Length Converter
Convert between different length units: meters, feet, inches, cm, km and more
Length Converter
Convert between meters, feet, inches, centimeters, and more
Quick Reference
Guide
How it works
This length converter translates a distance from one unit into another - metres to feet, inches to centimetres, miles to kilometres, and many more - in both directions and without the mental arithmetic. It is the tool you reach for when a piece of furniture is listed in centimetres but your room is measured in feet, when a running route is in kilometres but you think in miles, or when a screen, a fabric, or a plot of land is quoted in units you do not normally use.
Two systems, one fixed bridge
Length is measured in two main systems. The metric system uses millimetres, centimetres, metres, and kilometres, scaling neatly by powers of ten. The imperial and US customary system uses inches, feet, yards, and miles, which scale by less tidy factors of 12, 3, and 1,760. The bridge between them is fixed by definition: one inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres. Every metric-to-imperial conversion ultimately rests on that single exact relationship, which is why the results are precise rather than approximate.
Key conversions worth remembering
- 1 inch = 2.54 centimetres (exactly)
- 1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48 centimetres
- 1 metre = about 3.281 feet = 39.37 inches
- 1 mile = 1,760 yards = about 1.609 kilometres
- 1 kilometre = about 0.621 miles
A worked example
Imagine a bookshelf listed as 180 centimetres tall and you want to know if it clears a 6-foot doorway. Since one foot is 30.48 centimetres, 6 feet is about 183 centimetres, so the 180-centimetre shelf fits with room to spare. Converting the other way, a 10-kilometre race is about 6.21 miles, because you multiply kilometres by 0.621. The converter keeps the decimals so you are not caught out by a rounding error at the margin, which is exactly where these checks tend to matter.
Tips for accurate results
- Match the unit to the job: millimetres for fine work, metres for rooms, kilometres or miles for travel.
- Keep one or two decimal places for practical tasks, but more when cutting materials or fitting parts precisely.
- Remember that a US mile and a nautical mile differ; a nautical mile is about 1.852 kilometres and is used at sea and in aviation.
- For area or volume, convert the underlying length first, since squaring or cubing a unit changes the factor (a square metre is not 3.281 square feet).
How many centimetres are in an inch?expand_more
Exactly 2.54 centimetres. This is a defined value, so converting inches to centimetres means multiplying by 2.54, and centimetres to inches means dividing by 2.54.
How do I convert metres to feet?expand_more
Multiply the number of metres by about 3.281 to get feet. For example, 5 metres is roughly 16.4 feet. To go from feet to metres, multiply by 0.3048 instead.
How many kilometres are in a mile?expand_more
One mile is about 1.609 kilometres. To convert miles to kilometres, multiply by 1.609; to convert kilometres to miles, multiply by 0.621.
What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?expand_more
A standard (statute) mile is about 1.609 kilometres and is used on land. A nautical mile is about 1.852 kilometres and is used in sea and air navigation because it relates to degrees of latitude. They are not interchangeable.
Can I use this converter for height?expand_more
Yes. Enter a height in feet and inches or in centimetres and convert between them. For example, 5 feet 9 inches is about 175 centimetres, a common conversion for forms and medical records.
How do I convert square feet to square metres?expand_more
Area uses the square of the length factor, so you cannot use the plain length conversion. One square metre is about 10.76 square feet. To convert square feet to square metres, divide by 10.76; this converter handles straight lengths, so square or cubic measures need that adjusted factor.
Why is one inch defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres?expand_more
In 1959 the major English-speaking countries agreed to define the inch as precisely 2.54 centimetres, tying the imperial system to the metric one. Because it is a defined value rather than a measured approximation, every inch-based conversion is exact rather than rounded.