About the Miles to KM Converter
This miles to km converter changes a distance in statute miles into kilometers using the exact definition of the mile. It also shows the distance in meters and in feet, and lists common distances in a quick-reference table.
Use it when a running plan, hiking guide or car odometer is in miles but your watch, map or country uses kilometers — or the other way round when you are driving abroad. It is also useful for converting mileage limits on rentals and leases.
One mile is 1.609344 km, so a quick estimate is to multiply by 1.6 (or by 8 and divide by 5). The calculator returns the exact figure.
With the default inputs, the kilometers is 42.1648 km. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the miles to km converter
- 1Type the distance in miles.
- 2Read the answer in kilometers at the top.
- 3Check meters or feet if you need finer units.
- 4Use the table for common distances.
Formula and method
The international mile is defined as 5,280 feet, and the foot is exactly 0.3048 meters, so one mile is exactly 1,609.344 meters or 1.609344 kilometers. Multiplying miles by this factor gives an exact result with no rounding.
Feet are calculated as meters ÷ 0.3048, which for whole miles is simply miles × 5,280. The mental shortcut ×8 ÷5 is within 0.6% of the exact value.
- mi
- Distance in statute miles
- km
- Distance in kilometers
Worked examples
Marathon (26.2 miles)
26.2 × 1.609344 = 42.16 km. (The official marathon is 26.219 mi = 42.195 km; 26.2 is the rounded figure.)
One mile
By definition one mile is 1,609.344 m, or 5,280 feet.
60-mile drive
60 × 1.609344 = 96.56 km — about an hour at 60 mph (97 km/h).
Frequently asked questions
How many km are in a mile?+
One mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometers, or 1,609.344 meters. That definition has been fixed since 1959.
How do I convert miles to km quickly?+
Multiply the miles by 1.6, or multiply by 8 and divide by 5. For 50 miles that gives 80 km; the exact answer is 80.47 km.
How many km is a marathon?+
A marathon is 42.195 km, which is 26.219 miles. A half marathon is 21.0975 km, or 13.109 miles.
Is 100 miles the same as 160 km?+
Almost: 100 miles is 160.93 km. The rounded 160 km figure is close enough for estimates but is short by nearly a kilometer.
Sources