Length Conversion

Convert between meters, centimeters, inches, feet, and more

Length Conversion
ready
$ convert --from [unit] --to [unit] --value [number]
$
>
formulas.ts

// Common Length Conversion Formulas

1const1 meter = 100 centimeters
2const1 kilometer = 1000 meters
3const1 inch β‰ˆ 2.54 centimeters
4const1 foot = 12 inches β‰ˆ 30.48 cm
5const1 yard = 3 feet β‰ˆ 91.44 cm
6const1 mile = 1760 yards β‰ˆ 1.609 km
references.json

// Common Length Conversion References

{
"A4 Paper Length":"297mm",
"Standard Basketball Court Length":"28m",
"Standard Football Field Length":"90-120m",
"Mount Everest Height":"8848m"
}
guide.md

How length conversion works

Length conversion changes a distance from one unit into another using fixed ratios. The meter is the SI base unit of length. Most practical converters first convert the input into meters, then multiply by the factor for the target unit. That two-step approach avoids maintaining a separate ratio for every pair of units.

method.ts

Method used on this page

  1. Convert the input value to meters using a published factor (for example, 1 inch = 0.0254 m exactly).
  2. Convert meters to the target unit with the inverse factor.
  3. Display enough decimal places for everyday use while keeping the underlying ratio exact where standards define it that way.
sources.md

Sources and definitions

  • - SI Brochure (BIPM): meter defined via the speed of light in vacuum.
  • - International yard and pound agreement (1959): 1 inch = 25.4 mm exactly; 1 foot = 0.3048 m exactly.
  • - NIST SP 811: conversion factors for SI and customary units.
examples.md

Worked examples

Convert 180 cm to inches (clothing size)

  1. 1 cm = 0.01 m, so 180 cm = 1.80 m.
  2. 1 inch = 0.0254 m, so inches = 1.80 / 0.0254.
  3. 1.80 Γ· 0.0254 β‰ˆ 70.866 inches.

Result: 180 cm β‰ˆ 70.87 in

Convert 12 ft to meters (room height)

  1. 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly.
  2. 12 Γ— 0.3048 = 3.6576 m.

Result: 12 ft = 3.6576 m

Edge cases and common mistakes

  • β€’ Survey feet vs international feet: the difference is tiny for short distances but matters for large land surveys in some US contexts.
  • β€’ Nautical miles are based on Earth geometry (1 nmi = 1852 m), not the statute mile used on roads.
  • β€’ Do not confuse linear inches with screen diagonal inches when estimating physical width of a display.

When this converter helps

  • - Matching clothing or body measurements across cm and inches size charts.
  • - Reading construction drawings that mix metric and imperial dimensions.
  • - Checking travel distances between km and miles.
FAQ.md

Length FAQ

01 Q: Is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?

Yes. Since 1959 the international inch is defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters (2.54 cm).

02 Q: Why convert through meters instead of direct pair formulas?

A single SI base unit keeps factors consistent and reduces rounding drift when you chain many unit pairs.

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