---
title: "Unit of measure"
description: "Unit of measure meaning: the unit an item is counted, bought or sold in. Learn how base units, conversions and pack sizes work, with a worked example."
url: https://1flux.ai/glossary/unit-of-measure
last_updated: 2026-10-10
---

[Procurement and inventory](https://1flux.ai/glossary#procurement-and-inventory)

# Unit of measure

Unit of measure meaning: the unit an item is counted, bought or sold in, and how conversions keep them in step.

Glossary Updated 10 October 2026

Definition

A unit of measure (UoM) is the unit in which an item's quantity is counted, bought or sold, such as pieces, kilograms, metres, boxes or hours.

## Unit of measure meaning: base units and packs

Problems start when the same item moves in different units: bought by the carton, stocked by the piece and sold by the box. Each item needs one base unit for stock and cost, plus conversions for the other units it’s traded in.

Example: a supplier sells cable in 100 m drums, the warehouse stocks it in metres and a customer orders 3 drums, so the system must convert 3 drums to 300 m.

Units of the same type, such as kilograms and grams, convert by a fixed factor; a pack size, such as “box of 12”, is specific to each item in the [item master](https://1flux.ai/glossary/item-master).

In 1flux

1flux seeds 30 units of measure with 10 conversions. Each item has one inventory unit, plus item-specific packs (for example Box = 30 pieces) used as purchase and sale defaults. [See the item master and catalogue](https://1flux.ai/products/inventory/item-master)

Related

## Keep exploring

### [Item master](https://1flux.ai/glossary/item-master)

The central catalogue record for every item you buy, stock or sell.

### [Stock keeping unit](https://1flux.ai/glossary/stock-keeping-unit)

The unique code for each item you stock.

### [Stock count](https://1flux.ai/glossary/stock-count)

Counting physical stock and comparing it with the system.

### [Item master](https://1flux.ai/products/inventory/item-master)

Goods, services and digital products in one catalogue, in up to 7 languages.

Last updated 10 October 2026