Length Converter

Convert From

Value

From Unit Millimeters (mm) Centimeters (cm) Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Inches (in) Feet (ft) Yards (yd) Miles (mi) Nautical Miles (nmi) Astronomical Units (AU) Light Years (ly) Parsecs (pc) Fathoms (ftm) Furlongs Cubits Hands

Convert To

To Unit Millimeters (mm) Centimeters (cm) Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Inches (in) Feet (ft) Yards (yd) Miles (mi) Nautical Miles (nmi) Astronomical Units (AU) Light Years (ly) Parsecs (pc) Fathoms (ftm) Furlongs Cubits Hands

Custom Conversion Factor Enter the conversion factor relative to meters (1 meter = X custom units)

Conversion Results

1 m = 0.001 km

All Conversions

Unit	Value
Millimeters (mm)	1,000.00
Centimeters (cm)	100.00
Meters (m)	1.00
Kilometers (km)	0.00

Unit Information

Metric System

1 km = 1,000 m

1 m = 100 cm

1 cm = 10 mm

Imperial/US System

1 mile = 1,760 yards

1 yard = 3 feet

1 foot = 12 inches

Key Conversions

1 inch = 2.54 cm

1 mile = 1.609 km

1 nautical mile = 1.852 km

Length Converter - Convert between different units of measurement

Calculation History

Date	From	To	Result	Actions

No Calculation History

Your calculation history will appear here after you save conversions.

Calculation saved to history

Your Complete Guide to Length Conversion

Master measurement units easily with our comprehensive length converter and guide

Ever tried following a recipe that uses cups when you only have milliliters? Or tried to understand how tall someone is when they say "6 feet" but you think in centimeters? Welcome to the world of measurement confusion! But don't worry - converting length units is easier than you think.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about length conversion, from simple everyday conversions to understanding different measurement systems. Plus, we'll show you how our converter makes everything simple!

Why Length Conversion Matters

We live in a global world where different countries use different measurement systems. Knowing how to convert between them is essential for:

• Travel: Understanding road signs, weather reports, and distances in different countries
• Cooking: Following recipes from around the world
• DIY Projects: Working with materials measured in different units
• Shopping: Understanding product dimensions online
• Education: Students learning about different measurement systems

Try Our Length Converter

No math required! Convert between any units instantly with our easy-to-use calculator.

The Two Main Measurement Systems

Metric System (Used by most of the world)

The metric system is based on powers of 10, which makes it very logical and easy to use. It's the official system in most countries (except the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar).

Unit	Abbreviation	Equivalent to	Common Uses
Millimeter	mm	1/1000 of a meter	Small objects, engineering, jewelry
Centimeter	cm	1/100 of a meter	Everyday measurements, clothing, height
Meter	m	Base unit	Room dimensions, fabric, sports
Kilometer	km	1000 meters	Distances, running, driving

Imperial/US System (Used in the USA)

The Imperial system (and its close cousin, the US Customary system) is based on historical measurements. It's less systematic but deeply embedded in American culture.

Unit	Abbreviation	Equivalent to	Common Uses
Inch	in	Base small unit	Screens, nails, small measurements
Foot	ft	12 inches	Height, room dimensions, construction
Yard	yd	3 feet	Fabric, football fields, gardens
Mile	mi	1760 yards	Road distances, running, aviation

Key Conversion Formulas You Should Know

The Most Important Conversions:

1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

1 foot = 30.48 centimeters

1 meter = 3.28084 feet

1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers

Quick Calculation Example:

Converting 5 feet to centimeters:

1. 1 foot = 30.48 cm
2. 5 feet = 5 × 30.48 cm
3. 5 feet = 152.4 cm

So a person who is 5 feet tall is approximately 152 cm tall.

Specialized Measurement Units

Beyond everyday units, there are specialized measurements for specific purposes:

Nautical Measurements

Nautical Mile: Used in marine and aviation navigation. 1 nautical mile = 1.852 kilometers

Fathom: Used for measuring water depth. 1 fathom = 6 feet = 1.8288 meters

Astronomical Measurements

Astronomical Unit (AU): Distance from Earth to Sun. 1 AU = 149.6 million km

Light Year: Distance light travels in one year. 1 ly = 9.461 trillion km

Historical Measurements

Cubit: Ancient measurement from elbow to fingertip. ≈ 45-53 cm

Furlong: Used in horse racing. 1 furlong = 220 yards = 201.168 meters

Real-World Application: Home Renovation

Imagine you're buying flooring from a US website that lists dimensions in feet, but your room measurements are in meters. Our converter helps you:

• Convert your 4-meter room to 13.12 feet
• Convert the 2-foot wide flooring to 0.61 meters
• Calculate you need 21.5 flooring pieces (4m ÷ 0.61m)

No more guessing or ordering the wrong amount!

How to Use Our Length Converter (Step by Step)

Step 1: Enter Your Value

Type the number you want to convert. For example, if you're 5 feet 6 inches tall, you could enter 5.5 (since 6 inches = 0.5 feet) or convert inches separately.

Step 2: Select "From" Unit

Choose what unit you're converting FROM. Our converter includes:

• Metric: Millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers
• Imperial/US: Inches, feet, yards, miles
• Specialized: Nautical miles, astronomical units, light years
• Historical: Fathoms, furlongs, cubits, hands

Step 3: Select "To" Unit

Choose what unit you want to convert TO. You can convert between any units, even specialized ones!

Pro Tip: Save Common Conversions

Use our history feature to save conversions you use frequently. For example, if you often convert between cm and inches for clothing sizes, save it for quick access later!

Step 4: Get Instant Results

Our converter shows you:

• The direct conversion result
• A table of equivalent values in other units
• Clear formatting with proper decimal places

Key Features of Our Converter

History Tracking

Automatically saves your conversions so you can revisit them later. Perfect for projects requiring multiple conversions.

Export Options

Save results as PDF, HTML, or text files. Great for school projects, work reports, or sharing with team members.

Custom Units

Create your own custom conversion units for specialized needs. Perfect for unique business or project requirements.

Mobile Friendly

Works perfectly on phones, tablets, and computers. Convert measurements on the go at the store or job site.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's the most common length conversion?

Inches to centimeters (and vice versa) is the most common, especially for international shopping, height measurements, and screen sizes.

2. How accurate are the conversions?

Our converter uses official conversion factors with high precision. For everyday use, results are accurate to 2-4 decimal places, which is more than sufficient for most purposes.

3. Can I convert really large distances?

Yes! Our converter handles everything from millimeters to light years. You can even convert astronomical distances like Earth-to-Moon or Earth-to-Sun distances.

4. What's the difference between US Customary and Imperial units?

They're very similar but have small differences. For example, a US gallon is different from an Imperial gallon. For length measurements, they're mostly identical except for survey measurements.

5. How do I convert height from feet/inches to meters?

Convert feet to meters (1 ft = 0.3048 m), convert inches to meters (1 in = 0.0254 m), then add them together. Or use our converter - it's much easier!

6. What's a "hand" as a measurement unit?

A hand is 4 inches, traditionally used to measure horses' height. A horse that's 15 hands tall is 60 inches (5 feet) at the shoulder.

7. Can I use this converter for school projects?

Absolutely! The export feature is perfect for including conversion tables in reports. Plus, you can verify your manual calculations.

8. How do nautical miles differ from regular miles?

A nautical mile is based on one minute of latitude (1/60 of a degree). It's about 1.15 regular miles or 1.85 kilometers. Used for sea and air navigation.

9. What's the easiest way to estimate conversions in my head?

For cm to inches: divide by 2.5 (approximately). For meters to feet: multiply by 3.3. For km to miles: multiply by 0.6. These approximations are good for quick estimates.

10. Can I create my own custom units?

Yes! Use our custom conversion feature to add specialized units. For example, if you work with a specific industry measurement, you can add it to the converter.

11. How do I convert square or cubic measurements?

For area (square units): convert the length, then square the conversion factor. For volume (cubic units): cube the conversion factor. Our converter handles linear measurements; for area/volume, you'd need to do the math separately.

12. What's the smallest unit your converter handles?

Millimeters (1/1000 of a meter). For even smaller measurements like micrometers or nanometers, you'd need scientific notation, which our converter can handle through custom units.

13. How do I convert clothing sizes between countries?

While our converter handles length measurements, clothing sizes also depend on cut and style. However, knowing your measurements in both systems helps when shopping internationally.

14. Can the converter handle negative numbers?

Yes, but length measurements are typically positive. The converter will work with any number, but negative lengths don't have practical meaning in most real-world scenarios.

15. How do I share my conversion results?

Use the export features to save as PDF or HTML files, which you can then share via email or messaging apps. The history feature also lets you revisit past conversions.

Quick Reference Guide

Common Conversion	Multiply By	Example
Inches to Centimeters	2.54	10 in × 2.54 = 25.4 cm
Feet to Meters	0.3048	6 ft × 0.3048 = 1.83 m
Yards to Meters	0.9144	100 yd × 0.9144 = 91.44 m
Miles to Kilometers	1.60934	5 mi × 1.60934 = 8.05 km
Centimeters to Inches	0.3937	50 cm × 0.3937 = 19.69 in
Meters to Feet	3.28084	2 m × 3.28084 = 6.56 ft

Learning Tip for Students

When learning conversions, focus on understanding the relationships rather than memorizing numbers. Remember that 1 inch = 2.54 cm is the key conversion - all others can be derived from this!

Final Thoughts

Length conversion doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're traveling, shopping online, working on a project, or just curious, understanding how to convert between measurement systems is a valuable skill in our interconnected world.

Our converter takes the math out of the equation, giving you accurate results instantly. But more importantly, we hope this guide has helped you understand the "why" behind the conversions, not just the "how."

Remember:

The goal isn't just to get a number - it's to understand what that number means in practical terms. Whether you're picturing how tall 6 feet is or how far 5 kilometers is, the real value comes from understanding the measurement, not just converting it.