Miles To Kilometers Conversion

1 mi = 1.60934 km

Want to convert from kilometers to miles instead?

Disclaimer: We've spent hundreds of hours building and testing our calculators and conversion tools. However, we cannot be held liable for any damages or losses (monetary or otherwise) arising out of or in connection with their use. Full disclaimer.

The Ratio Between Miles and Kilometers

Visualising the relationship between miles and kilometers makes it easier to convert between the two. Miles are used to establish the baseline ruler and the kilometers ruler is sized in relation to that baseline.

conversion scale showing the ratio between miles and the equivalent number of kilometers

How to convert miles to kilometers (mi to km)

Converting miles to kilometers involves a straightforward multiplication using the conversion factor of 1.60934, where 1 mile is equivalent to approximately 1.60934 kilometers. To perform the conversion, you simply multiply the number of miles by this factor. Therefore, the formula for converting from miles to kms is: km = mi × 1.60934.

Example Conversion

Let's take a look at an example. The step-by-step process to convert 5 miles to kilometers is:

Understand the conversion formula: km = mi × 1.60934
Substitute the required value. In this case we substitute 5 for mi so the formula becomes: km = 5 × 1.60934
Calculate the result using the provided values. In our example the result is: 5 × 1.60934 = 8.0467 km

In summary, 5 miles is equal to 8.0467 kilometers.

Converting kilometers to miles

In order to convert the other way around i.e. kilometers to miles, you would use the following formula: mi = km ÷ 1.609. To convert kilometers to miles first substitute the kilometer value into the above formula, and then execute the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 kilometer in miles we follow these steps:

mi = km ÷ 1.609

mi = 1 ÷ 1.609

mi = 0.621504039776258545680546923555

Or in other words, 1 kilometer is equal to 0.621504039776258545680546923555 miles.

Conversion Unit Definitions

What is a Mile?

The mile is a unit of length primarily used in the United States and a few other countries that have historical ties to the British Empire. It is defined as 5,280 feet or approximately 1.609 kilometers. The mile is commonly used to measure longer distances, especially in transportation, sports, and everyday contexts in countries that have not fully adopted the metric system.

Here are some more details about the mile:

Historical Context: The mile has a long history and can be traced back to ancient Roman measurements. It was standardized and defined differently over time, but the modern definition was established in the 16th century.
Imperial and US Customary Systems: The mile is a fundamental unit of length in both the Imperial system (used in the UK) and the United States Customary system. These systems of measurement are closely related and share many common units. The mile is divided into feet, and each foot is further divided into inches.
Length Conversion: As mentioned earlier, one mile is equal to 5,280 feet or approximately 1.609 kilometers. Conversely, one foot is equal to 1/5,280th of a mile, and one inch is equal to 1/63,360th of a mile.
Common Uses: The mile is often used to measure longer distances, especially in transportation, sports events (such as marathons), and everyday contexts in countries that have not fully transitioned to the metric system. It is commonly employed in fields such as road signs, aviation, maritime navigation, and athletic competitions.
Symbol: The symbol for mile is "mi". For example, a measurement of 5 miles would be written as 5 mi.
Subdivisions: The mile can be divided into smaller units to measure finer lengths. The most common subdivision used in practical contexts is the yard, where one mile is equal to 1,760 yards. In some specific applications, even smaller subdivisions like the furlong or rod may be used.
International Usage: While the metric system (based on the meter) is the predominant system of measurement used worldwide, the mile is still used in certain countries, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, in everyday contexts. However, in scientific, technical, and international contexts, the kilometer is typically used for consistency and compatibility.

What is a Kilometer?

A kilometer is a unit of length in the metric system, derived from the meter. It is defined as 1,000 meters or approximately 0.621 miles. The kilometer is commonly used to measure longer distances, such as the length of roads, distances between cities, or geographical features.

Here are some more details about the kilometer:

Metric System: The kilometer is part of the metric system, which is widely used around the world. The metric system provides a decimal-based system of measurement that offers simplicity, consistency, and ease of conversion across different scientific, industrial, and everyday applications.
Length Conversion: One kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters or 100,000 centimeters. Conversely, one meter is equal to 0.001 kilometers.
Common Uses: The kilometer is often used to measure longer distances, especially in transportation, geography, and mapping. It is commonly employed in fields such as road construction, civil engineering, sports events, and travel planning. Kilometers are used on road signs, in maps, and for indicating the distance between different locations.
Symbol: The symbol for kilometer is "km". For example, a measurement of 5 kilometers would be written as 5 km.
Subdivisions: The kilometer is a larger unit of measurement, and it can be divided into smaller units for more precise measurements. For example, one kilometer is equal to 1,000 meters or one million millimeters.
International Usage: The kilometer is widely accepted and used internationally as a standard unit of measurement. It is embraced in most countries that have adopted the metric system. Its universal usage promotes consistency and facilitates communication, collaboration, and compatibility across various fields and regions.
Advantages: The kilometer offers a convenient unit for measuring longer distances. Its decimal nature allows for easy conversion to other metric units and simplifies calculations involving measurements. The use of the kilometer in the metric system provides a consistent and standardized approach to measuring distances globally.