mi to km Conversion Calculator
Click on the following link if you want to convert kilometers to miles – km to mi
History
The mile originated from the Latin phrase mille passus, meaning “a thousand paces.” The Roman mile was about 1,480 meters long. Over time, the modern international mile was standardized to exactly 1,609.344 meters or 1.609 kilometers.
The kilometer (km) is a metric unit that was introduced during the French Revolution in the late 1700s. It quickly became part of the metric system, which is now used almost everywhere in the world except for a few countries that still use imperial units such as miles.
Common Usage
- Miles (mi) are commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom for road distances, navigation, and air travel.
- Kilometers (km) are used in most other countries for road signs, speed limits, and sports events like marathons.
For example, a 10-mile drive is equal to about 16 kilometers.
Miles to Kilometers Conversion Formula
The exact relationship is:
km = mi × 1.609344
Example:
Convert 5 miles to kilometers.
5 × 1.609344 = 8.04672 km
So, 5 miles equal roughly 8.05 kilometers.
Conversion Table
| Miles (mi) | Kilometers (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 mi | 1.609 km |
| 2 mi | 3.219 km |
| 5 mi | 8.047 km |
| 10 mi | 16.093 km |
| 20 mi | 32.187 km |
| 25 mi | 40.234 km |
| 50 mi | 80.467 km |
| 75 mi | 120.701 km |
| 100 mi | 160.934 km |
| 200 mi | 321.869 km |
Interesting Facts
- The marathon distance of 26.2 miles equals 42.195 kilometers.
- Speed limit signs in the U.S. use miles per hour, while in Europe they use kilometers per hour.
- The Earth’s circumference is about 24,901 miles or 40,075 kilometers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many kilometers are in a mile?
Exactly 1.609344 kilometers.
2. How can I quickly estimate miles in kilometers?
Multiply miles by 1.6 for a quick mental calculation.
3. Why does the U.S. still use miles?
Because of historical and cultural traditions that predate the metric system.
4. How many kilometers are in 10 miles?
10 × 1.609344 = 16.09 kilometers.
5. Which is longer, a mile or a kilometer?
A mile is longer – about 1.6 kilometers.
