Length Converter
This length converter turns metres, centimetres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards, miles and nautical miles into each other. One metre is 3.28084 feet, 39.37 inches or 1.09361 yards, and one mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometres.
Example: Length 6 · Convert from: Feet (ft) · Convert to: Metres (m) → Result: 6 ft = 1.8288 m. Source: Wikipedia – International yard and pound agreement (1959): 1 yd = 0.9144 m, 1 in = 25.4 mm. Updated: .
How it is calculated
How to convert lengths
Every unit is defined by its length in metres. The converter first turns the value into metres and then into the target unit: result = value × factor of the source unit ÷ factor of the target unit. For 1 m in feet that is 1 × 1 ÷ 0.3048 = 3.28084.
The key factors
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 m, 1 yard = 3 feet = 0.9144 m.
- 1 mile (international statute mile) = 1760 yards = 1609.344 m.
- 1 nautical mile = 1852 m, used in shipping and aviation.
Since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, the inch, foot, yard and mile are defined exactly through the metre. The conversion is not an approximation.
Feet and inches
Heights are often given in feet and inches. 5 ft 11 in is 71 inches, which is 180.34 cm. The converter also shows the feet-and-inches form, rounded to 1/16 inch, for every value.
Limits
Very large and very small results are shown in scientific notation. Not included are the US survey foot (1 foot = 1200/3937 m), which was used in US land surveying until 2022, and historical units such as the ell or fathom.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimetres are in an inch?
An inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres. So 10 inches are 25.4 cm.
How many feet are in a metre?
One metre is 3.28084 feet. The other way round, 1 foot is exactly 0.3048 metres.
How many metres are in a mile?
An international mile is 1609.344 metres. A nautical mile is 1852 metres, about 15% longer.
How do I convert feet and inches to centimetres?
Convert everything to inches first (feet × 12 + inches), then multiply by 2.54. 5 ft 11 in = 71 in = 180.34 cm.
What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?
The statute mile is 1609.344 m, the nautical mile 1852 m. A nautical mile equals one minute of arc of latitude.
Sources and legal basis
- Wikipedia – International yard and pound agreement (1959): 1 yd = 0.9144 m, 1 in = 25.4 mm
- Wikipedia – Nautical mile: 1 nmi = 1852 m
- NIST SP 811 – Guide for the Use of the International System of Units: length conversion factors
As of: · Editorial policy
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