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How to use
A length converter changes measurements among metres, kilometres, centimetres, feet and inches using fixed relationships. Choose the original unit and the desired unit before entering a value. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 metres, and the international inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres. Converting in the opposite direction requires the reciprocal factor; multiplying metres by 0.3048 does not turn them into feet. Using the metre as a common reference helps you verify each direction independently.
- Enter the numerical measurement, then select its source unit such as metres, centimetres, feet or inches.
- Choose the unit for the answer and confirm you are converting a linear length, not an area or a volume.
- Calculate and compare the result with a known reference factor to catch reversed conversions.
- Round according to the precision of the original measurement rather than reporting more significant digits than you know.
How it is calculated
Example
To convert 1.75 metres into centimetres, multiply by 100 to obtain 175 cm. In inches, 175 ÷ 2.54 = approximately 68.8976 inches. In feet, 1.75 ÷ 0.3048 = approximately 5.74147 feet. For a height written as 5 feet 9 inches, combine the two units before converting: 5 × 30.48 cm plus 9 × 2.54 cm gives exactly 175.26 cm. Decimal feet are not the same notation as feet followed by a count of inches.
Important notes
Length conversion is not the same as converting area or volume. For square units, the linear conversion factor must be squared; for cubic units it must be cubed. A measured length rounded to 1.8 metres does not become more precise merely because the conversion produces six decimal places. For construction or regulated measurements, verify which unit standard is intended and how much rounding is acceptable for the task.
Worked examples and interpreting results
Length conversion changes the unit without changing the distance. One meter equals 100 cm and one kilometer equals 1000 m, so 2.5 km is 2500 m or 250000 cm.
| Case | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kilometers to meters | 2.5 × 1000 | 2,500 m |
| Meters to centimeters | 2500 × 100 | 250,000 cm |
How to check the result
Converting to a smaller unit increases the number; converting to a larger one decreases it. Do not apply a length factor directly to area or volume; use the area or volume converter because the factor is squared or cubed.
Length converter: miles, feet, centimetres and metres
Convert distances by multiplying by the defined factor for the source unit and then expressing the answer in the target unit. An international mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometres and an international foot is exactly 0.3048 metres. One metre contains one hundred centimetres.
- 1 international mile to kilometres: 1 × 1.609344 = 1.609344 km
- 5 international feet to metres: 5 × 0.3048 = 1.524 m
- 250 centimetres to metres: 250 ÷ 100 = 2.5 m
Before calculating
These factors describe linear distances, not square or cubic measurements. The international statute mile is not the same as a nautical mile; choose the intended unit before converting.
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Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in one metre?
One metre equals approximately 3.28084 international feet. Divide by the exact 0.3048 metres per foot to obtain the value.
What is 5 feet 9 inches in centimetres?
Convert feet and inches separately: 5 × 30.48 + 9 × 2.54 = 175.26 centimetres.
Can I use this factor for square metres to square feet?
Not directly. Area conversion uses the square of the length factor, and volume conversion uses its cube.