Length Converter
Convert between different units of length including meters, feet, inches, miles, and more.
About Length Units
Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Units (SI), the base unit of length is the meter (m). Different cultures and applications use various units of length, broadly categorized into metric and imperial/US customary systems.
Common Length Units
Metric System
- Kilometer (km): 1,000 meters, used for measuring long distances
- Meter (m): The base unit of length in the metric system
- Centimeter (cm): 1/100 of a meter, used for everyday measurements
- Millimeter (mm): 1/1000 of a meter, used for precise measurements
Imperial/US Customary System
- Mile (mi): 5,280 feet, used for long distances
- Yard (yd): 3 feet, used in fabric measurement and sports
- Foot (ft): 12 inches, common in construction and height measurements
- Inch (in): The smallest commonly used unit in the imperial system
Nautical Measurements
- Nautical Mile (nmi): Approximately 1,852 meters, used in marine and air navigation
Conversion Formulas
To convert between length units, you need to multiply by the appropriate conversion factor. For example:
- 1 meter = 3.28084 feet
- 1 kilometer = 0.621371 miles
- 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
- 1 foot = 0.3048 meters
Applications
Length measurements are used in countless applications:
- Construction and architecture
- Navigation and travel
- Manufacturing and engineering
- Science and research
- Everyday measurements (height, distance, etc.)