The units of measurement in use in Denmark are currently part of the metric system. A variety of other historical weights and measures have been employed throughout the nation's history.

History

The Danes started with a system of units based on a Greek pous ("foot") of 308.4 mm which they picked up through trade in the late Bronze Age/early Iron Age. Some early standards of measure can be recovered from measured drawings made of the 52.5 ft Hjortspring boat, which though dating to the early Iron Age exemplifies plank-built vessels of the late Bronze Age and the 82 ft Nydam ship. Thwarts are typically spaced about 3 fod apart. King Christian V of Denmark introduced an office to oversee weights and measures, a justervæsen. This was first led by the royal mathematician Ole Rømer, who established a national system of weights and measures on May 1, 1683. Rømer's system, which he updated in 1698, was based on the Rhine foot. Its definitions included the following: Rømer also suggested a pendulum definition for the foot (although this would not be implemented until after his death), and invented an early temperature scale. The metric system was introduced in 1907.

Length

Area

Volume

Weight

Miscellaneous