diff --git a/crates/prc/src/lib.rs b/crates/prc/src/lib.rs
index d594e74065..513b28a683 100644
--- a/crates/prc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/prc/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ pub use error::PrcError;
 pub use geometry::Matrix;
 pub use schema::Schema;
 pub use tess::{Tessellation, TriangleMesh, TriangleStyle};
-pub use tree::{EntityOverrides, MAX_PLACEMENTS, ModelNode, NameSource, Placement, Rgba, StyleAlpha};
+pub use tree::{EntityOverrides, MAX_PLACEMENTS, ModelNode, ModelUnits, NameSource, Placement, Rgba, StyleAlpha};
diff --git a/crates/prc/src/tree/mod.rs b/crates/prc/src/tree/mod.rs
index 3ed9d8eb20..db2d5352c8 100644
--- a/crates/prc/src/tree/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/prc/src/tree/mod.rs
@@ -221,6 +221,20 @@ struct Tree {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 struct ModelFile {
     roots: Vec<(UniqueId, u32)>,
+    units_in_mm: f64,
+    units_from_cad_file: bool,
+}
+
+/// The unit a PRC model's coordinates are in, from its model file [WD 7.3.3].
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq)]
+#[non_exhaustive]
+pub struct ModelUnits {
+    /// Millimetres per model unit: 1 for millimetres, 25.4 for inches.
+    pub mm_per_unit: f64,
+    /// The file says the unit is the CAD system's own. When `false` it is the exporter's
+    /// default and may not be the model's real scale, so a measurement should say the unit
+    /// is assumed.
+    pub from_cad_file: bool,
 }
 
 impl PrcFile {
@@ -270,6 +284,22 @@ impl PrcFile {
         self.model_file.iter().any(|&b| b != 0)
     }
 
+    /// The unit the model's coordinates are in. `None` when the file stores no tree
+    /// ([`Self::stores_tree`]) or the stored unit is not a positive finite number.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// [`PrcError::Malformed`] or a read error when the model file is stored but does not read.
+    pub fn units(&self) -> Result<Option<ModelUnits>, PrcError> {
+        if !self.stores_tree() {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
+        let mut r = BitReader::with_budget(&self.model_file, Budget::FULL);
+        let schema = Schema::read(&mut r)?;
+        let model = Ctx::new(r, &schema, self.header.authoring_version).model_file()?;
+        let mm = model.units_in_mm;
+        Ok((mm.is_finite() && mm > 0.0).then_some(ModelUnits { mm_per_unit: mm, from_cad_file: model.units_from_cad_file }))
+    }
+
     fn walk(&self, rule: StyleAlpha, scope: EntityOverrides) -> Result<(Vec<Placement>, Vec<ModelNode>), PrcError> {
         self.walk_within(rule, scope, Budget::FULL)
     }
diff --git a/crates/prc/src/tree/read.rs b/crates/prc/src/tree/read.rs
index ff3affaeee..f3361dfeef 100644
--- a/crates/prc/src/tree/read.rs
+++ b/crates/prc/src/tree/read.rs
@@ -437,8 +437,8 @@ impl Ctx<'_, '_> {
     pub(super) fn model_file(&mut self) -> Result<ModelFile, PrcError> {
         self.expect_type(MODEL_FILE)?;
         self.content_prc_base()?;
-        self.r.bit()?; // units_from_cad_file
-        self.r.double()?; // units_in_mm
+        let units_from_cad_file = self.r.bit()?;
+        let units_in_mm = self.r.double()?;
         let n = self.count(6, "root occurrences")?;
         let mut roots = Vec::with_capacity(n);
         for _ in 0..n {
@@ -447,6 +447,6 @@ impl Ctx<'_, '_> {
             self.r.bit()?; // is_active
             roots.push((id, index));
         }
-        Ok(ModelFile { roots })
+        Ok(ModelFile { roots, units_in_mm, units_from_cad_file })
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/prc/src/tree/tests.rs b/crates/prc/src/tree/tests.rs
index a2264588bd..fe9c72aa55 100644
--- a/crates/prc/src/tree/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/prc/src/tree/tests.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::bits::{BitReader, Budget};
 use crate::entity::Ctx;
 use crate::tess::tests::two_face_square;
 use crate::testw::W;
-use crate::{PrcError, PrcFile, Rgba, Schema, Tessellation, TriangleMesh, UniqueId};
+use crate::{ModelUnits, PrcError, PrcFile, Rgba, Schema, Tessellation, TriangleMesh, UniqueId};
 
 const RED: Rgba = Rgba { r: 1., g: 0., b: 0., a: 1. };
 const GREEN: Rgba = Rgba { r: 0., g: 1., b: 0., a: 1. };
@@ -274,10 +274,15 @@ fn ref_faces(brep: (u32, u32), faces: &[u32], g: (u32, u16)) -> W {
 
 /// A model file (schema included) whose roots are `(file structure, biased occurrence)`.
 fn model(roots: &[(usize, u32)]) -> W {
+    model_in(roots, false, 1.)
+}
+
+/// [`model`] with its unit: whether it is the CAD file's, and millimetres per unit.
+fn model_in(roots: &[(usize, u32)], from_cad_file: bool, units_in_mm: f64) -> W {
     let mut w = W::default();
     w.uint(0).uint(301);
     base(&mut w, None);
-    w.bit(false).double(1.).uint(len(roots.len()));
+    w.bit(from_cad_file).double(units_in_mm).uint(len(roots.len()));
     for &(fs, index) in roots {
         for v in fs_id(fs).0 {
             w.uint(v);
@@ -391,6 +396,22 @@ fn a_parsed_assembly_places_names_and_colours_each_occurrence() {
     );
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn the_model_file_gives_the_unit_and_whether_it_is_assumed() {
+    let fs = || Fs { globals: palette(), tree: tree(&[plate(S_RED)], &[Occ::default()]), tess: two_face_square() };
+    let units = |model: W| PrcFile::parse(&prc(&[fs()], &model)).unwrap().units();
+    let unit = |mm_per_unit, from_cad_file| Some(ModelUnits { mm_per_unit, from_cad_file });
+    assert_eq!(units(model(&[(0, 1)])).unwrap(), unit(1., false));
+    assert_eq!(units(model_in(&[(0, 1)], true, 25.4)).unwrap(), unit(25.4, true));
+    for bad in [0., -1., f64::NAN, f64::INFINITY] {
+        assert_eq!(units(model_in(&[(0, 1)], true, bad)).unwrap(), None, "{bad}");
+    }
+    assert_eq!(units(W::default()).unwrap(), None);
+    let mut not_a_model = W::default();
+    not_a_model.uint(0).uint(302);
+    assert!(units(not_a_model).is_err());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn a_file_without_a_model_file_entity_has_no_tree() {
     let fs = Fs { globals: palette(), tree: tree(&[], &[]), tess: two_face_square() };