Mile to Furlong Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert miles to furlongs with our free online length converter.
Mile to Furlong Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mile).
- The converted value in Furlong 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 Mile to Furlong
Converting Mile to Furlong involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Mile = 8 furlongs
Example Calculation:
Convert 10 miles: 10 × 8 = 80 furlongs
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 Mile and a Furlong?
The mile, specifically the international statute mile, is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems. It is defined as exactly 5,280 feet, 1,760 yards, or approximately 1.609344 kilometers.
The Furlong (symbol fur) is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement. It is defined as exactly one-eighth of a mile (1/8 mi). This is equivalent to 220 yards (yd), 660 feet (ft), or precisely 201.168 meters (m).
Note: The Mile is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Furlong belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Mile and Furlong
The mile originated from the Roman "mille passus", meaning "thousand paces" (where a pace was two steps). Its length varied considerably until Queen Elizabeth I of England standardized it as 5,280 feet in 1593. The international mile agreement of 1959 confirmed its definition based on the metric system.
The name "furlong" derives from the Old English words furh (furrow) and lang (long). It originally represented the approximate distance a team of oxen could plow without rest within a typical English open field system. It also related to the traditional size of an acre, which was conceived as an area of land one furlong long and one chain (66 feet) wide. The furlong was standardized as 40 rods (a rod being 5.5 yards) or 10 chains. While historically significant in agriculture and land surveying, its use has greatly diminished with the adoption of metric units and the decline of the imperial system for general measurements.
Common Uses for miles and furlongs
Explore the typical applications for both Mile (imperial/US) and Furlong (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for miles
- Geography & Travel (US/UK): Measuring geographic distances and road lengths in the US, UK, and some other countries.
- Transportation (US/UK): Road speed limits (miles per hour, mph) in the US and UK.
- Maritime & Aviation: Nautical and aviation use a related unit, the nautical mile (approx. 1.852 km).
- Athletics: Running events (e.g., the mile run).
Common Uses for furlongs
Although largely obsolete for general use, the furlong persists in specific contexts:
- Horse Racing: Its most prominent modern use is in measuring race distances in countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, and Canada. Race lengths are frequently given in furlongs (e.g., a 6-furlong sprint).
- Historical Context: Encountered in historical documents, land deeds, and literature referring to land measurement or travel distances in imperial units.
- Figurative Language: Occasionally used informally or figuratively to denote a distance, though this is rare.
- Myanmar (Burma): The furlong remains in common use in Myanmar as a customary unit alongside the mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Mile (mi)
How many feet are in a mile?
There are exactly 5,280 feet (ft) in 1 mile (mi).
How many yards are in a mile?
There are exactly 1,760 yards (yd) in 1 mile (mi).
Is a mile longer or shorter than a kilometer?
A mile (approx. 1.609 km) is longer than a kilometer (1 km).
About Furlong (fur)
How many furlongs are in a mile?
There are exactly 8 furlongs in 1 mile.
How many yards/feet/meters are in a furlong?
One furlong is equal to:
- 220 yards (yd)
- 660 feet (ft)
- 201.168 meters (m) (exactly)
Where is the furlong used most often today?
Its primary modern application is in horse racing in several English-speaking countries (UK, Ireland, USA, Canada), where it is the standard unit for race distances. It also sees some continued customary use in Myanmar.
Is the furlong an SI unit?
No, the furlong is not part of the International System of Units (SI). It belongs to the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The corresponding SI unit for length is the meter (m).
Why is it called a furlong?
The name comes from Old English furlang, meaning "furrow long," reflecting its origin as the length of a furrow a team of oxen could plow in an acre strip before needing rest.
Conversion Table: Mile to Furlong
Mile (mi) | Furlong (fur) |
---|---|
1 | 8 |
5 | 40 |
10 | 80 |
25 | 200 |
50 | 400 |
100 | 800 |
500 | 4,000 |
1,000 | 8,000 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- Kilometer (km)
- Hectometer (hm)
- Decimeter (dm)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Inch (in)
- Foot (ft)
- Yard (yd)
- 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)
- 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)