Length Converter
Convert between various length units including meters, kilometers, miles, yards, feet, inches and more
Common Length Conversions
1 meter = 3.28084 feet
To convert meters to feet, multiply the meter value by 3.28084.
Example: 5 meters = 5 × 3.28084 = 16.4042 feet
1 kilometer = 0.621371 miles
To convert kilometers to miles, multiply the kilometer value by 0.621371.
Example: 10 kilometers = 10 × 0.621371 = 6.21371 miles
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the inch value by 2.54.
Example: 12 inches = 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 centimeters
Length Conversion Reference Table
| Unit | Meters (m) | Kilometers (km) | Centimeters (cm) | Millimeters (mm) | Miles (mi) | Yards (yd) | Feet (ft) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Meter | 1 | 0.001 | 100 | 1000 | 0.000621 | 1.09361 | 3.28084 | 39.3701 |
| 1 Kilometer | 1000 | 1 | 100000 | 1000000 | 0.621371 | 1093.61 | 3280.84 | 39370.1 |
| 1 Centimeter | 0.01 | 0.00001 | 1 | 10 | 0.00000621 | 0.0109361 | 0.0328084 | 0.393701 |
| 1 Millimeter | 0.001 | 0.000001 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.000000621 | 0.00109361 | 0.00328084 | 0.0393701 |
| 1 Mile | 1609.34 | 1.60934 | 160934 | 1609340 | 1 | 1760 | 5280 | 63360 |
| 1 Yard | 0.9144 | 0.0009144 | 91.44 | 914.4 | 0.000568182 | 1 | 3 | 36 |
| 1 Foot | 0.3048 | 0.0003048 | 30.48 | 304.8 | 0.000189394 | 0.333333 | 1 | 12 |
| 1 Inch | 0.0254 | 0.0000254 | 2.54 | 25.4 | 0.0000157828 | 0.0277778 | 0.0833333 | 1 |
About Length Units
The metric system uses units based on powers of 10, making conversions straightforward:
- Kilometer (km): 1,000 meters, used for long distances like road measurements.
- Meter (m): The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI).
- Centimeter (cm): 1/100 of a meter, often used for everyday measurements.
- Millimeter (mm): 1/1,000 of a meter, used for precise measurements.
- Micrometer (μm): 1/1,000,000 of a meter, used in scientific and industrial contexts.
- Nanometer (nm): 1/1,000,000,000 of a meter, used in molecular and atomic measurements.
The imperial and US customary systems use:
- Mile (mi): 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards, used for long distances.
- Yard (yd): 3 feet or 36 inches, used in fabric measurements and sports.
- Foot (ft): 12 inches, commonly used in construction and height measurements.
- Inch (in): The smallest commonly used unit in these systems, often for small object measurements.
Nautical measurements use specific units for maritime navigation:
- Nautical Mile: Approximately 1,852 meters or 1.15078 statute miles. Based on one minute of latitude, used in maritime and aviation contexts.
- Fathom: 6 feet or 1.8288 meters, traditionally used for measuring water depth.
- Cable: 1/10 of a nautical mile or about 185.2 meters, used in nautical contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 1,000 meters in a kilometer. The prefix "kilo" means 1,000 in the metric system.
The metric system is based on powers of 10, making conversions straightforward (e.g., 1 meter = 100 centimeters = 1,000 millimeters). The imperial system uses diverse conversion factors (e.g., 1 mile = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet = 63,360 inches). The metric system is used worldwide, while the imperial system is mainly used in the United States and, to some extent, in the United Kingdom.
There are 12 inches in a foot. This is a standard conversion in the imperial and US customary measurement systems.
A nautical mile is a unit of measurement used in maritime and aviation contexts. It equals 1,852 meters (approximately 1.15078 statute miles). Unlike a regular mile (also called a statute mile), which is 5,280 feet or 1,609.34 meters, a nautical mile is based on the circumference of the Earth, specifically one minute of latitude. This makes it particularly useful for navigation, as distances on nautical charts can be measured directly related to positions of latitude.
Almost all countries in the world officially use the metric system. The United States is the only industrialized country that still primarily uses the imperial system (also called US customary units) for everyday measurements. The United Kingdom uses a mix of both systems, though they officially adopted the metric system, imperial units are still commonly used in certain contexts such as road distances (miles) and beer (pints).