Length Unit Converter
Convert between metric and imperial length units instantly. Enter a value, select the unit, and see all conversions at once.
Value & Unit
Conversions
Convert between metric and imperial length units instantly. Enter a value, select the unit, and see all conversions at once.
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| kilometers (km) | miles (mi) | 0.621371 |
| miles (mi) | kilometers (km) | 1.609344 |
| meters (m) | feet (ft) | 3.28084 |
| feet (ft) | meters (m) | 0.3048 |
| centimeters (cm) | inches (in) | 0.393701 |
| inches (in) | centimeters (cm) | 2.54 |
| meters (m) | yards (yd) | 1.09361 |
| yards (yd) | meters (m) | 0.9144 |
The metric system is based on the meter (m), the SI base unit of length. All other metric units are powers of 10 of the meter: a kilometer is 1,000 meters, a centimeter is 1/100 of a meter, a millimeter is 1/1,000 of a meter. Micrometers (μm, 10−6 m) and nanometers (nm, 10−9 m) are used in science, electronics, and nanotechnology.
The imperial system uses the inch, foot, yard, and mile as its main length units. The relationships are: 12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard, 1,760 yards = 1 mile. The inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm.
The nautical mile (nmi) equals exactly 1,852 meters. It is used in maritime and air navigation because one nautical mile corresponds to one arcminute of latitude on the Earth's surface, which simplifies navigation calculations.
The ångström (Å) equals 10−10 meters (0.1 nm). It is used in atomic physics and crystallography to express atomic radii, bond lengths, and wavelengths of light. For example, visible light has wavelengths of approximately 4,000–7,000 Å.
One meter equals 3.28084 feet. To convert meters to feet, multiply by 3.28084. To go the other way, divide by 3.28084 (or multiply by 0.3048).
One mile equals exactly 1.609344 kilometers. A quick mental approximation: multiply miles by 1.6 to get a close estimate in km.
One inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters. This is an internationally defined exact value.
A nautical mile equals exactly 1,852 meters (≈ 1.151 statute miles). It is used in navigation because it corresponds to one arcminute of latitude, making chart calculations easier.
A meter (1 m) is slightly longer than a yard (0.9144 m). One meter ≈ 1.09361 yards. Both are commonly used in athletics — races are measured in meters internationally but in yards in some American sports.