Kilometer to Centimeter Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert kilometers to centimeters with our free online length converter.
Kilometer to Centimeter Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Kilometer).
- The converted value in Centimeter will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Length category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Kilometer to Centimeter
Converting Kilometer to Centimeter involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Kilometer = 1.0000e+5 centimetersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 kilometers: 10 × 1.0000e+5 = 1.0000e+6 centimeters
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.
What is a Kilometer and a Centimeter?
The kilometer is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one thousand meters (1,000 m). It is commonly used to measure geographic distances.
The centimeter is a unit of length in the metric system equal to one-hundredth of a meter (1/100 m). It is commonly used for smaller everyday measurements.
Note: The Kilometer is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Centimeter belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Kilometer and Centimeter
Derived directly from the meter, the kilometer was established as part of the metric system in the late 18th century to provide a larger, convenient unit for measuring longer distances, such as those between cities or the lengths of roads.
As part of the original French metric system, the centimeter was defined based on the meter. Its convenience for measuring smaller objects made it a widely adopted subunit.
Common Uses for kilometers and centimeters
Explore the typical applications for both Kilometer (metric) and Centimeter (metric) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for kilometers
- Geography & Travel: Measuring distances between geographical locations (cities, countries).
- Transportation: Road signs indicating distances and speed limits (km/h) in metric countries.
- Mapping: Measuring the length of roads, rivers, or coastlines.
- Athletics: Athletic events like long-distance running (e.g., 5k, 10k, marathon).
- Logistics: Calculating travel times and fuel efficiency.
Common Uses for centimeters
- Anthropometry: Measuring human height in many metric countries.
- Everyday Objects: Everyday measurements of small objects (e.g., length of a pencil, width of a book).
- Tools: Rulers and measuring tapes often show centimeters.
- Apparel: Clothing sizes and tailoring measurements.
- Design & Crafts: Technical drawings and crafts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Kilometer (km)
How many meters are in a kilometer?
There are exactly 1,000 meters (m) in 1 kilometer (km).
What does 'kilo' mean in kilometer?
The prefix 'kilo' denotes one thousand (1,000).
Is a kilometer longer or shorter than a mile?
A kilometer is shorter than a mile. One mile is approximately 1.609 kilometers.
About Centimeter (cm)
How many centimeters are in a meter?
There are 100 centimeters (cm) in 1 meter (m).
What does 'centi' mean in centimeter?
The prefix 'centi' denotes one-hundredth (1/100).
How many centimeters are in an inch?
There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in 1 inch.
Conversion Table: Kilometer to Centimeter
| Kilometer (km) | Centimeter (cm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100,000 |
| 5 | 500,000 |
| 10 | 1,000,000 |
| 25 | 2,500,000 |
| 50 | 5,000,000 |
| 100 | 10,000,000 |
| 500 | 50,000,000 |
| 1,000 | 100,000,000 |
All Length Conversions
Metric Prefix Guide
Understanding Metric Prefixes
The metric system uses standard prefixes to indicate multiples or fractions of base units. For example, converting from kilometer to centimeter involves a multiplication factor of 0.000000000000001.
| Prefix | Symbol | Power | Multiplier | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tera | T | 10¹² | 1,000,000,000,000 | teragram (Tg) |
| giga | G | 10⁹ | 1,000,000,000 | gigagram (Gg) |
| mega | M | 10⁶ | 1,000,000 | megagram (Mg) |
| kilo | k | 10³ | 1,000 | kilogram (kg) |
| hecto | h | 10² | 100 | hectogram (hg) |
| deca | da | 10¹ | 10 | decagram (dag) |
| (base) | 10⁰ | 1 | meter (m) | |
| deci | d | 10⁻¹ | 0.1 | decigram (dg) |
| centi | c | 10⁻² | 0.01 | centigram (cg) |
| milli | m | 10⁻³ | 0.001 | milligram (mg) |
| micro | μ | 10⁻⁶ | 0.000001 | microgram (μg) |
| nano | n | 10⁻⁹ | 0.000000001 | nanogram (ng) |
Note: To convert between prefixed units, multiply or divide by powers of 10. For conversions betweenkilometer and centimeter, multiply by 0.000000000000001.
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- Mile (mi)
- Nautical Mile (NM)
- Micrometer (μm)
- Nanometer (nm)
- Light Year (ly)
- Astronomical Unit (AU)
- Parsec (pc)
- Angstrom (Å)
- Point (Typography) (pt)
- Mil/Thou (mil)
- Fathom (fath)
- Furlong (fur)
- Link (Gunter's) (li)
- Pace (pace)
- Span (span)
- Digit (digit)
- Cable Length (cb)
- Ell (ell)
- Finger (finger)
- Roman Mile (m.p.)
- Stadion (stadion)
- Chi (Chinese) (chi)
- Shaku (Japanese) (shaku)
- Li (Chinese) (li)
- Toise (toise)
- Bolt (bolt)
- Rope (rope)
- Smoot (smoot)
- Sajene (sajene)
- Ken (ken)
- Wa (wa)
- Vara (vara)
- Aln (aln)
- Cubit (Royal/Egyptian) (cubit)
- Versta (versta)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)