Convert between different units quickly and accurately in a modern way
Choose a Measurement
Select a measurement and convert between different units
Multiple conversions
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Nanometer (nm), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Micrometer (μm), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Millimeter (mm), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Centimeter (cm), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Decimeter (dm), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Meter (m), use the following formula:
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Mil (mil), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Inch (in), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Yard (yd), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to US Survey Foot (ft-us), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Foot (ft), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Fathom (fathom), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Mile (mi), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
To convert from Kilometer (km) to Nautical Mile (nMi), use the following formula:
With is the ratio between the base units Foot (ft) and Meter (m).
A kilometer (km) is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to 1,000 meters.
The plural form is kilometers.
The term "kilometer" is composed of two parts: the metric unit "meter" and the Greek prefix "kilo," which comes from the word "khilioi," meaning "thousand."
Thus, a kilometer translates to one thousand meters.
This concept is a fundamental aspect of the decimal-based metric system, established in France during the 1790s. The logical, prefix-based nature of the metric system simplifies conversions, which is a key reason for its widespread adoption.
The kilometer is the official unit of measurement for geographical distance in the vast majority of countries worldwide.
Only a few nations still primarily use the mile for road signage and navigation, most notably:
For international travel, science, and sporting events like marathons and the Olympics, the kilometer is the universally accepted standard.
To understand how far a kilometer is, consider these real-world examples:
This consistent unit of measurement makes it easy to compare everything from everyday travel to distances in space.