Setting Up Units of Measure

To set up units of measure, first create a record for each units type you want to assign to your items. For example, you can create a units type named Length. Then, create units for the units type. Each unit type can have several units. For example, you can create units like Inch, Foot, and Yard for Length.

If you are creating a unit of measure for a statistical account, see Creating a Unit Type for a Statistical Account.

To create a unit type:

  1. Go to Lists > Accounting > Units of Measure > New.

  2. On the Units Type page, in the Type Name field, enter the name of the kind of unit you are creating.

    For example, you could name it Length.

  3. In the Name column, enter a name for the unit you want to create.

    For example, you could have a Length unit called Inch.

  4. In the Plural Name column, enter the plural name for the unit.

    For example, the plural for Inch is Inches.

  5. In the Abbreviation field, enter the abbreviation for the singular unit.

    For example, the abbreviation for Inches is in.

  6. In the Plural Abbreviation field, enter the abbreviation for the plural unit.

  7. Check the box in the Base Unit column if the unit you are entering is used to define the other units in this group.

    For example, inch is the base unit for the Length units Foot and Yard.

    Each units type must have a base unit and can have only one unit designated as the base.

  8. In the Conversion Rate field, enter the quantity of base units that equal one unit of the current line.

    When the Base Unit box is checked, the conversion rate for the unit is set and locked at one.

  9. Click Add.

  10. Repeat these steps for each unit you want to add to this type.

    Note:

    You can't create more than 650 units of the same type,

  11. Click Save.

    Now you can assign the units type to item records.

Note:

After you assign a units type to an item, you can't change the item's unit type. Also, after a units type is assigned to any item, you can only add more units. You can't edit the type itself.

After you mark and save a base unit, you can change it by clearing the Base Unit box on the current one and checking that box on the new base unit.

Next, assign a units type to an item to define quantities for purchasing, stocking, and selling the item. For example, when you assign the units type of Length to your inventory item cable, you can purchase the cable in yards. Then you can stock the cable in feet, and sell the cable in inches.

Important:

If you change the purchase unit on the item record, NetSuite automatically converts the prior standard cost in prior units to the new standard cost in new units when you save.

For example, the standard cost field is $1 per inch and you change the purchase unit to cm, the standard cost field changes to $1 x conversion units, or $0.39, when you save.

Related Topics

General Notices