Mile to Versta Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert miles to versts with our free online length converter.
Mile to Versta Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Mile).
- 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 Mile to Versta
Converting Mile to Versta involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Mile = 1.508571 verstsExample Calculation:
Convert 10 miles: 10 × 1.508571 = 15.08571 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 Mile and a Versta?
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 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 Mile is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Versta belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Mile and Versta
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 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 miles and versts
Explore the typical applications for both Mile (imperial/US) and Versta (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 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 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 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: Mile to Versta
| Mile (mi) | Versta (versta) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.509 |
| 5 | 7.543 |
| 10 | 15.086 |
| 25 | 37.714 |
| 50 | 75.429 |
| 100 | 150.857 |
| 500 | 754.286 |
| 1,000 | 1,508.571 |
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)
- 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)