Length Converter

How to convert length units

Every length conversion goes through the meter, the SI base unit: you multiply by the ratio of the two units' sizes. The inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, which gives the everyday rules inches = cm ÷ 2.54 and cm = inches × 2.54. Longer distances follow the same pattern - miles = km ÷ 1.609344 and km = miles × 1.609344 - because one mile is defined as exactly 1,609.344 meters.

Worked example

To convert 30 centimeters to inches, divide by 2.54: 30 ÷ 2.54 = 11.811 in. Going the other way, a 12-inch foot is 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm, and a 5-kilometer run works out to 5 ÷ 1.609344 = 3.107 mi.

How many centimeters are in an inch?

One inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters. One foot equals 30.48 centimeters (0.3048 m), one yard equals 0.9144 meters, one mile equals 1.609344 kilometers, and one nautical mile equals 1,852 meters. These are exact definitions fixed by the international yard-and-pound agreement of 1959 and the SI - not rounded approximations.

When you'll use a length converter

Length conversion comes up wherever metric and imperial units meet: reading a height given in feet and inches when you think in centimeters, following a sewing pattern or recipe in millimeters, checking paper and screen sizes, comparing travel distances in miles and kilometers, or reading engineering drawings. The table above lists your value in all 11 supported units at once, so you can scan the equivalent you need without converting twice.

Frequently asked questions

How many feet are in a mile?

There are exactly 5,280 feet in one mile. This comes from the mile being defined as 1,609.344 meters and the foot as 0.3048 meters, so 1,609.344 divided by 0.3048 equals 5,280.

How many feet are in a meter?

One meter equals about 3.28084 feet. To go the other way, multiply a number of feet by 0.3048 to get meters, since one foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters.

Is a mile longer than a kilometer?

Yes, a mile is longer. One mile equals 1.609344 kilometers, so a kilometer is the shorter unit at about 0.621371 of a mile.

How many yards are in a meter?

One meter equals about 1.0936133 yards, so a meter is slightly longer than a yard. A yard is defined as exactly 0.9144 meters.

What is a nautical mile and how does it compare to a regular mile?

A nautical mile is a distance used in sea and air navigation, defined as exactly 1,852 meters or 1.852 kilometers. It is longer than a statute mile, which is 1,609.344 meters, so one nautical mile is about 1.15078 statute miles.

How many feet are in a yard?

There are exactly 3 feet in one yard. A yard is 0.9144 meters and a foot is 0.3048 meters, and 0.9144 divided by 0.3048 equals 3.