Kilometers to Miles

Convert between km and miles

If you're looking to convert other length units like feet, meters, or inches, try our Unit Converter.

How it works

Type a value in either field and the other updates instantly.

Kilometres and miles

The kilometre is simply 1,000 metres; a straightforward decimal unit introduced alongside the metric system in 1790s France. Its definition ultimately traces back to the metre, which is fixed by the speed of light.

The mile descends from the Roman mille passuum ("a thousand paces"), where one pace was two steps. Over centuries, the English statute mile was fixed at 5,280 feet by Queen Elizabeth I in 1593 - a figure chosen to fit a round number of furlongs (8), which were used to measure agricultural fields.

1 km = 0.621371 mi

1 mi = 1.60934 km