Length Converter
Convert length between metric, imperial, and nautical units. Enter a decimal or common fraction, edit either side, swap units, and see useful equivalent measurements instantly.
Result
3.2808ft
- Millimetres
- 1,000 mm
- Centimetres
- 100 cm
- Kilometres
- 0.001 km
- Inches
- 39.3701 in
Fractions such as 3/8, 1 1/2, ¼ and ½ are supported. Feet and inches are rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch.
How to use the Length Converter
Enter a length in either field, then choose the units you want to convert between. The other value updates immediately.
You can edit either side, use Swap to reverse the conversion, and copy the result. Inputs can be ordinary decimals or common fractions such as 3/8, 1 1/2, ¼, and ½.
Metric and imperial length units
The converter covers the units most often used for everyday dimensions, height, construction, travel, engineering, and navigation.
Metric units scale around the metre. Millimetres and centimetres are useful for smaller measurements, while kilometres are normally used for longer distances. Inches, feet, yards, and miles use the international definitions shown below.
Length unit reference
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Feet, inches, and fractions
Measurements in feet and inches are common for height, construction, furniture, and product dimensions. A decimal value such as 5.75 feet is mathematically convenient, but 5 feet 9 inches is often easier to understand.
For that reason, the converter also shows a feet-and-inches equivalent where useful. Fractional inputs are accepted directly, so a measurement such as 3/8 inch does not need to be converted to 0.375 before you enter it.
Common fractional inches
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
Common length conversions
Some unit pairs appear far more often than others. The table below gives quick reference values for common metric and imperial conversions.
The live converter uses the same underlying unit definitions and keeps the full numeric value during conversion before formatting the displayed result.
Common length conversions
Swipe horizontally to view the full table.
How length conversion works
Each supported unit can be expressed as a fixed number of metres. The converter first relates the source unit to metres, then converts that value into the selected target unit.
Using a common base unit avoids repeatedly converting through rounded intermediate values.
Exact conversions and measurement accuracy
Several length relationships are exact. One inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres, one international foot is exactly 0.3048 metre, and one international mile is exactly 1,609.344 metres.
An exact conversion factor does not make the original measurement more accurate. A value measured only to the nearest centimetre still carries that original uncertainty after it is converted to inches or feet.
International foot and U.S. survey foot
Oliv ez uses the international foot of exactly 0.3048 metre. This is the standard foot used for modern general-purpose conversion.
The former U.S. survey foot was slightly different and is now mainly relevant when working with older surveying, mapping, coordinate, or engineering records. If a legacy dataset explicitly specifies survey feet, use the unit definition supplied with that dataset.
Miles and nautical miles are different
An international statute mile equals exactly 1,609.344 metres. A nautical mile equals exactly 1,852 metres, so the two should not be used interchangeably.
Statute miles are common for road and land distance, while nautical miles are used primarily in marine navigation and aviation.
Length conversion formula
Each unit is represented by the number of metres in one unit.
Formula variables
- Length in the source unit
- Length in the target unit
- Metres represented by one source unit
- Metres represented by one target unit
Examples
Convert metres to feet
1Input
1 m
Show result
Result
3.2808 ft
Convert feet to metres
2Input
6 ft
Show result
Result
1.8288 m
Convert inches to centimetres
3Input
12 in
Show result
Result
30.48 cm
Convert a fractional inch to millimetres
4Input
3/8 in
Show result
Result
9.525 mm
Convert kilometres to miles
5Input
5 km
Show result
Result
3.1069 mi
Convert miles to kilometres
6Input
10 mi
Show result
Result
16.09344 km
Frequently Asked Questions
How many feet are in one metre?
One metre is approximately 3.2808 international feet.
How many metres are in one foot?
One international foot equals exactly 0.3048 metre.
How many inches are in one metre?
One metre is approximately 39.3701 inches.
How many centimetres are in one inch?
One international inch equals exactly 2.54 centimetres.
How many kilometres are in one mile?
One international mile equals exactly 1.609344 kilometres.
Can I enter fractions such as 3/8 or 1 1/2?
Yes. You can enter typed fractions such as 3/8 and mixed values such as 1 1/2. Common fraction characters such as ¼, ½, and ¾ are also supported.
Why does the converter also show feet and inches?
Decimal feet are useful for calculations, but feet and inches are often easier to read for height, construction, and everyday measurements. The combined value is rounded to the nearest 1/16 inch.
Is a nautical mile the same as a regular mile?
No. A nautical mile equals exactly 1,852 metres, while an international statute mile equals exactly 1,609.344 metres.
Does this converter use the U.S. survey foot?
No. It uses the international foot of exactly 0.3048 metre. The former U.S. survey foot is mainly relevant to historic and legacy surveying data.
Can I use this for square feet or cubic feet?
No. This converter handles one-dimensional length. Area and volume use squared or cubed conversion factors, so they should be converted with the appropriate area or volume tool.
Can this calculate driving distance?
No. It converts a length or distance value you already know. It does not calculate routes or distances between locations.
Are my measurements uploaded?
No. Length conversion runs locally in your browser.