Miles to KM Converter
Exact both ways — the ×1.609 direction for races and road trips.
Type in either field — the other updates instantly.
Miles to KM chart
| Miles | Kilometers |
|---|---|
| 1 mi | 1.61 km |
| 2 mi | 3.22 km |
| 3.107 mi | 5 km |
| 5 mi | 8.05 km |
| 6.214 mi | 10 km |
| 10 mi | 16.09 km |
| 13.109 mi | 21.1 km |
| 20 mi | 32.19 km |
| 26.219 mi | 42.2 km |
| 31.069 mi | 50 km |
| 50 mi | 80.47 km |
| 62.137 mi | 100 km |
| 100 mi | 160.93 km |
The odd-looking rows are the certified metric race distances expressed in miles: 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, 50K, 100K.
How this is calculated
km = miles × 1.609344 (exact — 1 mile = 1,609.344 m)
Miles-first is the US-and-UK-out direction: a marathon quoted as 26.2 miles is 42.16 km (the official distance is 42.195 km — 26.219 miles), a 100-mile ultra is 160.93 km, and a 70 mph motorway limit is 112.65 km/h. The factor is exact, so the only wobble you will ever see is rounding.
The international mile is defined as exactly 1,609.344 meters (1959 agreement). Race distances are certified in metric worldwide; their mile forms are conveniences, which is why 26.2 is shorthand rather than the certified number.
Miles to kilometres is the direction of an imperial reader planning in a metric country: road distances, hire-car speed limits, and race entries in Europe. The mile itself is Roman in origin — mille passus, a thousand paces — and survived in Britain and the United States while most of the world moved to the metre after the French Revolution.
Multiply by 1.609. For mental arithmetic, add a half and a tenth: 60 miles is 60 + 30 + 6 = 96 km, against a true 96.6. Note that a nautical mile is a different unit entirely at 1.852 km, defined as one minute of latitude, which is why marine and aviation distances do not match road ones.
Frequently asked questions
How many km is 1 mile?
Exactly 1.609344 km. The runner’s mental shortcut ×1.6 undershoots by 0.6% — close enough for pacing chat, not for certifying a course.
Is a marathon 26.2 miles or 42.2 km?
The certified distance is 42.195 km; 26.2 miles is the rounded traditional form (exactly 26.21875 miles). Both label the same painted line on the road.
How do I convert pace, not distance?
Pace inverts: a 10:00 min/mile is 6:13 min/km (divide by 1.609). For speeds, use our MPH to KM/H page — same factor, applied to velocity.
Why 1.609344 exactly?
The mile is 5,280 feet and the foot is exactly 0.3048 m: 5,280 × 0.3048 = 1,609.344 m. The precision is inherited from the foot’s definition, not measured.