One mile is 1.609344 kilometers, an exact value in NIST's conversion tables, and is normally rounded to 1.61 km. To convert miles to kilometers, multiply by 1.609344: 5 miles is 8.047 km and 10 miles is 16.093 km. To go the other way, divide by 1.609344, so 10 km is 6.214 miles.
How many kilometers are in a mile?
NIST SP 811, Appendix B.8 lists the mile as exactly 1,609.344 meters, which is 1.609344 kilometers. The mile is therefore 1,609.344 m, and a kilometer (1,000 m, the prefix "kilo" meaning 10³) is 1 ÷ 1.609344 = 0.621371 miles.
Formulas
kilometers = miles × 1.609344
miles = kilometers ÷ 1.609344 (or kilometers × 0.621371)
meters = miles × 1,609.344
Use the miles to km converter for any value, or miles to meters and km to feet for other units. The reverse for feet is covered in how many feet in a mile.
Miles to kilometers chart
| Miles | Kilometers |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.805 |
| 1 | 1.609 |
| 2 | 3.219 |
| 3 | 4.828 |
| 5 | 8.047 |
| 10 | 16.093 |
| 13.1 | 21.082 |
| 26.2 | 42.165 |
| 50 | 80.467 |
| 100 | 160.934 |
Kilometers to miles chart
| Kilometers | Miles |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.621 |
| 2 | 1.243 |
| 3 | 1.864 |
| 5 | 3.107 |
| 10 | 6.214 |
| 15 | 9.321 |
| 20 | 12.427 |
| 50 | 31.069 |
| 100 | 62.137 |
Speed limits and road signs
Speeds convert with the same factor. A limit of 100 km/h is 100 ÷ 1.609344 = 62.14 mph, 120 km/h is 74.56 mph and 80 km/h is 49.71 mph. In the other direction, 60 mph is 96.56 km/h and 70 mph is 112.65 km/h. Converters: mph to kph and kph to mph.
Worked examples
Example 1: a 5K and a 10K
A 5 km race is 5 ÷ 1.609344 = 3.107 miles; a 10 km race is 6.214 miles. A runner holding a pace of 8:00 per mile covers 5 km in about 3.107 × 8 = 24.9 minutes. The pace calculator handles paces in either unit.
Example 2: a road trip
A trip of 250 miles is 250 × 1.609344 = 402.3 km. A sign reading 400 km in a country that uses kilometers is 400 ÷ 1.609344 = 248.5 miles.
Example 3: fuel economy distance
A car's 25-mile commute is 25 × 1.609344 = 40.2 km one way, so 80.5 km round trip.
Example 4: a treadmill
A treadmill that displays 3.1 miles has covered 3.1 × 1.609344 = 4.99 km, essentially 5 km.
Quick ways to estimate
- Miles to km: multiply by 1.6, or add half and then one-tenth (10 mi: 10 + 5 + 1 = 16 km, against the exact 16.09).
- Km to miles: multiply by 0.6 and add a little (100 km: 60 + 2 = 62 miles).
- Meters: a mile is about 1,609 m, so four laps of a 400 m track (1,600 m) fall 9.3 m short of a mile.
For other everyday unit pairs see the metric vs imperial guide and the full list of unit converters.