Length Converter
Convert between meters, feet, inches, miles, and more instantly
Convert Length
Meter (m) -
Centimeter (cm) -
Millimeter (mm) -
Kilometer (km) -
Mile (mi) -
Foot (ft) -
Inch (in) -
Yard (yd) -
Quick Reference
1 km = 1000 m = 0.621 mi
1 mi = 1.609 km = 5280 ft
1 m = 3.281 ft = 39.37 in
1 ft = 12 in = 30.48 cm
1 in = 2.54 cm = 25.4 mm
1 yd = 3 ft = 0.914 m
Length Units
Length measurement is fundamental in virtually all areas of life, from construction to tailoring. There are two main systems: metric (used in most of the world) and imperial (used in the US).
Metric System
Based on powers of 10, the metric system is the international standard. The meter is the base unit, with prefixes indicating multiples and submultiples:
- Kilometer (km): 1,000 meters - used for long distances
- Meter (m): base unit of the system
- Centimeter (cm): 1/100 of a meter - common in daily measurements
- Millimeter (mm): 1/1,000 of a meter - used for precision
Imperial System
Used primarily in the United States, the imperial system has less intuitive relationships:
- Mile (mi): 5,280 feet - used for road distances
- Yard (yd): 3 feet - common in American sports
- Foot (ft): 12 inches - height and construction measurements
- Inch (in): smallest common unit - used for screens and components
Conversion Formulas
1 inch = 2.54 cm (exact)
1 mile = 1.609344 km (exact)