Mile to Kilometer Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert miles to kilometers with our free online length converter.
Mile to Kilometer Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mile).
- The converted value in Kilometer 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 Kilometer
Converting Mile to Kilometer involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Mile = 1.609344 kilometersExample Calculation:
Convert 10 miles: 10 × 1.609344 = 16.09344 kilometers
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 Kilometer?
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 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.
Note: The Mile is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Kilometer belongs to the metric (SI) system.
History of the Mile and Kilometer
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.
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.
Common Uses for miles and kilometers
Explore the typical applications for both Mile (imperial/US) and Kilometer (metric) 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 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.
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 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.
Conversion Table: Mile to Kilometer
| Mile (mi) | Kilometer (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.609 |
| 5 | 8.047 |
| 10 | 16.093 |
| 25 | 40.234 |
| 50 | 80.467 |
| 100 | 160.934 |
| 500 | 804.672 |
| 1,000 | 1,609.344 |
All Length Conversions
Other Units from Length
- Meter (m)
- 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)
- 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)