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Length Converter

Convert between metric and imperial length units: millimetres, centimetres, metres, kilometres, inches, feet, yards, miles and nautical miles. The result appears in every unit at once, and whenever feet or inches are involved it is also shown as feet and inches, the way heights are written.

How to use this converter

  1. Enter the value you want to convert.
  2. Choose the unit you are converting from and the unit you want.
  3. Use Swap to reverse the direction. The table below shows the same value in every unit.
  4. For heights, choose Centimetre and Foot: the result is also shown as feet and inches, such as 5 ft 6.9 in for 170 cm.

Formula

Result = Value × (factor of source unit) ÷ (factor of target unit)

factor
how many metres one unit represents, since the metre is the base unit here

Converting through a common base unit means any pair of units can be converted without a separate formula for each pair.

Worked example

Converting 5 kilometres to miles.

  1. To metres5 × 1,000 = 5,000 m
  2. To miles5,000 ÷ 1,609.344

5 km is about 3.1069 miles.

The conversions are exact, not approximate

Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 millimetres by international agreement, which makes every imperial length unit an exact multiple of a metric one. A foot is exactly 0.3048 m, a mile exactly 1,609.344 m, and a nautical mile exactly 1,852 m.

This calculator uses those exact definitions rather than rounded shortcuts, so converting a value and converting it back returns the original number.

Units that are easy to confuse

A nautical mile is longer than a statute mile and is based on the circumference of the Earth: it was originally one minute of latitude. It is used in aviation and shipping, which is why aircraft speeds are quoted in knots, or nautical miles per hour.

Centimetres to feet and inches

Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, then split them into feet (12 inches each) and the inches left over. Choose Centimetre to Foot above and the converter does both steps, showing the answer in feet and inches.

  • 150 cm = 4 ft 11.1 in
  • 160 cm = 5 ft 3.0 in
  • 165 cm = 5 ft 5.0 in
  • 170 cm = 5 ft 6.9 in
  • 175 cm = 5 ft 8.9 in
  • 180 cm = 5 ft 10.9 in

Height in feet and inches to centimetres

Height is the most common length conversion in India, because people say it in feet and inches while forms, medical records and visa applications ask for centimetres. Multiply the total inches by 2.54. Height in centimetres is also what the BMI calculator asks for.

  • 5 ft 0 in = 152.40 cm
  • 5 ft 2 in = 157.48 cm
  • 5 ft 4 in = 162.56 cm
  • 5 ft 6 in = 167.64 cm
  • 5 ft 8 in = 172.72 cm
  • 5 ft 10 in = 177.80 cm
  • 6 ft 0 in = 182.88 cm

Running and travel distances in miles

Race distances are set in kilometres, but many running apps and international sites show miles.

  • 1 km = 0.621 miles
  • 5 km = 3.107 miles
  • 10 km = 6.214 miles
  • Half marathon, 21.0975 km = 13.109 miles
  • Marathon, 42.195 km = 26.219 miles

Things to keep in mind

  • Very large and very small results switch to scientific notation to stay readable.
  • Rounding is applied only for display; the underlying conversion uses full precision.
  • Converting weight instead? Use the weight converter for kilograms, pounds and grams.

Frequently asked questions

How many cm is 5 feet 6 inches?

167.64 cm. Five feet six inches is 66 inches, and 66 × 2.54 = 167.64.

How do I convert cm to feet and inches?

Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12. The whole number is feet and the remainder is inches. For 170 cm: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches, which is 5 feet 6.9 inches.

How many feet are in 1 metre?

1 metre is about 3.28084 feet, or 3 feet 3.4 inches. One foot is exactly 0.3048 metres.

How many kilometres is one mile?

One mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometres, and one kilometre is about 0.621371 miles.

How many centimetres are in a foot?

Exactly 30.48 centimetres, since a foot is twelve inches and an inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres.

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