About the Length Converter
This length converter changes a distance from one unit to another: miles to kilometers, feet to meters, inches to centimeters and so on. It covers metric units (micrometers, millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers), US and imperial units (inches, feet, yards, miles), nautical miles and even light-years.
Type a value, pick the units, and the answer appears with the conversion factor shown. A table underneath lists the same length in every unit, so one entry answers several questions.
How to use it
- Type the number in Value.
- Choose the unit you have in From.
- Choose the unit you want in To. Use the swap button to reverse the direction.
- Read the answer, or scan the table to see the value in every unit.
Conversion formula
Every unit is stored as an exact number of meters. To convert, the value is turned into meters and then into the target unit:
result = value × (meters per From unit) ÷ (meters per To unit)
- 1 inch = 0.0254 m (2.54 cm) exactly
- 1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 m exactly
- 1 yard = 3 feet = 0.9144 m exactly
- 1 mile = 5,280 feet = 1,609.344 m exactly
- 1 nautical mile = 1,852 m exactly
- 1 light-year = 9,460,730,472,580.8 km (the distance light travels in a Julian year of 365.25 days)
The inch, foot, yard and mile have been defined from the meter since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which is why these factors are exact rather than measured.
Common length conversions
| From | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 2.54 cm |
| 1 foot | 30.48 cm |
| 1 yard | 0.9144 m |
| 1 mile | 1.609344 km |
| 1 meter | 3.28084 ft (39.3701 in) |
| 1 kilometer | 0.621371 mi |
| 1 nautical mile | 1.150779 mi |
For a quick estimate, a kilometer is about five-eighths of a mile, and a meter is a little more than a yard.
Worked examples
Height in centimeters. The converter takes one unit at a time, so turn 5 ft 10 in into inches first: 5 × 12 + 10 = 70 inches. Then 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm.
A marathon in miles. A marathon is 42.195 km. 42,195 m ÷ 1,609.344 m per mile = 26.2188 miles, usually quoted as 26.2.
Meters to feet. 100 m × 3.28084 = 328.084 ft.
To measure an area or volume instead, use the area converter or the volume converter, since square and cubic units don't use the same factors as length.
Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in a mile?
There are 5,280 feet in a mile, which is 1,760 yards or 1,609.344 meters.
How many centimeters are in an inch?
Exactly 2.54 centimeters. To convert inches to centimeters, multiply by 2.54; to go back, divide by 2.54.
How many kilometers are in a mile?
1 mile is 1.609344 kilometers. Going the other way, 1 kilometer is about 0.621371 miles.
How many inches are in a meter?
About 39.37 inches. A meter is 100 cm, and 100 ÷ 2.54 = 39.3701.
What is a nautical mile?
A nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters, about 1.15 ordinary miles. It's used at sea and in aviation because it's close to one minute of latitude, and speed in nautical miles per hour is called knots.
Last updated October 24, 2026. Results are estimates for education and planning — see our disclaimer.