Example: Miles to Kilometers
Convert 10 miles to kilometers.
Result: 16.093440 km
Formula: 10 × 1.609344 = 16.09344
Miles Conversions
Miles to Everything Converter.
Convert Miles to metric, imperial, nautical, survey and astronomy units: kilometers, meters, centimeters, millimeters, feet, inches, yards, nautical miles, light years, astronomical units, parsecs, furlongs, chains, rods, hands, leagues, decimeters, micrometers, nanometers, picometers, megameters, gigameters, terameters, survey miles, cable lengths, steps, paces, blocks, stadiums and earth circumference.
1 mi = 1.609344 km (exact)
1 mi = 5280 ft
1 nmi = 1852 m (exact)
1 AU ≈ 149,597,870,700 m
1 ly ≈ 9.4607×10¹⁵ m
1 pc ≈ 3.0857×10¹⁶ m
Exact vs approximate
Many conversions are exact (mile to feet or km). Some astronomy values use standard definitions and are shown as practical approximations.
Everyday units
Steps, paces and blocks depend on human stride or city layout. This converter uses common default estimates you can adjust.
Survey mile
Survey miles are slightly different from international miles. Use survey units for land surveying data.
Interactive Miles Converter
Choose a Miles conversion target, enter miles, then copy the converted result. Swap lets you convert back to miles.
Conversion explanation
Miles to Kilometers
Convert miles to kilometers for metric distance.
Base unit: m
Plain language
A mile is a common US distance unit. Kilometers are used worldwide.
Common formula
km = miles × 1.609344
Real world uses
Travel, running, maps and international distances.
Steps length
Default 0.762 m per step (about 2.5 ft)
m/step
Pace length
Default 1.5 m per pace
m/pace
Block length
Default 1 block = 0.1 mi (common estimate)
mi/block
Stadium lap
Default 1 lap = 400 m (track)
m/lap
Tip: You can type commas (like 10,000). The converter reads it as 10000.
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Enter a value to convert
Conversion Formula
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Notes: Astronomy units are large. Values are shown with scientific notation when needed.
Unit Comparison Chart
Visual comparison of common mile conversions. See how different units relate to each other at a glance.
| Unit | Type | 1 Mile Equals | Relative Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kilometers (km) | Metric | 1.609344 | |
| Meters (m) | Metric | 1,609.344 | |
| Feet (ft) | Imperial | 5,280 | |
| Yards (yd) | Imperial | 1,760 | |
| Inches (in) | Imperial | 63,360 | |
| Nautical Miles (nmi) | Navigation | 0.868976 | |
| Furlongs | Imperial | 8 | |
| Light Years (ly) | Astronomy | 1.701×10⁻¹³ |
Worked Examples
Quick examples visitors recognize: miles to km, nautical miles and earth circumference percent.
Example: Miles to Nautical Miles
Convert 100 miles to nautical miles.
Result: 86.897624 nmi
Formula: 100 × (1609.344 ÷ 1852) = 86.90
Example: Miles as % of Earth Circumference
How much is 500 miles around Earth?
Result: 2.0079% of Earth
Earth circumference: ~40,075 km
Understanding Mile Conversions
Learn about the different types of miles and when to use each conversion.
Statute Mile (International Mile)
The statute mile is the standard mile used in the United States and most English-speaking countries. It equals exactly 1,609.344 meters or 5,280 feet. This is the default mile used in everyday travel, road signs, and distance measurements.
Quick facts:
- • 1 mile = 5,280 feet (exact)
- • 1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers (exact)
- • Used for: Road distances, speed limits, running races
Nautical Mile
A nautical mile is used in maritime and aviation navigation. It's defined as exactly 1,852 meters and is based on the Earth's circumference. One nautical mile corresponds to one minute of arc along a meridian.
Quick facts:
- • 1 nautical mile = 1,852 meters (exact)
- • 1 statute mile = 0.869 nautical miles
- • Used for: Ships, aircraft, GPS coordinates
Survey Mile (US Survey Mile)
The US survey mile is used in land surveying and property measurements. It's slightly longer than the statute mile, based on the US survey foot definition. The difference is about 3.2 millimeters per mile.
Quick facts:
- • 1 survey mile = 5,280 survey feet
- • Slightly longer than statute mile
- • Used for: Land surveying, property boundaries
Metric Conversions
Converting miles to metric units (kilometers, meters, centimeters) is straightforward because the relationship is exact. One mile equals exactly 1.609344 kilometers, making metric conversion simple and precise.
Quick facts:
- • 1 mile = 1.609344 km (exact)
- • 1 mile = 1,609.344 meters
- • Used for: International travel, scientific work
Distance Scale Reference
How miles compare to other common distances you might recognize.
1 Mile
Standard US distance
1.609 km
~20 minute walk
5 Miles
Common run distance
8.047 km
~1.5 hour walk
10 Miles
Half marathon distance
16.093 km
~3 hour walk
26.2 Miles
Marathon distance
42.195 km
~4 hour run
100 Miles
Ultra-distance run
160.934 km
~2 day journey
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about mile conversions and distance measurements.
Why is 1 mile exactly 1.609344 km?
The international yard and pound agreement of 1959 defined 1 yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. Since 1 mile = 1,760 yards, this makes 1 mile = 1,609.344 meters exactly.
When should I use nautical miles?
Nautical miles are used for maritime and aviation navigation. They relate directly to latitude/longitude coordinates, making them essential for navigation charts and GPS systems.
What's the difference between statute and survey miles?
A survey mile is based on the US survey foot (1200/3937 meters) and is about 3.2 mm longer than a statute mile. Survey miles are used for land surveying; statute miles for everyday use.
How many steps in a mile?
With an average step of 2.5 feet (0.762 m), one mile (5,280 feet) equals about 2,112 steps. This varies based on height and stride length.
Why do astronomers use light years?
A light year measures the distance light travels in one year (~9.46 trillion kilometers). For cosmic distances, this unit is more practical than miles or kilometers.
How far around Earth is 500 miles?
Earth's equatorial circumference is about 40,075 km. So 500 miles (804.67 km) represents about 2% of Earth's circumference.