Quick reference table

Common length conversions

UnitEquals
1 inch2.54 centimeters
1 centimeter0.3937007874 inches
1 foot0.3048 meters
1 meter3.280839895 feet
1 mile1.609344 kilometers
1 kilometer0.6213711922 miles
1 yard0.9144 meters
1 meter1.093613298 yards
1 inch25.4 millimeters
1 foot12 inches
1 nautical mile1.852 kilometers
1 mile528 feet

How to convert length

Every length unit is a fixed multiple of the meter. To convert a value, multiply it by the number of meters in the starting unit, then divide by the number of meters in the target unit. For example, to convert feet to meters you multiply by 0.3048, because one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters. To go from meters to feet you divide by 0.3048.

The converter above does this for you and shows the exact formula under the result. If you are converting a height, it also shows the answer in feet and inches.

Worked examples

5.5 ft = 1.67640 m5.5 × 0.3048 = 1.67640 meters.
180 cm = 5 ft 10.87 in180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.866142 inches, which is 5 feet and 10.87 inches.
26.2 mi ≈ 42.16 km26.2 × 1.609344 = 42.164813 kilometers (a marathon).
100 m = 328.08399 ft100 ÷ 0.3048 = 328.08399 feet.

Centimeters to inches

CentimetersInches
1 centimeter0.39370079 inches
2 centimeters0.78740157 inches
5 centimeters1.9685039 inches
10 centimeters3.9370079 inches
20 centimeters7.8740157 inches
30 centimeters11.811024 inches
50 centimeters19.685039 inches
100 centimeters39.370079 inches

Feet to meters

FeetMeters
1 foot0.3048 meters
2 feet0.6096 meters
3 feet0.9144 meters
5 feet1.5240 meters
6 feet1.8288 meters
10 feet3.0480 meters
50 feet15.2400 meters
100 feet30.4800 meters

Miles to kilometers

MilesKilometers
1 mile1.609344 kilometers
5 miles8.04672 kilometers
10 miles16.09344 kilometers
20 miles32.18688 kilometers
50 miles80.4672 kilometers
100 miles160.9344 kilometers

Length units explained

UnitSymbolSystemExact value
KilometerskmMetric1,000 m
MetersmMetric1 m
CentimeterscmMetric0.01 m
MillimetersmmMetric0.001 m
MicrometersµmMetric0.000001 m
NanometersnmMetric1 × 10⁻⁹ m
MilesmiImperial / US1,609.344 m
YardsydImperial / US0.9144 m
FeetftImperial / US0.3048 m
InchesinImperial / US0.0254 m
Nautical milesnmiNautical1,852 m

Metric and imperial length units

The metric system is based on the meter, which is defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Other metric units are decimal multiples of it, such as the kilometer (1,000 m) and the centimeter (0.01 m). Imperial and US customary units such as the inch, foot, yard and mile are used in everyday life in the United States and in some other countries, and since 1959 they have been defined exactly in terms of the meter.

Frequently asked questions

How many centimeters are in an inch?

There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in one inch. Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters.

How many feet are in a meter?

One meter is approximately 3.28084 feet. For a quick estimate you can multiply meters by 3.3.

How do I convert miles to kilometers?

Multiply the number of miles by 1.609344. For example, 10 miles is about 16.09 kilometers. To go the other way, divide kilometers by 1.609344.

How many inches are in a foot and in a yard?

There are 12 inches in a foot and 36 inches in a yard. A yard is also exactly 3 feet and 0.9144 meters.

What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?

A statute mile is exactly 1,609.344 meters. A nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters, so it is about 1.15 statute miles. Nautical miles are used in sea and air navigation.

How accurate is this length converter?

It uses the exact international definitions of each unit and shows up to 12 significant digits. Very long decimals are rounded for display.

Does it work offline?

After you have opened the page once, the converter keeps working without an internet connection, because all calculations happen in your browser.

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