Which is longer, a mile or a kilometer?

A mile is longer than a kilometer. One mile equals approximately 1.60934 kilometers. Conversely, one kilometer equals approximately 0.621371 miles.

What is the difference between metric and imperial length units?

The metric system (meters, kilometers, centimeters) is based on powers of 10 and used globally in science and most countries. The imperial system (feet, inches, miles, yards) is primarily used in the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar for everyday measurements.

How many inches are in a foot?

There are exactly 12 inches in 1 foot. This has been the standard definition since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959.

Length Converter Online 2026 | Meters, Feet, Inches, Km, Miles

Q: How many feet are in a meter?

There are exactly 3.28084 feet in 1 meter. This conversion factor is derived from the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which defined the yard as exactly 0.9144 meters.

Q: How do I convert kilometers to miles?

To convert kilometers to miles, multiply the kilometer value by 0.621371. For example, 10 km × 0.621371 = 6.21371 miles. Alternatively, divide kilometers by 1.60934.

What is a Length Converter?

A length converter is a tool that transforms measurements from one unit of length to another. Length, also called distance, is a fundamental physical quantity that measures the one-dimensional extent of an object or the distance between two points.

This converter supports both metric units (meters, kilometers, centimeters, millimeters) and imperial units (feet, inches, miles, yards), allowing seamless conversion between the two systems used across different countries and industries.

How Does Length Conversion Work?

Length conversion uses fixed ratios between units. The process involves:

Convert to base unit: First, the input value is converted to meters (the SI base unit for length).
Convert to target unit: The meter value is then converted to the desired output unit.
Apply conversion factor: Each unit has a defined relationship to the meter, ensuring accurate conversion.

Conversion Formulas

All length conversions use the meter as the base unit. Here are the exact conversion factors defined by international standards:

Metric Units (SI):
1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters
1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters

Imperial to Metric (exact by definition):
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (exactly)
1 foot = 0.3048 meters (12 inches)
1 yard = 0.9144 meters (3 feet)
1 mile = 1,609.344 meters (5,280 feet)
1 nautical mile = 1,852 meters (exactly)

Common Length Conversions

Here are the most frequently used conversion factors:

Meters to Feet: Multiply by 3.28084 (1 m = 3.28084 ft)
Feet to Meters: Multiply by 0.3048 (1 ft = 0.3048 m)
Kilometers to Miles: Multiply by 0.621371 (1 km = 0.621371 mi)
Miles to Kilometers: Multiply by 1.60934 (1 mi = 1.60934 km)
Inches to Centimeters: Multiply by 2.54 (1 in = 2.54 cm)
Centimeters to Inches: Divide by 2.54 (1 cm = 0.3937 in)

Benefits of Using This Converter

Instant results: Conversions happen in real-time as you type, with no need to click a button.
High precision: Results are calculated using exact conversion factors defined by international standards.
Comprehensive units: Supports 9 common length units covering both metric and imperial systems.
No installation required: Works directly in your browser with no app download needed.
Completely free: No registration, no ads interrupting your work, no hidden costs.

Metric vs Imperial System

The world uses two primary measurement systems:

Metric System (SI): Used by most countries worldwide and in all scientific work. Based on powers of 10, making calculations straightforward. The meter is the base unit, defined since 1983 as the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

Imperial System: Used primarily in the United States for everyday measurements. Also used in the UK for road distances and some informal measurements. Based on historical units that were standardized in 1959 to be defined in terms of metric units.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many feet are in a meter?

There are exactly 3.28084 feet in 1 meter. This comes from the definition that 1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters, so 1 ÷ 0.3048 = 3.28084 feet per meter.

How do I convert kilometers to miles?

Multiply the kilometer value by 0.621371 to get miles. For quick mental math, you can use the approximation that 8 km ≈ 5 miles, or simply multiply km by 0.6 for a rough estimate.

Is a kilometer longer than a mile?

No, a mile is longer. One mile equals approximately 1.609 kilometers. Think of it this way: if you run a 5K race, you're running about 3.1 miles.

Why is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?

This was established by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959, which defined the inch as exactly 2.54 centimeters. This made inch-to-metric conversions exact rather than approximate.

How accurate is this converter?

This converter uses the exact conversion factors defined by international standards (NIST, BIPM). Results are accurate to at least 6 decimal places, suitable for most practical applications.

What is a nautical mile?

A nautical mile equals exactly 1,852 meters (about 1.151 statute miles). It's used in aviation and marine navigation because it corresponds to one minute of latitude, making navigation calculations easier.