed limits. The standard urban limit is 80 km/h, expressway limits are typically 100 to 120 km/h, and some intercity highways allow 120 km/h. Speed cameras are common on Thai expressways. Use the Speed Converter to convert between km/h and mph.