Length
Miles to kilometers
One multiplication, no offset. The factor is exact, so the result is as precise as the input.
The Formula
km = mi x 1.609344
One multiplication, no offset. The factor is exact, so the result is as precise as the input.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| mi | Distance in statute miles | miles | 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. The mile used on road signs. |
| 1.609344 | Kilometers per mile | km per mi | Exact, from 1609.344 metres to the mile under the 1959 agreement. |
| km | Distance in kilometers | kilometers | Multiply by 1000 for meters, since the metric prefixes are decimal. |
What Each Symbol Means
mimiles
Distance in statute miles
5280 feet, or 1760 yards. The mile used on road signs.
1.609344km per mi
Kilometers per mile
Exact, from 1609.344 metres to the mile under the 1959 agreement.
kmkilometers
Distance in kilometers
Multiply by 1000 for meters, since the metric prefixes are decimal.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to convert miles to kilometers page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Convert Miles To Kilometers, filed under Unit Conversion. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.