German units of measurement

The units of measurement of German-speaking countries consist of a variety of units, with varying local standard definitions. While many were made redundant with the introduction of the metric system, some of these units are still used in everyday speech and even in stores and on street markets as shorthand for similar amounts in the metric system. For example, some customers ask for one pound (ein Pfund) of something when they want 500 grams.

The metric system became compulsory on 1 January 1872, in Germany and on 1 January 1876, in Austria.

Some obsolete German units have names similar to units that were traditionally used in other countries, and that are still used in a limited number of cases in the United Kingdom (imperial units) and fully in the United States (United States customary units).

German system
Before the introduction of the metric system in German, almost every town had its own definitions of the units shown below. Often towns posted local definitions on a wall of the city hall. For example, the front wall of the old city hall of Rudolstadt (still standing) has two marks which show the “Rudolstädter Elle”, the proper length of the Elle in that city. Supposedly by 1810 there were 112 different standards for the Elle around Germany. "“...the measure of cloth, for example, was elle which in each region stood for a different length. An elle of textile material brought in Frankfurt would get you 54.7 cm of cloth, in Mainz 55.1 cm, in Nuremberg 65.6 cm, in Freiburg 53.5 cm...”"

Meile (mile)
A German geographic mile (geographische Meile) is defined as $1/15$ equatorial degrees, equal to 7420.54 m. A common German mile, land mile, or post mile (Gemeine deutsche Meile, Landmeile, Postmeile) was defined in various ways at different places and different times. After the introduction of the metric system in the 19th century, the Landmeile was generally fixed at 7500 m (the Reichsmeile), but before then there were many local and regional variants (of which some are shown below):

Wegstunde
One hour's travel, used up to the 19th century. In Germany $1/15$ Meile or 3.71 km. After 1722 in Saxony $1/2$ post mile = 1000 Dresden rods = 4531 m. In Switzerland 16,000 ft.

Fuß (foot)
The Fuß or German foot varied widely from place to place in the German-speaking world, and also with time. In some places, more than one type of Fuß was in use. One source from 1830 gives the following values:

Rute (rod)
The Rute or Ruthe is of Carolingian origin, and was used as a land measure. Many different kinds of Ruthe were used at various times in various parts of the German-speaking world. They were subdivided into differing numbers of local Fuß, and were of many different lengths. One source from 1830 lists the following:

Klafter
Originally 6 feet, after introduction of the metric system 10 feet. Regional variants from 1.75 m in Baden to 3 m in Switzerland.

Lachter
The Lachter was the most common unit of length used in mining in German-speaking areas. Its exact length varied from place to place but was roughly between 1.9 and 2.1 m.

Elle (ell)
Distance between elbow and fingertip. In the North, often 2 feet, In Prussia $1/2$ feet, in the South variable, often $1/6$ feet. The smallest known German Elle is 402.8 mm, the longest 811 mm.

Zoll (inch)
Usually $1/16$ foot, but also $1/10$ and $1/6$.

Linie
Usually $1/16$ inch, but also $1/16$.

Quent
Being 1/5 of any measure

Malter
Is a larger volumen unit of around one large sack of wheat a person could carry. However, the exact volumetric size and weight was locally very different in each feudal state. For more details, see.

Klafter
For firewood, 2.905 m3

Nösel
In general, the Nösel (also spelled Össel) was a measure of liquid volume equal to half a Kanne ("jar," "jug," "bottle," "can"). Volume often varied depending on whether it was beer or wine. Its subdivisions were the Halbnösel ("Half-Nösel") and the Viertelnösel ("Quarter-Nösel).

An Ahm was a measure used for wine or beer. An Eimer ("Bucket") was a container that was a fifth of an Ahm. A Viertel ("Fourth") was a fourth of an Eimer. A Stübchen ("Cozy Room") also a Stauf was a measure of wine or beer that was equal to 2 Kannen. It was the approximate amount of wine or beer that could serve an entire room in a tavern. A Kanne was a measure of wine or beer large enough to fill a humpen (tankard) or krug (wine flagon or beer pitcher). A Quartier ("quarter-measure") was a fourth of a Stübchen. A Nösel was a cup or mug of wine or beer.

Actual volumes so measured, however, varied from one state or even one city to another. Within Saxony, for example, the "Dresden jar" held approximately 1 USqt, so a nösel in Dresden was about 1 USpt. The full volume of a "Leipzig jar" measured 1.2 L; the Leipzig nösel was therefore 0.6 L.


 * $1/16$ Ahm = $1/16$ Eimer = $1/14$ Viertel = $1/2$ Stübchen / Stauf = $1/14$ Kannen = $1/16$ Quartiers = 1 Nösel = 2 Halbnöseln = 4 Viertelnöseln

The nösel was used in minor commerce, as well as in the household to measure meal, grain, and such. These units of measure were officially valid in Saxony until 1868, when the metric system was introduced. Nevertheless, the old measures have continued in private use for decades.

One modification was introduced in Thuringia. There, the nösel was, by extension, also a measure of area; namely, the area of land which could be sown with one nösel of seed &mdash; or about 19.36 sqyd

Pfund

 * Pfund (Prussia): $1/10$
 * Zollpfund: $1/2$

Mark
$1/8$ Pfund. Equal to $1/6$ (Cologne).

Unze
$1/16$ of a Pfund. Roughly equal to $2/25$.

Loth
$1/2$ of a Pfund, or $1/16$ of a Mark. Equal to $1/16$ (Prussia).

Quentchen
$1/15$ of a Pfund. Roughly equal to $1/2$.

Quint
$1/6$ of a Pfund. Roughly equal to $1/16$.

Pfennig
$1/2$ of a Pfund. Roughly equal to $1/16$.

Gran
$1/16$ of a Pfund. Roughly equal to $1/16$.