Length Converter
Convert length units: kilometers, meters, miles, feet, and more
Result
0.001
1 Meters (m) = 0.001 Kilometers (km)
What length measures
Length describes the distance between two points or the size of an object in one dimension. The SI base unit is the metre (m), now defined through the speed of light in a vacuum: light travels 1 m in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Main units and where they are used
- Millimetre (mm) and centimetre (cm) – small dimensions such as parts and clothing sizes.
- Metre (m) – rooms, height and construction; kilometre (km) – distances between places.
- Inch (2.54 cm), foot (0.3048 m) and yard (0.9144 m) – the USA and United Kingdom.
- Mile (1609.344 m) – roads in the USA and UK; nautical mile (1852 m) – sea and aviation.
Common pitfalls
Do not confuse the statute mile with the nautical mile: the nautical mile is about 15% longer (1852 m against 1609 m). Also remember that screen sizes show the diagonal, not the width: a 27-inch monitor is 27 inches across the corner. When buying furniture or parts from abroad always check whether dimensions are given in inches or centimetres.