Converters
Length Converter
Convert between metric and imperial length units.
About the Length Converter
The Length Converter switches between metric units (millimetres, centimetres, metres, kilometres), imperial units (inches, feet, yards, miles) and nautical miles. Type a value, pick the two units, and the answer updates as you type.
What you can do with the Length Converter
- Converts both ways: Type in either box and the other one updates as you type.
- Every unit at once: The "In every unit" list shows your value in metres, km, cm, mm, miles, yards, feet, inches and nautical miles. Tap one to switch to it.
- One-tap swap: The ⇅ button flips the two units, and the line under the boxes shows the rate for 1 unit.
- Exact, not rounded: Inches, feet and miles use their exact legal definitions, so results are precise.
The exact definitions behind the numbers
Since an international agreement in 1959, one inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres. Everything else in the imperial system follows from that: a foot is exactly 0.3048 m, a yard is 0.9144 m and a mile is 1,609.344 m. That's why conversions between inches and centimetres are exact rather than approximate.
Quick mental shortcuts
To turn kilometres into miles, multiply by about 0.62, so a 5 km run is about 3.1 miles and 10 km is about 6.2 miles. For feet to metres, divide by roughly 3.3. A marathon is 42.195 km, which works out to 26.2 miles.
What is a nautical mile?
A nautical mile is 1,852 metres. It was originally based on one minute of latitude on the Earth's surface, which makes it convenient for navigation on charts. Ships and aircraft still use it, and speed at sea is measured in knots, nautical miles per hour.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many centimetres are in an inch?
Exactly 2.54. So 12 inches (one foot) is 30.48 cm.
How do I convert my height from feet and inches to centimetres?
Convert each part and add them: 5 ft 8 in is 5 × 30.48 + 8 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm.
Why are miles on a road sign different from nautical miles?
They're different units. A regular (statute) mile is 1,609.344 m, while a nautical mile is 1,852 m, about 15% longer.
How many feet are in a metre?
One metre is about 3.28084 feet, because a foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 m. So 10 m is about 32.81 ft and 100 m is about 328.08 ft. Pick metre on top and feet below, and the line under the boxes shows the rate for 1 metre.
How many miles is 1 km?
One kilometre is about 0.621371 miles, and one mile is exactly 1.609344 km. A quick mental shortcut is to multiply km by 0.6 or by 5/8. A full marathon of 42.195 km works out to about 26.22 miles.
How many inches are in a metre?
There are about 39.37 inches in one metre, since an inch is exactly 2.54 cm. Type 1 with metre selected and the "In every unit" list shows the inches value along with feet, yards and the other units at the same time.
How long is a cricket pitch in metres?
A cricket pitch is 22 yards between the stumps, which is exactly 20.1168 metres, because one yard is defined as 0.9144 m. Choose yard as the first unit, type 22, and pick metre in the second box to see it.
How do I convert saree or cloth length from metres to yards?
Divide metres by 0.9144, or just type the metres here with yard as the second unit. A 5.5 m saree is about 6.01 yards, and a 6.3 m saree is about 6.89 yards. Tailors and fabric shops in India use both units.
Can I type a value in feet and see metres without switching boxes?
Yes. Both boxes are editable, so you can type straight into the feet box and the metre box updates as you type. If you would rather keep the value on top, tap the ⇅ button to flip the two units.
Why does the answer show something like 1.2346e+12?
Very large or very tiny results, a trillion or more or below one millionth, are shown in scientific notation in the "In every unit" list. 1.2346e+12 means 1.2346 multiplied by 10 to the power 12. Pick a bigger or smaller unit to get a plain number.
Can I enter 1,00,000 with commas?
No. The value boxes take plain numbers, so type 100000 without commas or spaces, and use a dot for decimals, like 2.5. The results in the list are shown with Indian-style grouping, such as 1,00,000, to keep them easy to read.
Read the guide
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