How the conversion works
Every length unit on this page is defined by a fixed, exact factor to one base unit, the meter. To convert, the value is first expressed in meters and then divided by the target unit's factor. Because these factors are international definitions rather than measurements, the result is exact up to the limits of floating-point arithmetic: one inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters, one foot as exactly 0.3048 meters, one yard as 0.9144 meters, one mile as 1,609.344 meters, and one nautical mile as 1,852 meters.
The converter updates as you type. Use the swap button to reverse the direction without retyping your value.
Common conversions
These figures are produced by the same conversion engine the tool uses, not typed in by hand.
| From | To |
|---|---|
| 1 meter | 3.280839895 feet |
| 1 foot | 0.3048 meters |
| 1 inch | 2.54 centimeters |
| 1 centimeter | 0.3937007874 inches |
| 1 kilometer | 0.6213711922 miles |
| 1 mile | 1.609344 kilometers |
| 1 yard | 0.9144 meters |
| 1 nautical mile | 1.852 kilometers |
Metric and imperial
Most of the world uses the metric system for everyday lengths, while the United States commonly uses inches, feet, yards and miles. Both systems are now defined in terms of the meter, which is why an imperial-to-metric conversion has an exact answer rather than an approximate one. The nautical mile is used at sea and in aviation and is unrelated to the land (statute) mile.
Precision
Results are shown to up to 10 significant digits with trailing zeros removed, so 1 meter displays as 3.280839895 feet. The unrounded value is what the engine computes; the display only trims digits you are unlikely to need. Very large and very small values keep their full magnitude.