Miles to kilometres
Convert miles to kilometres. Multiply by 1.609344 for an exact result, with tables for road distances, races and the nautical mile.
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The formula
kilometres = miles × 1.609344This factor is exact, not approximate. A mile is 1760 yards, a yard is exactly 0.9144 metres, so a mile is exactly 1609.344 metres. This direction of the conversion loses nothing.
To go the other way, divide by 1.609344. See km to miles.
Quick reference
| Miles | Kilometres |
|---|---|
| 1 mi | 1.609 km |
| 5 mi | 8.047 km |
| 10 mi | 16.09 km |
| 26.219 mi | 42.195 km |
| 50 mi | 80.47 km |
| 100 mi | 160.93 km |
Road distances
| Miles | Kilometres |
|---|---|
| 20 mi | 32.2 km |
| 30 mi | 48.3 km |
| 60 mi | 96.6 km |
| 250 mi | 402.3 km |
| 500 mi | 804.7 km |
A useful anchor: 60 miles is almost exactly 96.6 km, and 62 miles is almost exactly 100 km. If a road sign says 100 km and you think in miles, think “a bit over 60”.
Races in miles
| Race | Miles | Kilometres |
|---|---|---|
| Mile | 1 mi | 1.609 km |
| 5 miles | 5 mi | 8.047 km |
| 10 miles | 10 mi | 16.093 km |
| Half marathon | 13.109 mi | 21.0975 km |
| Marathon | 26.219 mi | 42.195 km |
The four-minute mile is 1609 m, which is why a “mile” run on a 400 m track is nine metres longer than four laps.
The nautical mile is a different unit
| Metres | Note | |
|---|---|---|
| Statute mile | 1609.344 | the ordinary mile, and the one on this page |
| Nautical mile | 1852 | one minute of latitude, used at sea and in the air |
A nautical mile is about 15% longer. It is not derived from the yard at all: it was defined as one minute of arc along a meridian and is now fixed by agreement at exactly 1852 metres. This is why speed at sea is measured in knots — one nautical mile per hour — rather than in miles per hour. See knots to km/h.
Distances in aviation and shipping are nautical miles unless stated otherwise. Distances on a road sign never are.
Estimating in your head
Add 60%, or more precisely add half and then a tenth of the original. 30 miles plus 15 plus 3 is 48 km, and the true answer is 48.28 km. That is within 0.6%.