Your result will appear here
Fill in the fields and press Calculate.
Length and distance come in two systems — metric (millimetres to kilometres) and imperial (inches to miles) — and converting between them is everyday: a height in feet and inches, a run in kilometres, a screen in inches, a road sign abroad. The factors are exact, so a converter turns any unit into any other instantly.
Enter a value, pick the units, and the converted length appears at once.
Length Converter: step-by-step worked example
How many miles is a 5 km race?
- Value
- 5
- From
- Kilometers (km)
- To
- Miles (mi)
- 1
Source unit in the base unit
k₁ = one source unit expressed in metres
1 km = 1,000 m = 1,000 m
- 2
Target unit in the base unit
k₂ = one target unit expressed in metres
1 mi = 1,609.344 m = 1,609.34 m
- 3
Convert to the base unit
m = Value × k₁
5 × 1,000 = 5,000 m
- 4
Convert to the target unit
Result = m ÷ k₂
5,000 ÷ 1,609.344 = 3.106856 mi
- 5
Direct conversion factor
Factor = k₁ ÷ k₂
1,000 ÷ 1,609.344 = 0.6214
- m5,000
- km5
- mi3.1069
Good to know: Imperial units are defined exactly in metres: 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 ft = 12 in, 1 yd = 3 ft, 1 mi = 1,760 yd — the factors are exact, not rounded.
Length Converter — how it works
Key conversion factors
| Conversion | Factor |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 2.54 cm (exact) |
| 1 foot | 12 in = 0.3048 m |
| 1 yard | 3 ft = 0.9144 m |
| 1 mile | 1,609.344 m = 1.609344 km |
| 1 metre | 3.28084 ft = 39.37 in |
Metric units scale in tens (1 km = 1,000 m); imperial units use fixed steps (12 inches to a foot, 3 feet to a yard, 1,760 yards to a mile).
Metric vs imperial
- Metric (most of the world): mm, cm, m, km.
- Imperial/US: inch, foot, yard, mile.
- Height is often given in feet and inches (US/UK) or centimetres (elsewhere); road distance in miles (US/UK) or kilometres.
Common conversions
- A height of 6 ft is 1.83 m (183 cm).
- A 5K run is 3.1 miles; a marathon is 42.2 km.
- A 55-inch TV screen is 139.7 cm on the diagonal.
- Quick estimate: metres × 3.28 ≈ feet.
Where it helps
- Converting height between feet/inches and centimetres
- Reading a distance abroad in the other system
- Sizing screens, furniture or rooms across units
For a dedicated inches↔cm or miles↔km tool, those exist too; this handles every combination.
Worked example
Convert a 6-foot height to metres: 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288, so about 1.83 m (or 183 cm). Going the other way, a 100-metre sprint track is 100 ÷ 0.3048 = 328.08 ft. And a mile is exactly 1,609.344 m, or 1.609 km — which is why a 5-kilometre run is 5 ÷ 1.609 = 3.1 miles. The exact factors give precise answers, while the rough "metres × 3.28 ≈ feet" is close enough for a quick sense of scale.
Centimetres to inches and feet table
| Centimetres | Inches | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.39 | 0.03 |
| 5 | 1.97 | 0.16 |
| 10 | 3.94 | 0.33 |
| 30 | 11.81 | 0.98 |
| 50 | 19.69 | 1.64 |
| 100 | 39.37 | 3.28 |
| 150 | 59.06 | 4.92 |
| 160 | 62.99 | 5.25 |
| 170 | 66.93 | 5.58 |
| 175 | 68.9 | 5.74 |
| 180 | 70.87 | 5.91 |
| 190 | 74.8 | 6.23 |
| 200 | 78.74 | 6.56 |
Kilometres to miles table
| Kilometres | Miles | Metres |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.62 | 1,000 |
| 5 | 3.11 | 5,000 |
| 10 | 6.21 | 10,000 |
| 21.1 | 13.11 | 21,100 |
| 42.195 | 26.22 | 42,195 |
| 50 | 31.07 | 50,000 |
| 100 | 62.14 | 100,000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many feet is a metre?+
1 metre = 3.28084 feet (or 39.37 inches). To convert metres to feet multiply by 3.28084; a quick estimate is metres × 3.28.
How do I convert my height to centimetres?+
Convert the height to inches first (1 foot = 12 inches), then multiply by 2.54. 6 ft = 72 in = 182.9 cm. The converter does it in one step.
How many kilometres is a mile?+
1 mile = 1.609344 km (1,609.344 metres). A 5K run is 3.1 miles; a marathon of 42.195 km is 26.2 miles.
How many inches in a foot?+
12 inches make a foot, and 3 feet make a yard. One inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so a foot is 30.48 cm.
What is a 6-foot height in metres?+
6 ft × 0.3048 = 1.83 m (183 cm). The converter handles feet, inches, metres and centimetres in any combination.
Is the inch-to-centimetre conversion exact?+
Yes — since 1959 an inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so all imperial-to-metric length factors derive from that with no rounding.
About this page
- Publisher:
- Kalkoro — Teknolojig Bilişim Teknolojileri A.Ş., İstanbul
- Written by:
- Ahmet Tur — Editor (Math, date & time, unit conversion, physics & chemistry, everyday tools)
- Reviewed by:
- Kübra Yıldız — Editor
Parameters come from official sources; the last update date is shown at the bottom of the page.
Spotted a wrong result? Use the "Report a bug" button at the top of the page; every report is reviewed.
How we calculate and our accuracy policy →
Results are for information only. For official matters the relevant authority's calculation prevails.
Last updated: