Imperial units of length
The calculator converts SI (metric) units of length to imperial units of length
Common units of length (imperial to metric)
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Common units of length
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Unit
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2.54 cm
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Common units of length (metric to imperial)
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Common units of length
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Unit
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Abbreviation |
Approximate conversion to imperial system
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Exact conversion to metric system
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cm | 0.394 in |
0.393701 in | |
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m | 3.281 ft | 3.28084 ft | |
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km | 0.62 mi | 0.621371 mi | |
Conversions between inches, feet, yards and miles:
- A foot is 12 (dozen) inches
- A yard is 36 inches or 3 feet
- A mile is 63 360 inches or 5280 feet or 1760 yards
Nautical units of length
Nautical units are also units of length, but are generally used for nautical or air transport.
A nautical minute corresponds to one minute of latitude.
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Nautical units
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Unit
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Abbreviation
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Approximate conversion to metric system |
Exact conversion to metric system | |
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fathom |
fm, fth
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1.83 m
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1.8288 m
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cable (common) |
cbl
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185 m
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185.3184 m
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cable (U.S. navy) |
cbl
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219 m
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219.456 m
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nautical mile |
mi,m
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1.85 km
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1852 m
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sea league |
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5.56 km
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5556 m
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Imperial units of length questions and answers
Where are imperial units used?
Officially the imperial system is used by the USA, Myanmar and Liberia. However both Myanmar and Liberia are in on their way to switching to imperial. The UK officially uses the metric system, however people still use some units such as miles, pounds, gallon and pints, among others in every day life.
What were imperial units based on?
Originally the imperial system was based on the human body (e.g. inches were a thumb), but this does not work because obviously not every thumb is the same.
