How to Change Units in SolidWorks (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Change Units for a Single Part or Assembly

1. Open your part or assembly file.
   
   
2. Look in the bottom-right corner of the interface.
   
   
3. Click on the “Units” dropdown (e.g., MMGS, IPS).
   
   
4. Select the desired unit system:
   
   
   
   • MMGS – Millimeter, Gram, Second
     
     
   • IPS – Inch, Pound, Second
     
     
   • CGS – Centimeter, Gram, Second
     
     
   • MKS – Meter, Kilogram, Second
     
     
   • Custom – Manually define units
     
     

This change affects only the active document.

Step 2: Set Default Units for All New Documents

To avoid changing units manually each time:

1. Go to Tools > Options > Document Properties.
   
   
2. Click on Units in the left panel.
   
   
3. Choose your preferred unit system.
   
   
4. Save this setting into your document template:
   
   
   
   • Click File > Save As > Select Part Template (.prtdot), Assembly Template (.asmdot), or Drawing Template (*.drwdot).
     
     
   • Place the file in your templates folder.
     
     

This ensures consistent units for all future files created from your template.

Step 3: Use Cloud PDM to Standardize Units Across Teams

If your team uses a cloud-based Product Data Management (PDM) solution, you can ensure unit consistency across projects and teams. Cloud PDM allows you to:

• Share standardized templates with predefined units
  
  
• Control versioning, so no one works on outdated models with incorrect units
  
  
• Avoid errors when collaborating across regions with different default measurement systems
  
  

By combining SolidWorks with a cloud PDM like Sibe.io, teams can maintain design accuracy and avoid time-consuming unit mismatches during handoffs or reviews.

Final Tip

Before exporting or sharing files (e.g., STEP, IGES), always double-check the units to prevent confusion or downstream errors in manufacturing or simulation.

Summary: Changing units in SolidWorks is simple but crucial. Whether you’re switching for a single project or standardizing across teams with cloud PDM, taking a moment to configure units properly ensures smoother workflows and better results.

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