Length Converter
Enter a value, choose your units, and get an instant conversion between metric and imperial lengths.
Length Unit Reference
| Unit | Metres | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 millimetre | 0.001 | 0.03937 |
| 1 centimetre | 0.01 | 0.3937 |
| 1 metre | 1 | 39.37 |
| 1 kilometre | 1,000 | 39,370 |
| 1 inch | 0.0254 | 1 |
| 1 foot | 0.3048 | 12 |
| 1 yard | 0.9144 | 36 |
| 1 mile | 1,609.344 | 63,360 |
| 1 naut. mile | 1,852 | 72,913 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many centimetres are in an inch?
There are exactly 2.54 centimetres in one inch. This is the internationally defined conversion factor. So 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 12 inches (1 foot) = 30.48 cm, and 1 yard = 91.44 cm.
How many kilometres are in a mile?
One mile is equal to 1.609344 kilometres. Conversely, 1 kilometre is approximately 0.6214 miles. A quick mental shortcut is to multiply kilometres by 0.6 for a rough mile estimate.
What is a nautical mile?
A nautical mile is a unit of length used in navigation and aviation. It equals 1,852 metres (or about 1.151 statute miles) and is based on the circumference of the Earth — one nautical mile corresponds to one arc-minute of latitude.
What is the difference between the metric and imperial systems?
The metric system (SI) uses base-10 prefixes (milli-, centi-, kilo-) for easy scaling. The imperial system uses historical units (inches, feet, yards, miles) with non-decimal relationships (12 inches per foot, 3 feet per yard, 1,760 yards per mile). Most of the world uses metric; the US primarily uses imperial for everyday measurements.
How do I convert feet and inches to centimetres?
First convert feet to inches by multiplying by 12, then add the remaining inches, then multiply the total inches by 2.54. For example, 5 feet 9 inches = (5×12 + 9) × 2.54 = 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm.