Length Units Converter | Metric & Imperial Calculator
Convert meters to feet, inches to cm, km to miles and more with our free length conversion tool
Our easy-to-use length unit converter lets you instantly convert between multiple units at once. Calculate conversions like meters to centimeters, inches to kilometers, feet to meters, and many more. Simply enter a value in any field below to see conversions across all imperial and metric units. Perfect for construction, DIY projects, science, education, or international travel.
Universal Length Converter
Imperial Units
Metric Units
About Length Unit Conversion
Length conversion is essential for many fields including architecture, engineering, construction, design, international trade, and travel. Our comprehensive length units converter allows you to easily convert between all common imperial and metric measurement units with high precision.
Whether you're working on home DIY projects, studying for exams, or planning international travel, having accurate length conversions at your fingertips can save time and prevent costly errors. This tool automatically updates all fields as you type, making unit conversion faster and easier than ever before.
If you need to convert between Imperial and Metric length units without a converter, you'll need the appropriate conversion factors, which are provided in the sections below for convenient reference.
Understanding Imperial Length Units
The Imperial system is primarily used in the United States and a few other countries with historical ties to the British Empire. It uses units such as inches, feet, yards, and miles for measuring length. The inch (in) is the smallest commonly used unit, followed by the foot (ft), yard (yd), and mile (mi).
The basic unit of length in the Imperial system is the yard, which was defined as exactly 0.9144 meters by international treaty in 1959. This standardization helped ensure consistency between imperial and metric measurements worldwide.
Imperial Conversion Formulas:
- 1 foot = 12 inches
- 1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches
- 1 mile = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet
For example, to convert 36 inches to feet: divide the value by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot). Therefore, 36 in ÷ 12 = 3 feet.
Understanding Metric Length Units
The Metric system is based on powers of 10, making conversions between units straightforward. It uses standard prefixes that represent multiples or submultiples of the base unit (meter), making it convenient to work with measurements of any scale, from microscopic to astronomical.
Common Metric Prefixes:
- Kilo (k): 1 kilo = 1,000 units of the base unit
- Hecto (h): 1 hecto = 100 units of the base unit
- Deka (da): 1 deka = 10 units of the base unit
- Deci (d): 1 deci = 0.1 (1/10) of the base unit
- Centi (c): 1 centi = 0.01 (1/100) of the base unit
- Milli (m): 1 milli = 0.001 (1/1000) of the base unit
- Micro (μ): 1 micro = 0.000001 (1/1,000,000) of the base unit
- Nano (n): 1 nano = 0.000000001 (1/1,000,000,000) of the base unit
For each prefix, there is a specific conversion factor. To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit, divide by the conversion factor. To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply by the conversion factor.
For example, to convert 250 centimeters to meters: divide by 100 (since "centi" means 1/100). Therefore, 250 cm ÷ 100 = 2.5 meters.
Practical Length Conversion Examples
Understanding how to convert between different units of length is important for many everyday activities. Below are some practical examples showing how length conversion works in real-world scenarios.
Home Improvement Example
Converting room dimensions from feet to meters for furniture from Europe:
- Room length = 12 feet
- Conversion: 12 ft × 0.3048 = 3.6576 meters
- The European furniture requires at least 3.5 meters of space, so it will fit.
Running Track Example
Converting a 400-meter running track to miles:
- Track length = 400 meters
- Conversion: 400 m ÷ 1609.34 = 0.2485 miles
- It takes approximately 4 laps (4 × 0.2485 = 0.994 miles) to run 1 mile.
Crafting Project Example
Converting a ribbon length from inches to centimeters:
- Ribbon needed = 18 inches
- Conversion: 18 in × 2.54 = 45.72 centimeters
- You'll need to ask for 46 cm of ribbon to ensure you have enough.
Travel Distance Example
Converting a road trip distance from kilometers to miles:
- Distance on European map = 320 kilometers
- Conversion: 320 km × 0.62137 = 198.8384 miles
- You'll need to budget fuel for approximately 200 miles of driving.
Popular Length Conversions
Looking for specific conversions? Our tool handles all popular length unit calculators in one place. No need to search for separate tools like meters to centimeters calculator, inches to kilometers conversion, or feet to meters calculator.
Meters to Centimeters (m to cm)
Multiply meters by 100 to get centimeters
Inches to Centimeters (in to cm)
Multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters
Feet to Meters (ft to m)
Multiply feet by 0.3048 to get meters
Centimeters to Inches (cm to in)
Multiply centimeters by 0.3937 to get inches
Kilometers to Miles (km to mi)
Multiply kilometers by 0.6214 to get miles
Miles to Kilometers (mi to km)
Multiply miles by 1.6093 to get kilometers
Yards to Meters (yd to m)
Multiply yards by 0.9144 to get meters
Inches to Feet (in to ft)
Divide inches by 12 to get feet
Millimeters to Centimeters (mm to cm)
Divide millimeters by 10 to get centimeters
Frequently Asked Length Conversion Questions
How do I convert meters to centimeters?
To convert from meters to centimeters, multiply the length value by 100. For example, 2.5 meters equals 250 centimeters.
How do I convert inches to centimeters?
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the inch value by 2.54. For example, 10 inches equals 25.4 centimeters.
How many meters are in a kilometer?
There are 1,000 meters in 1 kilometer. To convert from kilometers to meters, multiply the kilometer value by 1,000.
How do I convert miles to kilometers?
To convert miles to kilometers, multiply the mile value by 1.60934. For example, 5 miles equals approximately 8.05 kilometers.
How many feet are in a meter?
There are approximately 3.28084 feet in 1 meter. To convert from meters to feet, multiply the meter value by 3.28084.
Common Uses for Length Conversion
Construction & DIY
Converting between metric and imperial units for building materials, room dimensions, and furniture measurements. Especially useful when working with international blueprints or instructions.
Education & Science
Used in physics, engineering, mathematics, and other scientific disciplines. Converting between units is essential for scientific calculations and solving complex problems.
Travel & Navigation
Understanding distances in foreign countries, converting between miles and kilometers for road trips, and interpreting maps that use different measurement systems.
Shopping & Manufacturing
When purchasing products from international retailers or manufacturing items according to specifications that use different unit systems.