JavaScript Unit Converter Source Code

This JavaScript source code provides a unit converter tool for various engineering properties. It allows you to convert between different units of measurement for properties like acceleration, area, torque, electricity, energy, force, length, light, mass, mass flow, density, power, pressure, temperature, time, velocity, viscosity, volume, and volume flow.

The code works by selecting a property from a dropdown menu, choosing units to convert from and to, and then entering a value. It then performs the conversion based on predefined conversion factors and updates the result in real-time.

This code is helpful for anyone who needs to quickly and accurately convert measurements in the field of engineering, making unit conversions a breeze.

How to Create Unit Converter Tool using JavaScript Source Code

1. First of all, load the Normalize CSS and Google Fonts by adding the following CDN links into the head tag of your web/app project.

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/normalize/5.0.0/normalize.min.css">
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:800|Poppins:700" rel="stylesheet">

2. Create the HTML structure for the Unit Converter app as follows:

<div class="converter-wrapper">
  <h1>ENGINEERING <br>UNIT CONVERTER</h1>

  <form name="property_form">
    <span>
      <select class="select-property" name="the_menu" size=1 onChange="UpdateUnitMenu(this, document.form_A.unit_menu); UpdateUnitMenu(this, document.form_B.unit_menu)">
      </select>
    </span>
  </form>

  <div class="converter-side-a">
    <form name="form_A" onSubmit="return false">
      <input type="text" class="numbersonly" name="unit_input" maxlength="20" value="0" onKeyUp="CalculateUnit(document.form_A, document.form_B)">
      <span>
        <select name="unit_menu" onChange="CalculateUnit(document.form_B, document.form_A)">
        </select>
      </span>
    </form>
  </div> <!-- /converter-side-a -->
  
 <div class="converter-equals">
   <p>=</p>
 </div> <!-- /converter-side-a -->

  <div class="converter-side-b">
    <form name="form_B" onSubmit="return false">
      <input type="text" class="numbersonly" name="unit_input" maxlength="20" value="0" onkeyup="CalculateUnit(document.form_B, document.form_A)">
      <span>
        <select name="unit_menu" onChange="CalculateUnit(document.form_A, document.form_B)">
        </select>
      </span>
    </form>
  </div> <!-- /converter-side-b -->
</div><!-- /converter-wrapper -->

3. Now, add the following CSS to your project to customize the interface of the unit converter. You can modify the CSS rules according to your website/app’s theme.

body {
  padding-top: 20px;
  background-color: #202020;
}

.converter-wrapper h1 {
  color: #E5E5E5;
  font-family: 'Poppins', sans-serif;
  letter-spacing: 
  font-weight: 700;
}

.converter-wrapper {
  margin: 0 auto;
  width: 100%;
  max-width: 600px;
  text-align: center;
  padding: 10px;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.converter-wrapper input {
  font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif;
  font-size: 1em;
  width: 100%;
  text-align: center;
  margin-top: 10px;
  height: 40px;
  box-sizing: border-box;
}

.converter-wrapper span {
  position: relative;
  display: inline-block;
  vertical-align: middle;
  width: 100%;
}

.converter-wrapper span select {
  background-color: #263648;
  color: #fff;
  font-size: inherit;
  padding: 10px;
  width: 100%;
  border: 0;
  margin: 0;
  border-radius: 0px;
  text-indent: 0.01px;
  text-overflow: '';
  -webkit-appearance: none; /* hide default arrow in chrome OSX */
}

.converter-wrapper span::before,
.converter-wrapper span::after {
  content: "";
  position: absolute;
  pointer-events: none;
}

.converter-wrapper span::after { /*  Custom dropdown arrow */
  content: "\25BC";
  height: 1em;
  font-size: .625em;
  line-height: 1;
  right: 1.5em;
  top: 50%;
  margin-top: -.5em;
  color: #131B24;
}

.converter-wrapper span::before { /*  Custom dropdown arrow cover */
  width: 2.5em;
  right: 0;
  top: 0;
  bottom: 0;
  border-radius: 0;
  background-color: #202E3C;
}

.converter-side-a,
.converter-side-b {
  float: left;
  margin-top: 10px;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  width: 45%;
}

.converter-equals {
  float: left;
  box-sizing: border-box;
  width: 10%;
  color: #FFF;
  font-size: 2.4em;
  line-height: 0;
  text-align: center;
}

.converter-side-a {
  padding-right: 10px;
}

.converter-side-b {
  padding-left: 10px;
}

4. Finally, include the following JavaScript code in your project. It initializes the converter and populates the property dropdown menu. Ensure that you have this script included at the bottom of your HTML file or in a separate JavaScript file.

//
// --- JAVASCRIPT UNIT CONVERTER

// If you study this file, you'll see that all the important data (namely, unit names and conversion factors) are explicitly defined as JavaScript arrays under the "Global Variable & Data Definitions" heading (which should be right under these comments).

// This is done, because: a) I figured it's the fastest way to do it, and b) it keeps everything in one file, making local storage and usage a snap.

// If you wanna mess with these array definitions, keep in mind the following (better study the definitions first before you read this; otherwise skip it altogether):

// 1) The unit[i][j] and factor[i][j] arrays should have the same j-length and their elements should correspond to each other in the j dimension; i.e. unit[0][2] should define the name and factor[0][2] the conversion factor of the SAME unit.  Duh!...

// 2) In every property (i.e. the i-dimension of the unit and factor arrays) there should be defined a 'primary' or 'base' unit, i.e. one with a conversion factor of 1.  The definitions of the other (secondary) units should use this formula:

// 1 [Secondary unit] = [Secondary unit conversion factor] [Primary Unit]
//                                   ^
//  This goes in the factor array ___|
//
//  e.g.: 1 ft = 0.3048 m

// ====================================
//  Global Variable & Data Definitions
// ====================================
var property = new Array();
var unit = new Array();
var factor = new Array();

property[0] = "Acceleration";
unit[0] = new Array("Meter/sq.sec (m/sec^2)", "Foot/sq.sec (ft/sec^2)", "G (g)", "Galileo (gal)", "Inch/sq.sec (in/sec^2)");
factor[0] = new Array(1, .3048, 9.806650, .01, 2.54E-02);

property[1] = "Area";
unit[1] = new Array("Square meter (m^2)", "Acre (acre)", "Are", "Barn (barn)", "Hectare", "Rood", "Square centimeter", "Square kilometer", "Circular mil", "Square foot (ft^2)", "Square inch (in^2)", "Square mile (mi^2)", "Square yard (yd^2)");
factor[1] = new Array(1, 4046.856, 100, 1E-28, 10000, 1011.71413184285, .0001, 1000000, 5.067075E-10, 9.290304E-02, 6.4516E-04, 2589988, .8361274);

property[2] = "Torque";
unit[2] = new Array("Newton-meter (N m)", "Dyne-centimeter(dy cm)", "Kgrf-meter (kgf m)", "lbf-inch (lbf in)", "lbf-foot (lbf ft)");
factor[2] = new Array(1, .0000001, 9.806650, .1129848, 1.355818);

property[3] = "Electricity";
unit[3] = new Array("Coulomb (Cb)", "Abcoulomb", "Ampere hour (A hr)", "Faraday (F)", "Statcoulomb", "Millifaraday (mF)", "Microfaraday (mu-F)", "Picofaraday (pF)");
factor[3] = new Array(1, 10, 3600, 96521.8999999997, .000000000333564, 96.5219, 9.65219E-02, 9.65219E-05);

property[4] = "Energy";
unit[4] = new Array("Joule (J)", "BTU (mean)", "BTU (thermochemical)", "Calorie (SI) (cal)", "Calorie (mean)(cal)", "Calorie (thermo)", "Electron volt (eV)", "Erg (erg)", "Foot-pound force", "Foot-poundal", "Horsepower-hour", "Kilocalorie (SI)(kcal)", "Kilocalorie (mean)(kcal)", "Kilowatt-hour (kW hr)", "Ton of TNT", "Volt-coulomb (V Cb)", "Watt-hour (W hr)", "Watt-second (W sec)");
factor[4] = new Array(1, 1055.87, 1054.35, 4.1868, 4.19002, 4.184, 1.6021E-19, .0000001, 1.355818, 4.214011E-02, 2684077.3, 4186.8, 4190.02, 3600000, 4.2E9, 1, 3600, 1);

property[5] = "Force";
unit[5] = new Array("Newton (N)", "Dyne (dy)", "Kilogram force (kgf)", "Kilopond force (kpf)", "Kip (k)", "Ounce force (ozf)", "Pound force (lbf)", "Poundal");
factor[5] = new Array(1, .00001, 9.806650, 9.806650, 4448.222, .2780139, .4535924, .138255);

property[6] = "Force / Length";
unit[6] = new Array("Newton/meter (N/m)", "Pound force/inch (lbf/in)", "Pound force/foot (lbf/ft)");
factor[6] = new Array(1, 175.1268, 14.5939);

property[7] = "Length";
unit[7] = new Array("Meter (m)", "Angstrom (A')", "Astronomical unit (AU)", "Caliber (cal)", "Centimeter (cm)", "Kilometer (km)", "Ell", "Em", "Fathom", "Furlong", "Fermi (fm)", "Foot (ft)", "Inch (in)", "League (int'l)", "League (UK)", "Light year (LY)", "Micrometer (mu-m)", "Mil", "Millimeter (mm)", "Nanometer (nm)", "Mile (int'l nautical)", "Mile (UK nautical)", "Mile (US nautical)", "Mile (US statute)", "Parsec", "Pica (printer)", "Picometer (pm)", "Point (pt)", "Rod", "Yard (yd)");
factor[7] = new Array(1, 1E-10, 1.49598E11, .000254, .01, 1000, 1.143, 4.2323E-03, 1.8288, 201.168, 1E-15, .3048, .0254, 5556, 5556, 9.46055E+15, .000001, .0000254, .001, 1E-9, 1852, 1853.184, 1852, 1609.344, 3.08374E+16, 4.217518E-03, 1E-12, .0003514598, 5.0292, .9144);

property[8] = "Light";
unit[8] = new Array("Lumen/sq.meter (Lu/m^2)", "Lumen/sq.centimeter", "Lumen/sq.foot", "Foot-candle (ft-cdl)", "Foot-lambert", "Candela/sq.meter", "Candela/sq.centimeter", "Lux (lux)", "Phot");
factor[8] = new Array(1, 10000, 10.76391, 10.76391, 10.76391, 3.14159250538575, 31415.9250538576, 1, 10000);

property[9] = "Mass";
unit[9] = new Array("Kilogram (kgr)", "Gram (gr)", "Milligram (mgr)", "Microgram (mu-gr)", "Carat (metric)(ct)", "Hundredweight (long)", "Hundredweight (short)", "Pound mass (lbm)", "Pound mass (troy)", "Ounce mass (ozm)", "Ounce mass (troy)", "Slug", "Ton (assay)", "Ton (long)", "Ton (short)", "Ton (metric)", "Tonne");
factor[9] = new Array(1, .001, 1e-6, .000000001, .0002, 50.80235, 45.35924, .4535924, .3732417, .02834952, .03110348, 14.5939, .02916667, 1016.047, 907.1847, 1000, 1000);

property[10] = "Mass Flow";
unit[10] = new Array("Kilogram/second (kgr/sec)", "Pound mass/sec (lbm/sec)", "Pound mass/min (lbm/min)");
factor[10] = new Array(1, .4535924, .007559873);

property[11] = "Density & Mass capacity";
unit[11] = new Array("Kilogram/cub.meter", "Grain/galon", "Grams/cm^3 (gr/cc)", "Pound mass/cubic foot", "Pound mass/cubic-inch", "Ounces/gallon (UK,liq)", "Ounces/gallon (US,liq)", "Ounces (mass)/inch", "Pound mass/gal (UK,liq)", "Pound mass/gal (US,liq)", "Slug/cubic foot", "Tons (long,mass)/cub.yard");
factor[11] = new Array(1, .01711806, 1000, 16.01846, 27679.91, 6.236027, 7.489152, 1729.994, 99.77644, 119.8264, 515.379, 1328.939);

property[12] = "Power";
unit[12] = new Array("Watt (W)", "Kilowatt (kW)", "Megawatt (MW)", "Milliwatt (mW)", "BTU (SI)/hour", "BTU (thermo)/second", "BTU (thermo)/minute", "BTU (thermo)/hour", "Calorie (thermo)/second", "Calorie (thermo)/minute", "Erg/second", "Foot-pound force/hour", "Foot-pound force/minute", "Foot-pound force/second", "Horsepower(550 ft lbf/s)", "Horsepower (electric)", "Horsepower (boiler)", "Horsepower (metric)", "Horsepower (UK)", "Kilocalorie (thermo)/min", "Kilocalorie (thermo)/sec");
factor[12] = new Array(1, 1000, 1000000, .001, .2930667, 1054.35, 17.5725, .2928751, 4.184, 6.973333E-02, .0000001, .0003766161, .02259697, 1.355818, 745.7, 746, 9809.5, 735.499, 745.7, 69.7333, 4184);

property[13] = "Pressure & Stress";
unit[13] = new Array("Newton/sq.meter", "Atmosphere (normal)", "Atmosphere (techinical)", "Bar", "Centimeter mercury(cmHg)", "Centimeter water (4'C)", "Decibar", "Kgr force/sq.centimeter", "Kgr force/sq.meter", "Kip/square inch", "Millibar", "Millimeter mercury(mmHg)", "Pascal (Pa)", "Kilopascal (kPa)", "Megapascal (Mpa)", "Poundal/sq.foot", "Pound-force/sq.foot", "Pound-force/sq.inch (psi)", "Torr (mmHg,0'C)");
factor[13] = new Array(1, 101325, 98066.5, 100000, 1333.22, 98.0638, 10000, 98066.5, 9.80665, 6894757, 100, 133.3224, 1, 1000, 1000000, 47.88026, 47.88026, 6894.757, 133.322);

// !!! Caution: Temperature requires an increment as well as a multiplying factor
// !!! and that's why it's handled differently
// !!! Be VERY careful in how you change this behavior
property[14] = "Temperature";
unit[14] = new Array("Degrees Celsius ('C)", "Degrees Fahrenheit ('F)", "Degrees Kelvin ('K)", "Degrees Rankine ('R)");
factor[14] = new Array(1, 0.555555555555, 1, 0.555555555555);
tempIncrement = new Array(0, -32, -273.15, -491.67);

property[15] = "Time";
unit[15] = new Array("Second (sec)", "Day (mean solar)", "Day (sidereal)", "Hour (mean solar)", "Hour (sidereal)", "Minute (mean solar)", "Minute (sidereal)", "Month (mean calendar)", "Second (sidereal)", "Year (calendar)", "Year (tropical)", "Year (sidereal)");
factor[15] = new Array(1, 8.640E4, 86164.09, 3600, 3590.17, 60, 60, 2628000, .9972696, 31536000, 31556930, 31558150);

property[16] = "Velocity & Speed";
unit[16] = new Array("Meter/second (m/sec)", "Foot/minute (ft/min)", "Foot/second (ft/sec)", "Kilometer/hour (kph)", "Knot (int'l)", "Mile (US)/hour (mph)", "Mile (nautical)/hour", "Mile (US)/minute", "Mile (US)/second", "Speed of light (c)", "Mach (STP)(a)");
factor[16] = new Array(1, 5.08E-03, .3048, .2777778, .5144444, .44707, .514444, 26.8224, 1609.344, 299792458, 340.0068750);

property[17] = "Viscosity";
unit[17] = new Array("Newton-second/meter", "Centipoise", "Centistoke", "Sq.foot/second", "Poise", "Poundal-second/sq.foot", "Pound mass/foot-second", "Pound force-second/sq.foot", "Rhe", "Slug/foot-second", "Stoke");
factor[17] = new Array(1, .001, .000001, 9.290304E-02, .1, 1.488164, 1.488164, 47.88026, 10, 47.88026, .0001);

property[18] = "Volume & Capacity";
unit[18] = new Array("Cubic Meter (m^3)", "Cubic centimeter", "Cubic millimeter", "Acre-foot", "Barrel (oil)", "Board foot", "Bushel (US)", "Cup", "Fluid ounce (US)", "Cubic foot", "Gallon (UK)", "Gallon (US,dry)", "Gallon (US,liq)", "Gill (UK)", "Gill (US)", "Cubic inch (in^3)", "Liter (new)", "Liter (old)", "Ounce (UK,fluid)", "Ounce (US,fluid)", "Peck (US)", "Pint (US,dry)", "Pint (US,liq)", "Quart (US,dry)", "Quart (US,liq)", "Stere", "Tablespoon", "Teaspoon", "Ton (register)", "Cubic yard");
factor[18] = new Array(1, .000001, .000000001, 1233.482, .1589873, .002359737, .03523907, .0002365882, .00002957353, .02831685, .004546087, .004404884, .003785412, .0001420652, .0001182941, .00001638706, .001, .001000028, .00002841305, .00002957353, 8.8097680E-03, .0005506105, 4.7317650E-04, .001101221, 9.46353E-04, 1, .00001478676, .000004928922, 2.831685, .7645549);

property[19] = "Volume Flow";
unit[19] = new Array("Cubic meter/second", "Cubic foot/second", "Cubic foot/minute", "Cubic inches/minute", "Gallons (US,liq)/minute)");
factor[19] = new Array(1, .02831685, .0004719474, 2.731177E-7, 6.309020E-05);

// ===========
//  Functions
// ===========

function UpdateUnitMenu(propMenu, unitMenu) {
  // Updates the units displayed in the unitMenu according to the selection of property in the propMenu.
  var i;
  i = propMenu.selectedIndex;
  FillMenuWithArray(unitMenu, unit[i]);
}

function FillMenuWithArray(myMenu, myArray) {
  // Fills the options of myMenu with the elements of myArray.
  // !CAUTION!: It replaces the elements, so old ones will be deleted.
  var i;
  myMenu.length = myArray.length;
  for (i = 0; i < myArray.length; i++) {
    myMenu.options[i].text = myArray[i];
  }
}

function CalculateUnit(sourceForm, targetForm) {
  // A simple wrapper function to validate input before making the conversion
  var sourceValue = sourceForm.unit_input.value;

  // First check if the user has given numbers or anything that can be made to one...
  sourceValue = parseFloat(sourceValue);
  if (!isNaN(sourceValue) || sourceValue == 0) {
    // If we can make a valid floating-point number, put it in the text box and convert!
    sourceForm.unit_input.value = sourceValue;
    ConvertFromTo(sourceForm, targetForm);
  }
}

function ConvertFromTo(sourceForm, targetForm) {
  // Converts the contents of the sourceForm input box to the units specified in the targetForm unit menu and puts the result in the targetForm input box.In other words, this is the heart of the whole script...
  var propIndex;
  var sourceIndex;
  var sourceFactor;
  var targetIndex;
  var targetFactor;
  var result;

  // Start by checking which property we are working in...
  propIndex = document.property_form.the_menu.selectedIndex;

  // Let's determine what unit are we converting FROM (i.e. source) and the factor needed to convert that unit to the base unit.
  sourceIndex = sourceForm.unit_menu.selectedIndex;
  sourceFactor = factor[propIndex][sourceIndex];

  // Cool! Let's do the same thing for the target unit - the units we are converting TO:
  targetIndex = targetForm.unit_menu.selectedIndex;
  targetFactor = factor[propIndex][targetIndex];

  // Simple, huh? let's do the math: a) convert the source TO the base unit: (The input has been checked by the CalculateUnit function).

  result = sourceForm.unit_input.value;
  // Handle Temperature increments!
  if (property[propIndex] == "Temperature") {
    result = parseFloat(result) + tempIncrement[sourceIndex];
  }
  result = result * sourceFactor;

  // not done yet... now, b) use the targetFactor to convert FROM the base unit
  // to the target unit...
  result = result / targetFactor;
  // Again, handle Temperature increments!
  if (property[propIndex] == "Temperature") {
    result = parseFloat(result) - tempIncrement[targetIndex];
  }

  // Ta-da! All that's left is to update the target input box:
  targetForm.unit_input.value = result;
}

// This fragment initializes the property dropdown menu using the data defined above in the 'Data Definitions' section
window.onload = function(e) {
  FillMenuWithArray(document.property_form.the_menu, property);
  UpdateUnitMenu(document.property_form.the_menu, document.form_A.unit_menu);
  UpdateUnitMenu(document.property_form.the_menu, document.form_B.unit_menu)
}

// Restricting textboxes to accept numbers + navigational keys only
document.getElementByClass('numbersonly').addEventListener('keydown', function(e) {
  var key = e.keyCode ? e.keyCode : e.which;

  if (!([8, 9, 13, 27, 46, 110, 190].indexOf(key) !== -1 ||
      (key == 65 && (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey)) || // Select All 
      (key == 67 && (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey)) || // Copy
      (key == 86 && (e.ctrlKey || e.metaKey)) || // Paste
      (key >= 35 && key <= 40) || // End, Home, Arrows
      (key >= 48 && key <= 57 && !(e.shiftKey || e.altKey)) || // Numeric Keys
      (key >= 96 && key <= 105) // Numpad
      (key == 190) // Numpad
    )) e.preventDefault();
});

That’s all! hopefully, you have successfully created JavaScript Unit Converter Source Code. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below.

Asif Mughal

I code and create web elements for amazing people around the world. I like work with new people. New people new Experiences.
I truly enjoy what I’m doing, which makes me more passionate about web development and coding. I am always ready to do challenging tasks whether it is about creating a custom CMS from scratch or customizing an existing system.