UnitConMiles to Kilometers Converter
Convert miles to kilometers for international travel planning, running and cycling events, and understanding foreign road signs. This is one of the most frequently needed conversions for Americans traveling abroad.
Formula
Multiply miles by 1.60934 to get kilometers. To reverse, divide kilometers by 1.60934 to get miles.
Quick reference
| Mile (mi) | Kilometer (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.609344 |
| 5 | 8.04672 |
| 10 | 16.09344 |
| 13.1 | 21.08241 |
| 26.2 | 42.16481 |
| 50 | 80.4672 |
| 100 | 160.9344 |
| 250 | 402.336 |
| 500 | 804.672 |
| 1000 | 1,609.344 |
About these units
Mile
The statute mile of 1760 yards (5280 feet) was codified in England in 1593 under Queen Elizabeth I. The modern international mile was fixed at exactly 1609.344 meters in 1959, tying it precisely to the metric system.
Kilometer
Derived from the meter (one ten-millionth of the Paris meridian), the kilometer emerged in the 1790s as a convenient multiple for measuring distances between towns. It displaced older units like the league and the lieue in continental Europe over the 19th century.
Frequently asked questions
One mile equals exactly 1.60934 kilometers by the 1959 international agreement.
A half marathon is 13.1 miles, which equals approximately 21.097 km.
Multiply by 1.6. For example, 5 miles ≈ 8 km, 10 miles ≈ 16 km. For a more accurate result, multiply by 1.609.