The quick answer
Create a units type with millimeter as the base unit, then assign Meter as the item's purchase unit and Centimeter as its primary stock unit. A receipt for 2 meters is recorded as 200 centimeters on hand when the conversion rates are 1,000 millimeters per meter and 10 millimeters per centimeter.
The screenshots show sample data. Person and operating-company names are fictional. Use your own records and values when following the steps.
Before you start
Use a role that can create units types, inventory items, purchase orders, and item receipts. Confirm that the required subsidiary, vendor, inventory location, expense or inventory accounts, and an unused item name are available.
01. Check the units type form
Check Lists > Accounting > Units Of Measure for an existing type before creating another. On the new Units Type form, enter Metric Length and leave Inactive cleared. This example uses millimeters as its base unit.
02. Add the base unit
Enter Millimeter as the singular name, Millimeters as the plural name, and mm for both abbreviations. Mark Base Unit and use a conversion rate of 1. Add the row before entering the other units; every other rate must be relative to this base unit, not to the preceding row.
03. Review the conversion rows
Add Centimeter with rate 10, then Meter with rate 1000. Each rate is relative to the millimeter base. Click Add for each line and compare the committed rows before saving the units type.
04. Assign units to the inventory item
Choose Inventory Item from New Item and enter Cable in Item Name/Number. Select Metric Length, then set Primary Stock Unit to Centimeter, Primary Purchase Unit to Meter, and Primary Sale Unit to Centimeter; selecting a units type initially defaults the role fields to the base unit, so change them deliberately. Review the subsidiary and Portland Warehouse location, then save. The item starts with no on-hand stock.
05. Purchase in meters
Create a Purchase Order for the vendor and location. Add Cable, confirm Units is Meter, and enter Quantity 2 at Rate 12.00. Click Add, review the 24.00 line amount, and save.
06. Confirm that ordering did not receive stock
The saved purchase order is Pending Receipt, with Received 0 on the Cable line. An order commits the purchase; it does not add on-hand stock. Check the item’s stock before receiving if you need a before-and-after comparison.
07. Receive the purchase units
Select Receive from the purchase order. Verify Cable, the destination location, Quantity 2, and Units Meter, then save the Item Receipt for the goods received. This example uses Advanced Receiving, so vendor billing is a later step.
08. Review the saved item and converted stock
After the item and purchasing activity are completed, review Cable and inspect the Primary Stock Unit and the Portland Warehouse row. The replay shows Centimeter as the stock unit and Quantity On Hand and Quantity Available both displayed as 200. This displayed result is consistent with the configured rates and a received quantity of 2 meters: 2 × 1,000 ÷ 10 = 200 centimeters.
Check the result
- The units type has exactly one base unit, Millimeter, with a conversion rate of 1; Centimeter is 10 and Meter is 1,000 relative to that base.
- The Cable item shows Metric Length, Centimeter as Primary Stock Unit, Meter as Primary Purchase Unit, and Centimeter as Primary Sale Unit.
- The Portland Warehouse row displays Quantity On Hand of 200 and Quantity Available of 200 after the 2-meter receipt; a purchase order alone should not increase on-hand stock.
Common questions
Are conversion rates based on the previous unit or the base unit?
They are based on the single base unit, not the preceding row. For example, if millimeter is the base, enter centimeter as 10 and meter as 1,000; do not enter meter as 100 based on the centimeter row.
How can I buy in meters but track inventory in centimeters?
Create or select a units type, then assign it to the inventory item. Set Primary Purchase Unit to Meter and Primary Stock Unit to Centimeter; purchase transactions should then default to meters while inventory quantities are maintained in centimeters. Available fields and defaults depend on enabled features, item type, subsidiaries, and form configuration.
Why does receiving 2 meters show 200 centimeters on hand?
NetSuite converts the receipt to the item’s primary stock unit: 2 × 1,000 ÷ 10 = 200 centimeters. The purchase rate remains per meter, so 2 × USD 12 produces a USD 24 line amount; pricing, costing, rounding, and displayed quantities can vary with account settings.
Does creating a units type automatically assign it to an item?
No. A units type only defines the valid units and conversion rates. Select it on the item and configure the stock, purchase, and sale units—preferably before saving a new item, because changing the units type on an existing item may not be supported in the account.