Understanding Miles to Kilometers Conversion
Converting between miles (mi) and kilometers (km)
is essential when working with distances from different measurement systems.
The mile is a unit of distance in the imperial system, primarily used in the United States, United Kingdom,
and other English-speaking countries. The kilometer is the standard unit of distance in the International System (SI),
used in most countries worldwide.
What is a Mile?
The mile is an Anglo-Saxon unit of distance measurement. Its value is internationally standardized:
- 1 mile = 1.609344 kilometers exactly
- 1 mile = 1,760 yards
- 1 mile = 5,280 feet
- 1 mile = 63,360 inches
This unit is commonly used to measure road distances in the United States and United Kingdom,
vehicle speeds (mph), and in many sports contexts such as marathons and running.
What is a Kilometer?
The kilometer is a unit of distance in the International System of Units (SI):
- 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters
- 1 kilometer = 0.621371 miles
- 1 kilometer = 100,000 centimeters
Conversion Formulas
To convert between miles and kilometers:
- From miles to kilometers: multiply by 1.609344
- From kilometers to miles: divide by 1.609344 (or multiply by 0.621371)
Miles to Kilometers Conversion Table
| Miles (mi) |
Kilometers (km) |
| 1 mile |
1.61 km |
| 5 miles |
8.05 km |
| 10 miles |
16.09 km |
| 20 miles |
32.19 km |
| 26.2 miles (marathon) |
42.16 km |
| 50 miles |
80.47 km |
| 100 miles |
160.93 km |
Kilometers to Miles Conversion Table
| Kilometers (km) |
Miles (mi) |
| 1 km |
0.62 miles |
| 5 km |
3.11 miles |
| 10 km |
6.21 miles |
| 21 km (half marathon) |
13.05 miles |
| 42 km (marathon) |
26.10 miles |
| 100 km |
62.14 miles |
Speed Conversion mph/km/h
This conversion is also useful for speeds:
| Miles per hour (mph) |
Kilometers per hour (km/h) |
| 30 mph |
48 km/h |
| 50 mph |
80 km/h |
| 60 mph |
97 km/h |
| 70 mph |
113 km/h |
| 100 mph |
161 km/h |
Practical Conversion Examples
- Marathon: A 26.2-mile marathon equals 42.195 km
- US speed limit: 65 mph is approximately 105 km/h
- 5K race: 5 km equals approximately 3.1 miles
- Urban trip: 10 miles represents about 16 km
Common Uses for Miles/Kilometers Conversion
This conversion is particularly useful in the following areas:
- Travel: Understanding road signs in the United States or United Kingdom
- Sports: Race distances (marathon, half marathon, 5K, 10K)
- Automotive: Converting speeds and distances for imported vehicles
- Aviation: Air distances are often expressed in nautical miles
- GPS and navigation: Adapting directions based on country