UnitsConverter.io

Kilometer (km) - Unit Information & Conversion

Symbol:km
Plural:kilometers
Category:Length

What is a Kilometer?

Definition

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.

History

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

  • 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.

Unit FAQs

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.

Kilometer Conversion Formulas

To Meter:

1 km = 1000 m
Example: 5 kilometers = 5000 meters

To Hectometer:

1 km = 10 hm
Example: 5 kilometers = 50 hectometers

To Decimeter:

1 km = 10000 dm
Example: 5 kilometers = 50000 decimeters

To Centimeter:

1 km = 100000 cm
Example: 5 kilometers = 500000 centimeters

To Millimeter:

1 km = 1000000 mm
Example: 5 kilometers = 5000000 millimeters

To Inch:

1 km = 39370.07874 in
Example: 5 kilometers = 196850.393701 inches

To Foot:

1 km = 3280.839895 ft
Example: 5 kilometers = 16404.199475 feet

To Yard:

1 km = 1093.613298 yd
Example: 5 kilometers = 5468.066492 yards

To Mile:

1 km = 0.621371 mi
Example: 5 kilometers = 3.106856 miles

To Nautical Mile:

1 km = 0.539957 NM
Example: 5 kilometers = 2.699784 nautical miles

To Micrometer:

1 km = 1000000000 μm
Example: 5 kilometers = 5000000000 micrometers

To Nanometer:

1 km = 999999999999.9999 nm
Example: 5 kilometers = 5000000000000 nanometers

To Light Year:

1 km = 1.0570e-13 ly
Example: 5 kilometers = 5.2849e-13 light years

To Astronomical Unit:

1 km = 6.6845e-9 AU
Example: 5 kilometers = 3.3422e-8 astronomical units

To Parsec:

1 km = 3.2408e-14 pc
Example: 5 kilometers = 1.6204e-13 parsecs

To Angstrom:

1 km = 10000000000000 Å
Example: 5 kilometers = 50000000000000 angstroms

To Point (Typography):

1 km = 2834643.883689 pt
Example: 5 kilometers = 14173219.418444 points

To Mil/Thou:

1 km = 39370078.740157 mil
Example: 5 kilometers = 196850393.700787 mils

To Fathom:

1 km = 546.806649 fath
Example: 5 kilometers = 2734.033246 fathoms

To Furlong:

1 km = 4.97097 fur
Example: 5 kilometers = 24.854848 furlongs

To Link (Gunter's):

1 km = 4970.969538 li
Example: 5 kilometers = 24854.847689 links

To Pace:

1 km = 1312.335958 pace
Example: 5 kilometers = 6561.67979 paces

To Span:

1 km = 4374.453193 span
Example: 5 kilometers = 21872.265967 spans

To Digit:

1 km = 52493.43832 digit
Example: 5 kilometers = 262467.191601 digits

To Cable Length:

1 km = 5.399568 cb
Example: 5 kilometers = 26.99784 cable lengths

To Ell:

1 km = 874.890639 ell
Example: 5 kilometers = 4374.453193 ells

To Finger:

1 km = 8748.906387 finger
Example: 5 kilometers = 43744.531934 fingers

To Roman Mile:

1 km = 0.675676 m.p.
Example: 5 kilometers = 3.378378 Roman miles

To Stadion:

1 km = 5.405405 stadion
Example: 5 kilometers = 27.027027 stadia

To Chi (Chinese):

1 km = 3000.30003 chi
Example: 5 kilometers = 15001.50015 chi

To Shaku (Japanese):

1 km = 3300.330033 shaku
Example: 5 kilometers = 16501.650165 shaku

To Li (Chinese):

1 km = 2 li
Example: 5 kilometers = 10 li

To Toise:

1 km = 513.083633 toise
Example: 5 kilometers = 2565.418163 toise

To Bolt:

1 km = 32.808399 bolt
Example: 5 kilometers = 164.041995 bolts

To Rope:

1 km = 164.041995 rope
Example: 5 kilometers = 820.209974 ropes

To Smoot:

1 km = 587.613116 smoot
Example: 5 kilometers = 2938.065578 smoots

To Sajene:

1 km = 468.691414 sajene
Example: 5 kilometers = 2343.457068 sajenes

To Ken:

1 km = 550.055006 ken
Example: 5 kilometers = 2750.275028 ken

To Wa:

1 km = 500 wa
Example: 5 kilometers = 2500 wa

To Vara:

1 km = 1193.032689 vara
Example: 5 kilometers = 5965.163445 varas

To Aln:

1 km = 1683.501684 aln
Example: 5 kilometers = 8417.508418 alnar

To Cubit (Royal/Egyptian):

1 km = 1912.045889 cubit
Example: 5 kilometers = 9560.229446 cubits

To Versta:

1 km = 0.937383 versta
Example: 5 kilometers = 4.686914 versts

To Arpent:

1 km = 17.102495 arpent
Example: 5 kilometers = 85.512476 arpents

To Ri (Japanese):

1 km = 0.254647 ri
Example: 5 kilometers = 1.273237 ri

To Klafter:

1 km = 527.287108 klafter
Example: 5 kilometers = 2636.435539 klafter

To Yojana:

1 km = 0.074074 yojana
Example: 5 kilometers = 0.37037 yojanas

To Skein:

1 km = 9.113444 skein
Example: 5 kilometers = 45.567221 skeins

Convert Kilometer

Need to convert Kilometer to other length units? Use our conversion tool.

Go to Length ConverterConvert from Kilometer

Kilometer Quick Info

km
Symbol:km
Category:Length
System:Metric (SI)
Convert Kilometer

Related Length Units

Popular Conversions

See all length conversions →