Meter to Versta Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert meters to versts with our free online length converter.
Meter to Versta Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Meter).
- The converted value in Versta 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 Meter to Versta
Converting Meter to Versta involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Meter = 0.000937383 verstsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 meters: 10 × 0.000937383 = 0.00937383 versts
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 Meter and a Versta?
The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. It forms the basis for other metric length units.
The Versta (Russian: верста́, plural: вёрсты, vyorsty) is an obsolete Russian unit of length or distance. It was defined as being equal to 500 sazhenes (саже́нь).
Based on the standardized sajene of 7 English feet (2.1336 meters) established under Peter the Great, one Versta is equal to:
- 1066.8 meters (m)
- 1.0668 kilometers (km)
- Approximately 3500 feet (ft)
- Approximately 0.6629 miles (mi)
Note: The Meter is part of the metric (SI) system, primarily used globally in science and trade. The Versta belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Meter and Versta
Originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian. Later definitions involved prototype bars (platinum-iridium) and wavelengths of krypton-86 radiation before the current definition based on the speed of light was adopted in 1983.
The Versta was a traditional unit of distance in Russia, used since at least the 11th century. Its length varied historically until Peter the Great standardized the Russian system of measures in the 18th century, linking the sajene to the English foot (1 sajene = 7 feet). This fixed the Versta at 500 * 7 = 3500 feet, or 1066.8 meters.
- Imperial Russia: The Versta became the standard unit for measuring road distances throughout the Russian Empire. Roads were often marked with verst posts (верстово́й столб, verstovoy stolb) indicating distances.
- Mezhevaya Versta: A less common "boundary versta" (межева́я верста́, mezhevaya versta) also existed, primarily for land surveying. It was twice as long, equal to 1000 sazhenes (approximately 2.13 km). Unless specified otherwise, "Versta" usually refers to the standard 500-sajene unit.
- Metrication: The Versta became obsolete after the Russian Revolution. The metric system was officially adopted in 1918 and became mandatory in 1925, replacing the traditional Russian units.
Common Uses for meters and versts
Explore the typical applications for both Meter (metric) and Versta (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for meters
- Dimensions & Construction: Measuring room dimensions, building heights, and land plots.
- Science & Engineering: Standard unit in scientific research (physics, engineering).
- Athletics: Track and field events (e.g., 100-meter dash).
- Textiles: Measuring fabric lengths.
- Everyday Measurements: Everyday height and distance measurements in metric countries.
Common Uses for versts
The Versta was primarily used for:
- Measuring Travel Distances: It was the standard unit for road distances between towns and cities in Imperial Russia. Maps, travel guides, and road markers all used Versts.
- Postal System: Distances for mail delivery and stagecoach routes were measured in Versts.
- Literature: The Versta frequently appears in Russian literature of the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., works by Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Chekhov) to describe journeys and distances, adding historical context.
- Military: Used for measuring marching distances and geographical surveys.
Its use today is purely historical or literary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Meter (m)
Is the meter the primary unit of length globally?
Yes, the meter is the base unit for length in the SI system, used by most countries for scientific, industrial, and many everyday purposes.
How was the meter originally defined?
It was first defined based on a fraction of the Earth's meridian distance from the equator to the North Pole.
How is the meter defined today?
It is defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum during a specific fraction of a second (1/299,792,458 s).
About Versta (versta)
How long is a Versta?
A standard Versta is exactly:
- 1066.8 meters
- 1.0668 kilometers
- Approximately 0.6629 miles
- Approximately 3500 feet
- Exactly 500 sazhenes
What were the main related Russian units?
The Versta was part of the Imperial Russian system of measures:
- 1 Versta = 500 Sajenes (саже́нь)
- 1 Sajene = 3 Arshins (арши́н) ≈ 2.13 m / 7 ft
- 1 Arshin = 16 Vershoks (вершо́к) ≈ 71.1 cm / 28 in
- 1 Vershok ≈ 4.445 cm / 1.75 in
Was there more than one type of Versta?
Yes, besides the standard "travel" Versta (500 sazhenes), there was a Mezhevaya Versta ("boundary versta") used for land surveying, which was equal to 1000 sazhenes (about 2.13 km). The 500-sajene Versta was far more common.
Is the Versta still used today?
No, the Versta is obsolete. It was officially replaced by the kilometer and meter when Russia adopted the metric system in the early 20th century (mandatory from 1925). Its use is now confined to historical contexts and literature.
How does a Versta compare to a kilometer or a mile?
- A Versta is slightly longer than a kilometer: 1 Versta ≈ 1.07 km.
- A Versta is significantly shorter than a mile: 1 Versta ≈ 0.66 miles (roughly two-thirds of a mile). Conversely, 1 mile ≈ 1.51 Versts.
Is the Versta an SI unit?
No, the Versta is not an SI unit. It is a traditional unit from the historical Russian system of measurement. The SI base unit for length is the meter (m).
Conversion Table: Meter to Versta
| Meter (m) | Versta (versta) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.009 |
| 25 | 0.023 |
| 50 | 0.047 |
| 100 | 0.094 |
| 500 | 0.469 |
| 1,000 | 0.937 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- 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)
- Arpent (arpent)
- Ri (Japanese) (ri)
- Klafter (klafter)
- Yojana (yojana)
- Skein (skein)