Length Converter - Convert Length Units

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Unit	Value	Actions
kilometer km
meter m
decimeter dm
centimeter cm
millimeter mm
micrometer µm
nanometer nm
angstrom Å

Unit	Value	Actions
mil mil
fjardingsvag fjärdingsväg
famn famn
steg steg
aln aln
Swedish fot fot
verktum verktum
old Swedish tum tum
verkline verklinje
skrupel skrupel

Unit	Value	Actions
league league
mile mi
furlong furlong
chain chain
rod rd
yard yd
foot ft
link link
hand hand
inch in
line line

Unit	Value	Actions
distance minute distansminut
nautical mile
nautical mile (nautisk mil) nautisk mil
cable length kabellängd

Unit	Value	Actions
thousand of orgium orgium (1000)
Greek mile mile
stadium olympic stadium
stadium ptolemy stadium
stadium attic stadium

Unit	Value	Actions
ri ri
kairi kairi
cho cho
jyo jyo
ken ken
shyaku shyaku
sun sun
mon mon

Unit	Value	Actions
cubit cubit
span span
handbreadth handbreadth

Unit	Value	Actions
parsec pc
light-year ly
astronomical unit AU
light-minute lm
light-second ls

Common mistakes in length conversion

The Scandinavian 'mil' and the English mile sound alike but are completely different distances: a mil is exactly 10 km, while a mile is about 1.609 km. Reading 'miles' as mil makes distances look six times longer than they are. Remember: a mile ≈ 1.6 km, so 60 miles is 96.6 km, not 600 km.
The problem is that 5.5 feet is often mistakenly interpreted as 5 feet 5 inches. However, the decimal part represents a fraction of a foot, not inches. Since one foot equals 12 inches, 0.5 feet = 6 inches, so 5.5 feet is actually 5 feet 6 inches. To convert decimal feet correctly, multiply the fractional part by 12 to get the number of inches.
A nautical mile is 1,852 m, defined from one minute of arc along a meridian, while the statute mile is about 1,609 m. Sea and air distances always use nautical miles, so 100 NM is 185.2 km, roughly 15% longer than 100 statute miles. Check which mile a chart or spec is using before you convert.
A yard looks like a meter but is 0.9144 m, nearly 10% shorter. Over short distances the difference hides; over 1,000 yards it has grown to 86 meters. Multiply yards by 0.9144 to get meters instead of treating them as equal.
Rounding the inch to 2.5 cm feels harmless, but the exact value is 2.54 cm, a 1.6% error. Over a 100-inch measurement that is already 4 cm off, and the error compounds in chained calculations. Use the exact definition: 1 inch = 2.54 cm, exactly.

Quick conversion quiz

Score: 0

10 inch equals 25.4 centimeter.

Correct answer: 10 inch = 25.4 centimeter.

20.7 yard equals 21.8 meter.

Correct answer: 20.7 yard = 18.9 meter.

1.6 inch equals 0.0444 yard.

Correct answer: 1.6 inch = 0.0444 yard.

Definitions

kilometer (km)

1000 meters. The standard unit for geographical distances.

The kilometer is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one thousand meters. It is the primary unit used for expressing distances between geographical places on land in most of the world.

meter (m)

The SI base unit of length. Defined by the speed of light.

The meter is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined in 1793 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole, it has been defined since 1983 as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299 792 458 of a second.

mil (mil)

A Scandinavian unit equal to 10 kilometers.

The 'mil' is a unit of length common in Sweden and Norway. Historically it varied by region, but since 1889 it has been standardized as exactly 10 kilometers. It should not be confused with the English 'mile'.

old Swedish tum (tum)

Old Swedish inch (tum) used before the metric system, about 24.74 mm.

Before Sweden adopted the metric system, the tum (Swedish inch) measured about 24.74 mm - roughly 1/12 of a Swedish foot - noticeably shorter than the modern international inch of exactly 25.4 mm. For the modern inch, use the inch converter.

mile (mi)

Imperial unit equal to 1,760 yards or exactly 1,609.344 meters.

The mile is an English unit of length equal to 5,280 feet, or 1,760 yards. It was standardized as exactly 1,609.344 meters by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959.

yard (yd)

Imperial unit equal to 3 feet or exactly 0.9144 meters.

The yard is a unit of length in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement. It comprises 3 feet or 36 inches. Since 1959, it is strictly defined as exactly 0.9144 meters.

foot (ft)

Imperial unit equal to 12 inches or exactly 0.3048 meters.

The foot is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to 12 inches. Since 1959, the international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters.

inch (in)

Imperial unit equal to 1/12 of a foot or exactly 25.4 mm.

The inch is a unit of length in the British imperial and the United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to 1/36 yard or 1/12 of a foot. Since 1959, the inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 mm.

nautical mile

Unit used in navigation, exactly 1852 meters.

The nautical mile is a unit of length used in air, marine, and space navigation, and for the definition of territorial waters. Historically defined as one minute of latitude, it is now internationally defined as exactly 1852 meters.

parsec (pc)

Astronomical unit approx 3.26 light-years.

The parsec is a unit of length used to measure the large distances to astronomical objects outside the Solar System. It is defined as the distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of one arcsecond. It is approximately equal to 3.26 light-years.

light-year (ly)

The distance light travels in one Julian year.

A light-year is a large unit of length used to express astronomical distances. It is defined as the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one Julian year (365.25 days). It is equivalent to approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers.

astronomical unit (AU)

Average distance from Earth to Sun.

The astronomical unit (symbol: au) is a unit of length, roughly the distance from Earth to the Sun. However, that distance varies as Earth orbits the Sun. The au is defined as exactly 149 597 870 700 meters.

Frequently asked questions

How many centimeters are in an inch?

There are exactly 2.54 centimeters in one inch.

How many kilometers are in a mile?

One mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometers.

How do I convert feet and inches to centimeters?

Convert feet to inches (feet × 12), add remaining inches, then multiply by 2.54 to get centimeters.

How many feet are in a meter?

One meter is about 3.28084 feet. To convert meters to feet, multiply by 3.28084.

What is the difference between a land mile and a nautical mile?

A land (statute) mile is 1,609.344 meters. A nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters and is used in aviation and marine navigation.

What is 1 Swedish “mil” in kilometers, and how is it different from an English mile?

A Swedish mil is exactly 10 km. An English/US mile is about 1.609 km, so they are very different units.

How do I use the length converter on konvertera.nu?

Enter your number, select the unit you have (like inches), select the unit you want (like cm), and the converter shows the result.

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