Radian to Mil Converter
Convert radians to mils with our free online angle converter.
Quick Answer
1 Radian = 1018.591636 mils
Formula: Radian × conversion factor = Mil
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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All conversion formulas on UnitsConverter.io have been verified against NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) guidelines and international SI standards. Our calculations are accurate to 10 decimal places for standard conversions and use arbitrary precision arithmetic for astronomical units.
Radian to Mil Calculator
How to Use the Radian to Mil Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Radian).
- The converted value in Mil will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Angle category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Radian to Mil: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Radian to Mil involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
mil = rad × 1018.59Example Calculation:
1 rad = 1018.591636 mil
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other angle units?
View all Angle conversions →What is a Radian and a Mil?
A radian is the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc equal in length to the radius. 1 radian ≈ 57.2958 degrees.
Key values:
- π radians = 180°
- 2π radians = 360°
- 1 radian = 180/π ≈ 57.296°
Why Radians Matter
The radian is unique because it's dimensionless:
- Definition: Arc length ÷ Radius = Angle in radians
- Dimensionless: Ratio of two lengths (meters ÷ meters = just a number)
- Natural for math: Calculus formulas work perfectly with radians (no messy constants)
- SI standard: The official unit for angles in physics and engineering
- Degrees are arbitrary: Based on Babylonian base-60 system (historical accident)
NATO mil: 1 mil = 1/6400 of a circle ≈ 0.05625 degrees ≈ 0.000982 radians
Alternative definitions:
- NATO/US military: 6400 mils = 360° (standard)
- Soviet/Russian: 6000 mils = 360°
- Swedish: 6300 mils = 360°
- True milliradian: 1000 milliradians = 1 radian (6283.2 mils = 360°)
Key conversions (NATO mil):
- 1 mil ≈ 0.05625 degrees
- 1600 mils = 90 degrees (right angle)
- 3200 mils = 180 degrees
- 6400 mils = 360 degrees (full circle)
Note: The Radian is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Mil belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
Common Uses and Applications: radians vs mils
Explore the typical applications for both Radian (imperial/US) and Mil (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for radians
Mathematics: Required unit for calculus (derivatives, integrals of trig functions only work with radians). Physics: Angular velocity (rad/s), rotational motion, oscillations, wave propagation. Engineering: Computer graphics, robotics, signal processing, control systems. Programming: All major languages (Python, JavaScript, C++) use radians for sin(), cos(), tan().
When to Use mils
Military Artillery: Gun laying, indirect fire calculations, ballistic corrections. Sniper Operations: Scope adjustments, windage, elevation corrections for long-range shooting. Rangefinding: Estimating target distance using known target size and angular measurements. Fire Control Systems: Tank gunnery, naval artillery, anti-aircraft targeting.
Additional Unit Information
About Radian (rad)
How do I convert radians to degrees?
Formula: degrees = radians × (180/π) = radians × 57.2958
Examples:
- 1 rad = 57.3°
- π/2 rad = 90°
- π rad = 180°
- 2π rad = 360°
How many radians in 180 degrees?
180° = π radians ≈ 3.14159 radians
This is the fundamental relationship between degrees and radians.
Why use radians instead of degrees?
Mathematical simplicity: d/dx[sin(x)] = cos(x) ONLY when x is in radians. Physics advantage: Angular velocity formulas are much simpler with radians. Programming standard: All programming languages default to radians for trig functions.
About Mil (mil)
How do I convert mils to degrees?
Formula (NATO mil): Degrees = Mils × (360/6400) = Mils × 0.05625
Examples:
- 100 mils = 5.625°
- 1600 mils = 90°
- 3200 mils = 180°
- 6400 mils = 360°
- 1 mil ≈ 0.05625°
How do mils work for range estimation?
Fundamental principle: At 1000 meters, 1 mil subtends approximately 1 meter.
Range formula: Range (m) = (Object size in meters × 1000) ÷ Object size in mils
Common target sizes:
- Adult human: ~1.7m tall
- Doorway: ~2m tall
- Car: ~4m long, ~1.5m tall
- Tank: ~3m wide, ~2.5m tall
- Shipping container: ~12m long, ~2.5m tall
Example: If a 2-meter tall object appears to be 4 mils in your scope, it's 500 meters away: (2 × 1000) ÷ 4 = 500m
What's the difference between NATO mils and Russian mils?
NATO/US Military: 6400 mils = 360° (1 mil = 0.05625°)
- Used by NATO countries, US military, most Western forces
- Divides circle into 6400 parts (approximation of 2000π)
Soviet/Russian: 6000 mils = 360° (1 mil = 0.06°)
- Used by Russian and former Soviet militaries
- Divides circle into 6000 parts (decimal convenience)
Practical impact: Russian mil is slightly larger. Always verify which system your equipment uses. Most modern Western civilian and military equipment uses NATO mils.
How do mil-dot scopes work?
Mil-dot reticle: Crosshairs marked with dots spaced 1 mil apart (center-to-center).
Applications:
- Range estimation: Measure target size in mils, calculate distance
- Holdover: Use lower dots for bullet drop compensation
- Windage: Use horizontal dots for wind drift correction
- Moving targets: Lead calculation using mil spacing
Example: Target (1.7m tall person) covers 2 mil-dots → Range = (1.7 × 1000) ÷ 2 = 850 meters
Modern variations: Mil-dot, mil-hash, Christmas tree reticles all use milliradian spacing for calculations.
Conversion Table: Radian to Mil
| Radian (rad) | Mil (mil) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 509.296 |
| 1 | 1,018.592 |
| 1.5 | 1,527.888 |
| 2 | 2,037.183 |
| 5 | 5,092.958 |
| 10 | 10,185.916 |
| 25 | 25,464.791 |
| 50 | 50,929.582 |
| 100 | 101,859.164 |
| 250 | 254,647.909 |
| 500 | 509,295.818 |
| 1,000 | 1,018,591.636 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Radian to Mil?
To convert Radian to Mil, enter the value in Radian in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our angle converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Radian to Mil?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Radian and Mil. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Mil back to Radian?
Yes! You can easily convert Mil back to Radian by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Mil to Radian converter page. You can also explore other angle conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Radian and Mil?
Radian and Mil are both standard units used in angle measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our angle converter for more conversion options.
For more angle conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
Helpful Conversion Guides
Learn more about unit conversion with our comprehensive guides:
📚 How to Convert Units
Step-by-step guide to unit conversion with practical examples.
🔢 Conversion Formulas
Essential formulas for angle and other conversions.
⚖️ Metric vs Imperial
Understand the differences between measurement systems.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Learn about frequent errors and how to avoid them.
All Angle Conversions
Other Angle Units and Conversions
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Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Fundamental physical constants and unit conversions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — International System of Units (SI) definitions and standards
International Organization for Standardization — Quantities and units international standards series
Last verified: February 19, 2026