Length Converter
Convert between metric and imperial length units — meters, feet, miles, kilometers, inches, and more
Unit Converter
Support fast conversion of various units including length, area, volume, weight, temperature, etc.
Common Units
Common Unit Conversions
Quick reference for frequently used unit conversions
Length
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inches (in) | Centimeters (cm) | in × 2.54 | 1 in = 2.54 cm |
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) | ft × 0.3048 | 1 ft = 0.3048 m |
| Miles (mi) | Kilometers (km) | mi × 1.609 | 1 mi = 1.609 km |
| Meters (m) | Feet (ft) | m × 3.281 | 1 m = 3.281 ft |
| Kilometers (km) | Miles (mi) | km × 0.621 | 1 km = 0.621 mi |
Weight / Mass
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ounces (oz) | Grams (g) | oz × 28.35 | 1 oz = 28.35 g |
| Pounds (lb) | Kilograms (kg) | lb × 0.454 | 1 lb = 0.454 kg |
| Kilograms (kg) | Pounds (lb) | kg × 2.205 | 1 kg = 2.205 lb |
| Tons (t) | Tonnes (t) | t × 0.907 | 1 t = 0.907 tonnes |
Volume
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fl oz (US) | Milliliters (ml) | fl oz × 29.574 | 1 fl oz = 29.574 ml |
| Cups (US) | Milliliters (ml) | cup × 236.588 | 1 cup = 236.588 ml |
| Pints (US) | Liters (L) | pt × 0.473 | 1 pt = 0.473 L |
| Gallons (US) | Liters (L) | gal × 3.785 | 1 gal = 3.785 L |
| Liters (L) | Gallons (US) | L × 0.264 | 1 L = 0.264 gal |
Temperature
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celsius (°C) | Fahrenheit (°F) | (°C × 9/5) + 32 | 0°C = 32°F |
| Fahrenheit (°F) | Celsius (°C) | (°F - 32) × 5/9 | 32°F = 0°C |
| Celsius (°C) | Kelvin (K) | °C + 273.15 | 0°C = 273.15 K |
| Kelvin (K) | Celsius (°C) | K - 273.15 | 273.15 K = 0°C |
Area
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sq feet (ft²) | Sq meters (m²) | ft² × 0.0929 | 1 ft² = 0.0929 m² |
| Sq meters (m²) | Sq feet (ft²) | m² × 10.764 | 1 m² = 10.764 ft² |
| Acres | Hectares (ha) | acre × 0.405 | 1 acre = 0.405 ha |
| Hectares (ha) | Acres | ha × 2.471 | 1 ha = 2.471 acres |
Speed
| From | To | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPH | KM/H | mph × 1.609 | 1 mph = 1.609 km/h |
| KM/H | MPH | km/h × 0.621 | 1 km/h = 0.621 mph |
| Knots | MPH | knots × 1.151 | 1 knot = 1.151 mph |
| M/S | KM/H | m/s × 3.6 | 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h |
Note: These are commonly used conversions with approximate values rounded for practical use. For precise conversions, use the calculator tool above.
Unit Conversion Reference Table
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What is Length Conversion?
Length conversion is the process of translating a distance measurement from one unit to another — for example, turning meters into feet, or miles into kilometers. It sounds simple, but the world runs on two parallel systems that don’t share a base, which is why a converter is essential.
The metric system (meters, kilometers, centimeters) is built in powers of ten — every unit relates to the meter by a factor of 10. It’s used by nearly every country and in all scientific work. The imperial system (inches, feet, miles, yards) uses irregular ratios (12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard, 1760 yards = 1 mile) and is still the everyday system in the United States.
Because these systems evolved separately, there is no round-number relationship between them. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters, one foot is 0.3048 meters, and one mile is 1.609 kilometers. Memorizing every ratio is impractical, which is why a reliable converter matters for travel, engineering, construction, and science.
How to Convert Length Units
Every length unit has a conversion rate relative to a base unit (the meter). To convert any value:
result = value × (fromUnit rate) ÷ (toUnit rate)
Example — convert 5 miles to kilometers:
5 mi = 5 × 1609.344 ÷ 1000 = 8.047 km
Example — convert 100 inches to centimeters:
100 in = 100 × 0.0254 ÷ 0.01 = 254 cm
Key tip: The converter above handles all the rate math automatically — just pick your two units and enter a value. Temperature is the one exception (it uses formulas, not rates, because zero points differ).
Common Length Conversions
| From | To | Multiply by |
|---|---|---|
| Inch (in) | Centimeter (cm) | 2.54 |
| Foot (ft) | Meter (m) | 0.3048 |
| Yard (yd) | Meter (m) | 0.9144 |
| Mile (mi) | Kilometer (km) | 1.609 |
| Kilometer (km) | Mile (mi) | 0.621 |
| Nautical mile (nmi) | Kilometer (km) | 1.852 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many centimeters are in an inch?
There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in one inch. This conversion is exact by international agreement since 1959, so 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 foot = 30.48 cm, and 1 yard = 0.9144 meter. To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the inch value by 2.54.
How do I convert feet to meters?
Multiply the number of feet by 0.3048 to get meters. For example, 6 feet = 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288 meters. To go the other way, multiply meters by 3.281 (since 1 meter ≈ 3.281 feet). A quick mental approximation: 1 meter is roughly 3 feet 3 inches.
Why is a nautical mile longer than a regular mile?
A nautical mile (1.852 km) is based on the Earth’s circumference — it equals one minute of latitude, which makes it useful for navigation and aviation. A statute mile (1.609 km) is a land unit originating from the Roman Empire. Because they measure different things (navigation vs. land distance), the nautical mile is about 15% longer.
How many kilometers are in a mile?
One mile equals 1.609344 kilometers. To convert miles to kilometers, multiply by 1.609. To convert kilometers to miles, multiply by 0.621. A handy approximation for quick estimates: 5 miles ≈ 8 km, so a 50 mph speed limit is about 80 km/h.
Which countries use the metric system vs. the imperial system?
The metric system (meters, kilometers) is used by nearly every country in the world. The imperial system (feet, miles) is the official system in only three countries: the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. The United Kingdom uses a mix — miles for road distances, but meters and kilograms for most other measurements.