diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 4d6adc9ab1..d90dd6ae77 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 - The mapInteractor cancelOnMove option can now take a movement threshold (#1058)
 - GCS can now be specified in pointSearch, boxSearch, and polygonSearch (#1051)
 - Added a track feature (#1040)
+- Added a geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit utility function (#1048)
 
 ## Version 0.19.8
 
diff --git a/examples/measure/main.js b/examples/measure/main.js
index d6701006ee..7399bbd3cc 100644
--- a/examples/measure/main.js
+++ b/examples/measure/main.js
@@ -49,36 +49,6 @@ geo.osmLayer.tileSources['false'] = {
   url: '/data/white.jpg',
   attribution: ''
 };
-// Define a decimal miles unit
-geo.gui.scaleWidget.unitsTable['decmiles'] = [
-  {unit: 'mi', scale: 1609.344}
-];
-// Define area units
-var areaUnitsTable = {
-  si: [
-    {unit: 'nm\xB2', scale: 1e-18},
-    {unit: '\u03BCm\xB2', scale: 1e-12},
-    {unit: 'mm\xB2', scale: 1e-6},
-    {unit: 'm\xB2', scale: 1},
-    {unit: 'km\xB2', scale: 1e6}
-  ],
-  hectares: [
-    {unit: 'ha', scale: 1e4}
-  ],
-  decmiles: [
-    {unit: 'mi\xB2', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344}
-  ],
-  miles: [
-    {unit: 'in\xB2', scale: 0.0254 * 0.0254},
-    {unit: 'ft\xB2', scale: 0.3048 * 0.3048},
-    {unit: 'mi\xB2', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344}
-  ],
-  acres: [
-    {unit: 'pl', scale: 0.3048 * 0.3048 * 16.5 * 16.5},
-    {unit: 'rd', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344 / 640 / 4},
-    {unit: 'ac', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344 / 640}
-  ]
-};
 
 var map, mapLayer, layer, fromButtonSelect, fromGeojsonUpdate;
 
@@ -418,47 +388,6 @@ function annotationArea(annotation) {
   return Math.abs(area);
 }
 
-/**
- * Format a unit with at least three siginfiicant figures.
- *
- * @param {number} val The value.  A valance or area in base units.
- * @param {string} unit The name of the unit system.
- * @param {object[]} [table] The table of the unit system.
- * @returns {string} A formatted string or `undefined`.
- */
-function formatUnit(val, unit, table) {
-  if (val === undefined || val === null) {
-    return;
-  }
-  table = table || geo.gui.scaleWidget.unitsTable;
-  if (!table || !table[unit]) {
-    return;
-  }
-  unit = table[unit];
-  let pos;
-  for (pos = 0; pos < unit.length - 1; pos += 1) {
-    if (val < unit[pos + 1].scale) {
-      break;
-    }
-  }
-  unit = unit[pos];
-  val /= unit.scale;
-  let digits = Math.max(0, -Math.ceil(Math.log10(val)) + 3);
-  if (digits > 10) {
-    return;
-  }
-  let result = val.toFixed(digits);
-  if (digits) {
-    while (result.substr(result.length - 1) === '0') {
-      result = result.substr(0, result.length - 1);
-    }
-    if (result.substr(result.length - 1) === '.') {
-      result = result.substr(0, result.length - 1);
-    }
-  }
-  return result + ' ' + unit.unit;
-}
-
 /**
  * Add the units to the name of the annotation if appropriate.
  *
@@ -477,11 +406,11 @@ function modifyAnnotation(annotation) {
         area = annotationArea(annotation);
     var result = s_labelRecord();
     if (result) {
-      dist = formatUnit(dist, query.distunit || 'decmiles');
+      dist = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(dist, query.distunit || 'decmiles');
       if (dist) {
         result.text += ' - ' + dist;
       }
-      area = formatUnit(area, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', areaUnitsTable);
+      area = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(area, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', geo.gui.scaleWidget.areaUnitsTable);
       if (area) {
         result.text += ' - ' + area;
       }
@@ -527,20 +456,20 @@ function labelVertices(annotation, annotationIndex, labels) {
   pts.forEach((p, i) => {
     if (i) {
       labels.push({
-        text: formatUnit(tally[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
+        text: geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(tally[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
         position: p,
         style: Object.assign({}, style, {offset: {x: 12, y: 0}, textAlign: 'left'})
       });
     }
     if (i !== pts.length - 1) {
       labels.push({
-        text: formatUnit(tally[tally.length - 1] - tally[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
+        text: geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(tally[tally.length - 1] - tally[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
         position: p,
         style: Object.assign({}, style, {offset: {x: -12, y: 0}, textAlign: 'right'})
       });
       let p1 = {x: (pts[i + 1].x + p.x) / 2, y: (pts[i + 1].y + p.y) / 2};
       labels.push({
-        text: formatUnit(dist[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
+        text: geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(dist[i], query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '',
         position: p1,
         style: Object.assign({}, style, {offset: {x: 10, y: 0}, textAlign: 'left'})
       });
@@ -582,8 +511,8 @@ function handleAnnotationChange(evt) {
         area = annotationArea(annotation);
     if (dist) { totaldist += dist; }
     if (area) { totalarea += area; }
-    dist = formatUnit(dist, query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '';
-    area = formatUnit(area, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', areaUnitsTable);
+    dist = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(dist, query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '';
+    area = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(area, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', geo.gui.scaleWidget.areaUnitsTable);
     if (area) {
       dist = (dist ? dist + ' - ' : '') + area;
     }
@@ -603,8 +532,8 @@ function handleAnnotationChange(evt) {
     entry.find('.entry-dist').text(dist);
     $('#annotationlist').append(entry);
   });
-  let dist = formatUnit(totaldist || undefined, query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '';
-  let area = formatUnit(totalarea || undefined, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', areaUnitsTable);
+  let dist = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(totaldist || undefined, query.distunit || 'decmiles') || '';
+  let area = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit(totalarea || undefined, query.areaunit || 'decmiles', geo.gui.scaleWidget.areaUnitsTable);
   if (area) {
     dist = (dist ? dist + ' - ' : '') + area;
   }
diff --git a/src/ui/scaleWidget.js b/src/ui/scaleWidget.js
index 01a0f791aa..686029c594 100644
--- a/src/ui/scaleWidget.js
+++ b/src/ui/scaleWidget.js
@@ -52,6 +52,24 @@ require('./scaleWidget.styl');
  *   `mutliple`.
  */
 
+/**
+ * For a unit table, the records are ordered smallest scale to largest scale.
+ * The smallest unit can be repeated to have different rounding behavior for
+ * values less than 1 and values greater than or equal to 1.
+ *
+ * @typedef {object} geo.gui.scaleWidget.unitTableRecord
+ * @property {string} unit The display name of the unit.
+ * @property {number} scale The size of the unit in base unit.
+ * @property {number} [basis=10] The number of units in the next greater unit
+ *    if not a power of 10.
+ * @property {object[]} [multiples] A list of multiplier values to round to
+ *    when rounding is used.  The list should probably include a multiple of 1.
+ *    Default is 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, 8.
+ * @property {number} multiples.multiple A factor to round to.
+ * @property {number} multiples.digit The number of digits to preserve when
+ *    rounding.
+ */
+
 /**
  * Create a new instance of class geo.gui.scaleWidget.
  *
@@ -314,12 +332,21 @@ var scaleWidget = function (arg) {
 
 inherit(scaleWidget, svgWidget);
 
-/* The unitsTable has predefined unit sets.  Each entry is an array that must
- * be in ascending order. */
+/**
+ * The unitsTable has predefined unit sets for a base unit of one meter.  Each
+ * entry is an array that must be in ascending order.  Use unicode in strings,
+ * not html entities.  It makes it more reusable.
+ * @name unitsTable
+ * @property unitsTable {object} The key names are the names of unit systems,
+ *    such as `si`.
+ * @property unitsTable.unit {geo.gui.scaleWidget.unitTableRecord[]} A list of
+ *    units within the unit system from smallest to largest.
+ * @memberof geo.gui.scaleWidget
+ */
 scaleWidget.unitsTable = {
   si: [
     {unit: 'nm', scale: 1e-9},
-    {unit: '&mu;m', scale: 1e-6},
+    {unit: '\u03BCm', scale: 1e-6},
     {unit: 'mm', scale: 0.001},
     {unit: 'm', scale: 1},
     {unit: 'km', scale: 1000}
@@ -346,8 +373,98 @@ scaleWidget.unitsTable = {
     },
     {unit: 'ft', scale: 0.3048},
     {unit: 'mi', scale: 1609.344}
+  ],
+  decmiles: [ // decimal miles
+    {unit: 'mi', scale: 1609.344}
+  ]
+};
+
+/**
+ * The areaUnitsTable has predefined unit sets for a base unit of one square
+ * meter.  Each entry is an array that must be in ascending order.  This table
+ * can be passed to formatUnit.
+ * @name areaUnitsTable
+ * @property areaUnitsTable {object} The key names are the names of unit
+ *    systems, such as `si`.
+ * @property areaUnitsTable.unit {geo.gui.scaleWidget.unitTableRecord[]} A list
+ *    of units within the unit system from smallest to largest.
+ * @memberof geo.gui.scaleWidget
+ */
+scaleWidget.areaUnitsTable = {
+  si: [
+    {unit: 'nm\xB2', scale: 1e-18},
+    {unit: '\u03BCm\xB2', scale: 1e-12},
+    {unit: 'mm\xB2', scale: 1e-6},
+    {unit: 'm\xB2', scale: 1},
+    {unit: 'km\xB2', scale: 1e6}
+  ],
+  hectares: [
+    {unit: 'ha', scale: 1e4}
+  ],
+  decmiles: [ // decimal square miles
+    {unit: 'mi\xB2', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344}
+  ],
+  miles: [
+    {unit: 'in\xB2', scale: 0.0254 * 0.0254},
+    {unit: 'ft\xB2', scale: 0.3048 * 0.3048},
+    {unit: 'mi\xB2', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344}
+  ],
+  acres: [
+    {unit: 'pl', scale: 0.3048 * 0.3048 * 16.5 * 16.5},
+    {unit: 'rd', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344 / 640 / 4},
+    {unit: 'ac', scale: 1609.344 * 1609.344 / 640}
   ]
 };
 
+/**
+ * Format a unit with a specified number of significant figures.  Given a value
+ * in base units, such as meters, this will return a string with appropriate
+ * units.  For instance, `formatUnit(0.345)` will return `345 mm`.
+ *
+ * @param {number} val The value.  A length or area in base units.  With the
+ *    default unit table, this is in meters.  With the `areaUnitsTable`, this
+ *    is square meters.
+ * @param {string|object[]} [unit='si'] The name of the unit system or a unit
+ *    table.
+ * @param {object} [table=unitTable] The table of the unit system.  Ignored if
+ *    `unit` is a unit table.
+ * @param {number} [digits=3] The minimum number of significant figures.
+ * @returns {string} A formatted string or `undefined`.
+ */
+scaleWidget.formatUnit = function (val, unit, table, digits) {
+  if (val === undefined || val === null) {
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!Array.isArray(unit)) {
+    table = table || scaleWidget.unitsTable;
+    if (!table || !table[unit || 'si']) {
+      return;
+    }
+    unit = table[unit || 'si'];
+  }
+  let pos;
+  for (pos = 0; pos < unit.length - 1; pos += 1) {
+    if (val < unit[pos + 1].scale) {
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  unit = unit[pos];
+  val /= unit.scale;
+  digits = Math.max(0, -Math.ceil(Math.log10(val)) + (digits === undefined || digits < 0 ? 3 : digits));
+  if (digits > 10) {
+    return;
+  }
+  let result = val.toFixed(digits);
+  if (digits) {
+    while (result.substr(result.length - 1) === '0') {
+      result = result.substr(0, result.length - 1);
+    }
+    if (result.substr(result.length - 1) === '.') {
+      result = result.substr(0, result.length - 1);
+    }
+  }
+  return result + ' ' + unit.unit;
+};
+
 registerWidget('dom', 'scale', scaleWidget);
 module.exports = scaleWidget;
diff --git a/src/util/color.js b/src/util/color.js
index 6ca6653d83..ba9c2789c3 100644
--- a/src/util/color.js
+++ b/src/util/color.js
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ var colorUtils = {
  * standard, `rgb` and `rgba` are aliases of each other, as are `hsl` and
  * `hsla`.
  * @name cssColorConversions
- * @property cssColorConversions
+ * @property cssColorConversions {geo.util.cssColorConversionRecord[]}
  * @memberof geo.util
  */
 colorUtils.cssColorConversions = [{
diff --git a/tests/cases/scaleWidget.js b/tests/cases/scaleWidget.js
index c1c15a6442..5e36cca742 100644
--- a/tests/cases/scaleWidget.js
+++ b/tests/cases/scaleWidget.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ describe('geo.gui.scaleWidget', function () {
       expect(result.pixels).toBe(150);
       result = widget._scaleValue(1.6e-5, 200);
       expect(result.value).toBe(1.5e-5);
-      expect(result.html).toBe('15 &mu;m');
+      expect(result.html).toBe('15 \u03BCm');
       expect(widget._scaleValue(1, 200, 'miles').html).toBe('3 ft');
       expect(widget._scaleValue(0.2, 200, 'miles').html).toBe('6 in');
       expect(widget._scaleValue(0.01, 200, 'miles').html).toBe('0.3 in');
@@ -132,4 +132,28 @@ describe('geo.gui.scaleWidget', function () {
       expect(widget.options('orientation')).toBe('right');
     });
   });
+
+  describe('Check class utility methods', function () {
+    it('formatUnit', function () {
+      var formatUnit = geo.gui.scaleWidget.formatUnit,
+          areaUnitsTable = geo.gui.scaleWidget.areaUnitsTable;
+      expect(formatUnit(3, 'si')).toBe('3 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(3e-4, 'si')).toBe('300 \u03BCm');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'si')).toBe('3.46 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567)).toBe('3.46 m');
+      expect(formatUnit('3.4567', 'si')).toBe('3.46 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'si', undefined, 2)).toBe('3.5 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'si', undefined, 0)).toBe('3 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'si', undefined, -2)).toBe('3.46 m');
+      expect(formatUnit(34567, 'si')).toBe('34.6 km');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'si', areaUnitsTable)).toBe('3.46 m\xB2');
+      expect(formatUnit(null, 'si')).toBe(undefined);
+      expect(formatUnit(3e-100, 'si')).toBe(undefined);
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'nosuchunits')).toBe(undefined);
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567, 'miles')).toBe('11.3 ft');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567e-3, 'miles')).toBe('0.136 in');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567e3, 'miles')).toBe('2.15 mi');
+      expect(formatUnit(3.4567e3, [{unit: 'NM', scale: 1852}])).toBe('1.87 NM');
+    });
+  });
 });