Distance Converter

Convert between different units of distance easily and accurately.

Calculator

Enter Your Distance

Guide

How to Convert Distances

To convert between different units of distance, follow these steps:

  1. 1
    Enter the value you want to convert
  2. 2
    Select the source unit (From Unit)
  3. 3
    Select the target unit (To Unit)
  4. 4
    Click "Convert Distance" to see the result
Example:

1 kilometer = 1000 meters

1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers

1 yard = 0.9144 meters

Comprehensive Guide to Distance Units

Understanding Distance Measurement Systems

Distance measurements are primarily divided into two major systems:

  • Metric System (SI): Used by most countries worldwide. Based on powers of 10, making conversions simple.
  • Imperial/US Customary System: Used primarily in the United States. Based on historical measurements with less consistent conversion factors.

Common Distance Units and Their Definitions

Unit System Definition/Equivalence Common Uses
Meter (m) Metric Base unit of length in SI General measurements, room dimensions
Kilometer (km) Metric 1,000 meters Long distances, road measurements
Centimeter (cm) Metric 0.01 meter (1/100 of a meter) Small measurements, body dimensions
Millimeter (mm) Metric 0.001 meter (1/1000 of a meter) Precision measurements, manufacturing
Mile (mi) Imperial 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards Long distances, road measurements
Yard (yd) Imperial 3 feet or 36 inches Fabric, sports fields
Foot (ft) Imperial 12 inches Room dimensions, human height
Inch (in) Imperial 1/12 of a foot Small measurements, screen sizes
Nautical Mile (nmi) Maritime 1,852 meters or 1.151 miles Navigation, aviation, maritime
Fathom Maritime 6 feet or 1.8288 meters Water depth measurement
League Historical Approximately 3 miles Historical distance measurement

Key Conversion Formulas

Metric to Imperial Conversions:
  • 1 meter = 3.28084 feet
  • 1 meter = 1.09361 yards
  • 1 kilometer = 0.621371 miles
  • 1 centimeter = 0.393701 inches
Imperial to Metric Conversions:
  • 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
  • 1 foot = 0.3048 meters
  • 1 yard = 0.9144 meters
  • 1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers
Nautical Conversions:
  • 1 nautical mile = 1.852 kilometers
  • 1 nautical mile = 1.15078 miles
  • 1 fathom = 6 feet = 1.8288 meters

Historical Context of Distance Units

Many units of measurement have fascinating historical origins:

  • Foot: Originally based on the length of a human foot, though standardized over time.
  • Meter: Defined in the late 18th century as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator through Paris.
  • Mile: Derived from the Roman "mille passus" meaning "thousand paces," with each pace being two steps.
  • Fathom: Based on the distance between a man's outstretched arms, used by sailors to measure water depth.
  • Nautical Mile: Approximately one minute of latitude, making it valuable for navigation.

Tips for Accurate Distance Conversion

  1. Use precise conversion factors for scientific or engineering work.
  2. Understand which system (metric or imperial) is appropriate for your context.
  3. When working with multiple units, convert everything to a common unit before performing calculations.
  4. For navigational purposes, be careful to distinguish between statute miles and nautical miles.
  5. Round final results appropriately for the context—don't express results with more precision than is meaningful.
Did You Know?

The original definition of the meter was replaced in 1983 by the current definition: the distance traveled by light in a vacuum during 1/299,792,458 of a second.

This definition means that the speed of light is now a defined constant (exactly 299,792,458 meters per second), and the meter is derived from it.

Examples

Common Examples

Example 1 Kilometers to Miles

1 km = 0.621371 miles

Example 2 Meters to Feet

1 meter = 3.28084 feet

Example 3 Yards to Meters

1 yard = 0.9144 meters

Example 4 Nautical Miles to Kilometers

1 nautical mile = 1.852 kilometers

Tools

Distance Converters

Need other converters?

Can't find the converter you need? Contact us to suggest other distance converters.