Length Conversion Calculator
Welcome to the comprehensive length conversion calculator designed for students, professionals, engineers, and anyone needing accurate distance measurements. Convert between metric, imperial, nautical, and astronomical units instantly. Our calculator supports over 140 conversion pairs including feet, meters, inches, kilometers, miles, yards, chains, furlongs, light years, parsecs, and specialized nautical and astronomical measurements.
Universal Length Converter
Convert Any Length Unit
Select your units and enter a value to convert instantly.
Conversion Result
Quick Conversions
Visual Comparison Charts
1 Meter Equivalents
1 Kilometer
1 Mile
1 Foot
1 Inch
Common Conversion Formulas
Metric to Imperial Conversions
\[ 1 \text{ meter} = 3.28084 \text{ feet} \]
\[ 1 \text{ kilometer} = 0.621371 \text{ miles} \]
\[ 1 \text{ centimeter} = 0.393701 \text{ inches} \]
Imperial to Metric Conversions
\[ 1 \text{ foot} = 0.3048 \text{ meters} = 30.48 \text{ centimeters} \]
\[ 1 \text{ inch} = 2.54 \text{ centimeters} = 25.4 \text{ millimeters} \]
\[ 1 \text{ mile} = 1.60934 \text{ kilometers} \]
Complete Conversion Tables
Metric System Conversions
| Unit | Symbol | Meters | Feet | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilometer | km | 1,000 m | 3,280.84 ft | Road distances, geography |
| Meter | m | 1 m | 3.28084 ft | Height, room dimensions |
| Decimeter | dm | 0.1 m | 0.328084 ft | Limited use |
| Centimeter | cm | 0.01 m | 0.0328084 ft | Body measurements |
| Millimeter | mm | 0.001 m | 0.00328084 ft | Precision work |
| Micrometer | µm | 0.000001 m | 3.28084×10⁻⁶ ft | Microscopy |
Imperial System Conversions
| Unit | Symbol | Feet | Meters | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile | mi | 5,280 ft | 1,609.344 m | Road distances |
| Furlong | fur | 660 ft | 201.168 m | Horse racing |
| Chain | ch | 66 ft | 20.1168 m | Land surveying |
| Yard | yd | 3 ft | 0.9144 m | Fabric, sports |
| Foot | ft | 1 ft | 0.3048 m | Construction, height |
| Inch | in | 0.0833 ft | 0.0254 m | Small measurements |
Nautical Units Comparison
| Unit | Meters | Feet | Statute Miles | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nautical Mile | 1,852 m | 6,076.12 ft | 1.15078 mi | Maritime/Aviation |
| Nautical League | 5,556 m | 18,228.35 ft | 3.45234 mi | Historic maritime |
| UK Nautical Mile | 1,853.184 m | 6,080 ft | 1.15152 mi | Historic UK |
| US Nautical Mile | 1,852 m | 6,076.12 ft | 1.15078 mi | US Standard |
Quick Reference: Feet Conversions
| Feet | Meters | Centimeters | Inches | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 | 30.48 | 12 | 0.333 |
| 5 | 1.524 | 152.4 | 60 | 1.667 |
| 10 | 3.048 | 304.8 | 120 | 3.333 |
| 50 | 15.24 | 1,524 | 600 | 16.667 |
| 100 | 30.48 | 3,048 | 1,200 | 33.333 |
Quick Reference: Meters Conversions
| Meters | Feet | Inches | Yards | Kilometers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.281 | 39.370 | 1.094 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 16.404 | 196.850 | 5.468 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 32.808 | 393.701 | 10.936 | 0.01 |
| 50 | 164.042 | 1,968.504 | 54.681 | 0.05 |
| 100 | 328.084 | 3,937.008 | 109.361 | 0.1 |
Astronomical Distances
| Unit | Meters | Kilometers | Miles | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Year | 9.461×10¹⁵ m | 9.461×10¹² km | 5.879×10¹² mi | Distance light travels in 1 year |
| Parsec | 3.086×10¹⁶ m | 3.086×10¹³ km | 1.917×10¹³ mi | ≈3.26 light-years |
| Astronomical Unit | 1.496×10¹¹ m | 1.496×10⁸ km | 9.296×10⁷ mi | Earth-Sun distance |
Understanding Length Measurements
Length is a fundamental physical quantity measuring distance between two points. Different measurement systems evolved across cultures and applications, leading to the diverse units we use today. Understanding conversions between these systems is essential for international communication, scientific work, engineering, construction, navigation, and everyday measurements.
Practical Conversion Examples
Example 1: Converting Feet to Meters
Convert 10 feet to meters
\[ 10 \text{ ft} \times 0.3048 = 3.048 \text{ m} \]
Result: 10 feet = 3.048 meters
Example 2: Converting Inches to Centimeters
Convert 5 inches to centimeters
\[ 5 \text{ in} \times 2.54 = 12.7 \text{ cm} \]
Result: 5 inches = 12.7 centimeters
Example 3: Converting Kilometers to Miles
Convert 100 kilometers to miles
\[ 100 \text{ km} \times 0.621371 = 62.1371 \text{ mi} \]
Result: 100 km ≈ 62.14 miles
Applications of Length Conversion
- International Trade and Commerce: Converting product dimensions for global markets and shipping calculations
- Construction and Engineering: Working with blueprints and specifications that use different measurement systems
- Aviation and Maritime Navigation: Converting between nautical miles and kilometers for flight planning and navigation
- Scientific Research: Standardizing measurements across international collaborations and publications
- Sports and Athletics: Converting track and field distances, swimming pool lengths, and race distances
- Travel and Geography: Understanding distances when traveling between countries with different systems
- Education: Teaching students about measurement systems and developing conversion skills
- Manufacturing: Converting specifications for parts and components in global supply chains
Tips for Accurate Conversions
- Know Key Conversion Factors: Memorize common conversions like 2.54 cm/inch, 3.28 ft/meter, and 1.6 km/mile
- Use Exact Values When Needed: For engineering and scientific work, use full precision rather than rounded values
- Check Your Units: Always verify which unit you're converting from and to before calculating
- Round Appropriately: Match precision to the application—construction needs fewer decimals than scientific research
- Verify With Multiple Methods: Cross-check important conversions using different approaches or calculators
- Understand Context: Different industries may use different standards (US vs UK nautical miles, survey feet vs international feet)
- Use Dimensional Analysis: Set up conversions so units cancel properly, preventing errors
Why Choose RevisionTown for Conversion Tools?
RevisionTown specializes in creating accurate, user-friendly calculators and educational resources for students, professionals, and anyone working with measurements and calculations. Our length conversion calculator is designed by expert educators who understand both the mathematics and practical applications across multiple fields.
Whether you're a student learning about measurement systems in IB, AP, GCSE, IGCSE curricula, an engineer working on international projects, a traveler navigating different countries, or anyone needing reliable conversions, our calculator provides instant, accurate results with clear explanations.
Our commitment to educational excellence extends beyond simple conversion—we provide context, formulas, and understanding. The length converter exemplifies our approach: comprehensive functionality supporting 140+ conversion pairs, clear mathematical formulas, educational content about measurement systems, and tools that serve real needs in education, engineering, and everyday life.
Disclaimer: This length conversion calculator is provided for educational and general purposes. While we strive for maximum accuracy using standard conversion factors, results should be verified for critical applications. Different standards exist for some units (survey feet vs international feet, historical vs modern nautical miles), and precision may vary based on context. For professional engineering, scientific research, or safety-critical applications, consult authoritative references and verify all conversions. Conversion factors are based on internationally recognized standards but may differ from historical or specialized definitions.