Metric and imperial length units
The metric system builds every length on the meter: a millimeter is a thousandth of it, a centimeter a hundredth, a kilometer a thousand meters. The imperial and US customary system uses the inch, foot, yard and mile, which have been tied to the metric system since 1959: one inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters.
- 1 foot is 12 inches, or exactly 30.48 cm.
- 1 yard is 3 feet, or exactly 0.9144 m.
- 1 mile is 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet, or exactly 1.609344 km.
- 1 nautical mile is exactly 1,852 m. It is used at sea and in aviation.
Common length conversions
| From | Equals |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 2.54 centimeters |
| 1 centimeter | 0.3937007874 inches |
| 1 foot | 0.3048 meters |
| 1 meter | 3.280839895 feet |
| 1 yard | 0.9144 meters |
| 1 mile | 1.609344 kilometers |
| 1 kilometer | 0.6213711922 miles |
| 1 nautical mile | 1.852 kilometers |
Centimeters to inches chart
| Centimeters (cm) | Inches (in) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3937 |
| 2 | 0.7874 |
| 3 | 1.1811 |
| 5 | 1.9685 |
| 10 | 3.937 |
| 15 | 5.9055 |
| 20 | 7.874 |
| 25 | 9.8425 |
| 30 | 11.811 |
| 50 | 19.685 |
| 100 | 39.37 |
Feet to meters chart
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 |
| 2 | 0.6096 |
| 3 | 0.9144 |
| 4 | 1.2192 |
| 5 | 1.524 |
| 6 | 1.8288 |
| 7 | 2.1336 |
| 8 | 2.4384 |
| 10 | 3.048 |
| 20 | 6.096 |
| 50 | 15.24 |
| 100 | 30.48 |
How to use it
- 1Pick the unit you have on the left and the unit you want on the right.
- 2Type a value on either side. The other side updates as you type, and the swap button turns the conversion around.
- 3Read the result and the factor below it, or tap any unit in the list to convert into it. Copy the result or a link to share it.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimeters are in an inch?
Exactly 2.54. The inch was defined this way in 1959, so the conversion is not an approximation: 10 inches are 25.4 cm and 1 cm is about 0.3937 inches.
How do I convert feet and inches to centimeters?
Multiply the feet by 30.48 and the inches by 2.54, then add both. For example, 5 ft 9 in is 152.4 + 22.86 = 175.26 cm.
What is the difference between a mile and a nautical mile?
A mile (statute mile) is 1,609.344 m and is used on roads in the US and UK. A nautical mile is 1,852 m, based on one minute of latitude, and is used at sea and in aviation.
Which foot does the converter use?
The international foot of exactly 0.3048 m. The old US survey foot differed by only two parts per million and was retired at the end of 2022.