Length Converter: Meters, Kilometers, Miles & More Online
Whether you’re an architect designing a house, a runner planning a marathon route, a DIY enthusiast measuring furniture, or just need to know the diagonal size of your new monitor, our calculator provides the answer instantly.
We support lightning-fast conversions between all common metric units (millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers) and Anglo-American imperial units (inches, feet, yards, miles). Everything works online, free, and without any installation.
Smart Calculations: Why Convert Length Here?
Conversions within the metric system (multiplying and dividing by ten) are easy, but when it comes to inches or miles, few can calculate it from memory. Our tool does the hard work for you.
- Real-time Calculations: You don’t wait for the page to load or have to press a “Calculate” button. Results update automatically the moment you type a number.
- World Units in One Place: You no longer need to Google how long one yard is. Our converter combines the metric system (used in Europe) with the imperial system (USA, UK) into one simple interface.
- Comprehensive Overview: In addition to your chosen conversion (e.g., meters to kilometers), the “Quick Overview” table below the widget instantly shows you the entered length in inches, feet, or miles simultaneously.
Comprehensive Overview: Understanding Length Units
Length is a fundamental physical quantity, but duality reigns in the world. Here is a table of relationships between the units our converter works with.
| Unit | Abbreviation | Approximate Value (in meters) | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millimeter | mm | 0.001 m | Engineering, technical drawings, rain (precipitation). |
| Centimeter | cm | 0.01 m | Tailoring, body height, furniture dimensions. |
| Meter | m | 1 m (SI base unit) | Construction, athletics, fabric purchasing, real estate agents. |
| Kilometer | km | 1,000 m | Travel, distances between cities, cycling. |
| Inch | in | 0.0254 m (2.54 cm) | Display diagonals, pipe diameters, wheel rims. |
| Foot | ft | 0.3048 m (approx. 30 cm) | Aviation (flight altitude), Anglo-Saxon body height. |
| Yard | yd | 0.9144 m (approx. 0.9 m) | American football, golf, textiles in USA/UK. |
| Mile | mi | approx. 1,609 m | Road distances in the USA and Great Britain. |
Guide: How to Use the Converter Correctly
The controls are designed to be as intuitive as possible and save you as much time as possible when working with plans or maps.
1. Enter the Value
Type the number you want to convert into the left field.
- Tip: You can also enter very small numbers (for micro-measurements) or decimal places (e.g.,
10.5km).
2. Choose Input and Output Units
- In the left menu, select the unit, from which you are converting (e.g., “meter”).
- In the right menu, select the unit, to which you want the result (e.g., “kilometer”).
- Between the fields, you’ll find an arrow button to quickly swap sides (e.g., if you want to quickly find out how many meters are in 10 miles and vice versa).
3. Instant Result and Broader Context
You see the result immediately in the right field. Additionally, below the calculator, a “Quick Overview” table is automatically generated, which is invaluable for comparison – you immediately see that your 10 meters is not only 0.01 km but also approximately 10.9 yards or 393 inches.
Common Mistakes: Why is a Mile Not Just a Mile?
When converting lengths, a common mistake is that Anglo-Saxon units do not have a decimal base (unlike meters and kilometers).
Tricks of the Imperial System: While 1 kilometer is a clear 1000 meters, different rules apply in the imperial system:
- 1 foot = 12 inches.
- 1 yard = 3 feet.
- 1 mile = 1760 yards (or 5280 feet).
- Calculating this from memory is complicated and prone to errors. Our converter knows these constants precisely. When you enter 1 mile, you will immediately see in the overview that it is 1609.34 meters.
Beware of Nautical Miles The common “mile” in our converter is the statute (land) mile. However, there is also a nautical mile (used in aviation and at sea), which is longer (approx. 1852 m). For general road purposes in the USA or UK, always use the standard mile offered by our tool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many centimeters is one inch?
One international inch is defined precisely as 2.54 centimeters. People often ask about the size of, for example, a 55-inch TV. Simply enter the number 55, select "inch," and convert to "centimeters." The result (139.7 cm) will tell you the exact diagonal width.What does a result like 6.213e-3 mean?
If you convert a small unit to a much larger one (e.g., 10 meters to miles, as seen in the image), the result is a very small number (0.0062...). To maintain mathematical precision, scientific notation is used.e-3 means you need to move the decimal point 3 places to the left.