Whether you're planning a road trip in the US, reading a European map, or following a running plan, converting between miles and kilometers is a skill that comes up constantly. Here's everything you need.
The Formula
kilometers = miles × 1.60934
miles = kilometers × 0.62137
miles = kilometers × 0.62137
Quick Reference Table
| Miles | Kilometers |
|---|---|
| 1 mile | 1.609 km |
| 5 miles | 8.047 km |
| 10 miles | 16.09 km |
| 26.2 miles (marathon) | 42.2 km |
| 50 miles | 80.47 km |
| 100 miles | 160.9 km |
Mental Math Shortcut
To quickly estimate miles to km, multiply by 1.6 (or multiply by 8 and divide by 5):
- 60 mph × 1.6 = 96 km/h (exact: 96.56)
- 100 miles × 1.6 = 160 km (exact: 160.9)
To convert km to miles, divide by 1.6 or multiply by 0.6:
- 100 km ÷ 1.6 = 62.5 miles (exact: 62.14)
- 50 km × 0.6 = 30 miles (exact: 31.07)
Common Distances
| Distance | Miles | Kilometers |
|---|---|---|
| 5K run | 3.11 miles | 5 km |
| 10K run | 6.21 miles | 10 km |
| Half marathon | 13.1 miles | 21.1 km |
| Full marathon | 26.2 miles | 42.2 km |
| London to Paris | ~290 miles | ~466 km |
Speed: mph vs km/h
The same conversion applies to speed. 60 mph = 96.56 km/h. Most countries use km/h for speed limits, while the US and UK use mph for road speed.