Length Converter

About Length Conversion

Length is a measure of distance, and different units are used across various fields and countries. The International System of Units (SI) uses meters as the base unit for length, while the imperial system commonly used in the United States features units like feet and inches.

Length Conversion Formulas

Our length converter uses these precise formulas to ensure accurate conversions:

Metric System Conversions

1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)
1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm)
1 centimeter (cm) = 10 millimeters (mm)

Imperial System Conversions

1 mile (mi) = 1,760 yards (yd)
1 mile (mi) = 5,280 feet (ft)
1 yard (yd) = 3 feet (ft)
1 foot (ft) = 12 inches (in)

Metric to Imperial Conversions

1 meter (m) = 3.28084 feet (ft)
1 meter (m) = 39.3701 inches (in)
1 kilometer (km) = 0.621371 miles (mi)
1 centimeter (cm) = 0.393701 inches (in)

Imperial to Metric Conversions

1 foot (ft) = 0.3048 meters (m)
1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)
1 mile (mi) = 1.60934 kilometers (km)
1 yard (yd) = 0.9144 meters (m)

Common Length Conversions

• 1 meter = 3.28084 feet = 39.3701 inches = 0.001 kilometers
• 1 foot = 0.3048 meters = 12 inches = 0.333333 yards
• 1 kilometer = 0.621371 miles = 1000 meters = 3280.84 feet
• 1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers = 5280 feet = 1760 yards
• 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters = 25.4 millimeters = 0.0833333 feet

Length Conversion Applications

Length unit conversions are useful in many areas:

• Construction and architecture
• Engineering and manufacturing
• Navigation and travel distance calculations
• Sports and athletics
• Interior design and home improvement
• International commerce and shipping
• Scientific research and experiments

Understanding Length Units

Metric System Units

Meter (m) - The base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole, it's now defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum during a specific fraction of a second.

Kilometer (km) - Equal to 1,000 meters, commonly used for measuring distances between geographical locations.

Centimeter (cm) - Equal to 0.01 meters, commonly used for smaller measurements like body height or small objects.

Millimeter (mm) - Equal to 0.001 meters, commonly used in precise engineering, manufacturing, and scientific applications.

Imperial and US Customary Units

Mile (mi) - The longest commonly used unit in the imperial system, equal to 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards. Used for measuring long distances, especially in the United States and United Kingdom.

Yard (yd) - Equal to 3 feet or 36 inches. Originally represented the average length of a step.

Foot (ft) - Equal to 12 inches. Originally based on the length of a human foot.

Inch (in) - The smallest commonly used unit in the imperial system. Originally based on the width of a human thumb.

Other Length Units

Nautical Mile - Equal to 1.852 kilometers, used in maritime and aviation navigation.

Micron (μm) - Equal to one-millionth of a meter (0.000001 m), used in microscopic measurements.

Angstrom (Å) - Equal to one ten-billionth of a meter (0.0000000001 m), used in atomic physics and chemistry.

Our length converter provides accurate conversions between all these units, making it easy to translate between different length measurements for any engineering, construction, navigation, or everyday need.