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Length Converter

Type a value and pick the units. The result updates as you type, and the line below shows what one unit is worth in the other.

Result

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Metric and imperial, exactly

Since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, the imperial units are defined in terms of the metric ones: one inch is exactly 25.4 mm, one foot exactly 0.3048 m, one mile exactly 1609.344 m. These are definitions, not measurements, so converting between the systems introduces no error of its own.

That is why 1 cm reads as 0.393701 inches rather than a rounder number — the awkward decimal is on the imperial side, and it is exact.

Frequently asked questions

How many inches are in a centimeter?

One centimeter is 0.393701 inches. Going the other way, one inch is exactly 2.54 centimeters — that direction is the exact one, because the inch is defined from the metre.

How do I convert meters to feet?

Multiply by 3.28084. One metre is 3.28084 feet, and one foot is exactly 0.3048 metres.

Is a mile the same everywhere?

The statute mile used in the US and UK is 1609.344 m, and that is what this tool uses. The nautical mile is different — 1852 m — and is used for sea and air navigation.

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