How to Convert Miles to Kilometers and Vice Versa

Miles and kilometers are units used to measure distance. Miles are popular in the US and Great Britain, and kilometers are used exclusively in most of the rest of the world.

5-Minute Crafts is going to tell you about both units of measurement and their ratio, and there’s a chart of miles, 1-120, converted to kilometers for your convenience.

1. Mile

The world mile originates from the name of the Roman measurement of distance, equal to 1,000 steps (mille passus). According to one of the versions, the English mile originates from the Roman mile.

For a long time, there was no unified standard of what distance was considered 1 mile. For example, in the Middle Ages, 1 mile could be 1,000 steps or 5,000 English feet (1,524 km). The modern standard starts from the 1593 Act of Parliament, which set it as a distance of 1,760 yards. In 1959, it was defined as 5,280 feet (1,609 км).

Miles are used to measure the distance in a limited number of countries — the US, Great Britain, and their territories. They can also be used in Liberia and Myanmar.

2. Kilometer

A kilometer is a measurement of distance used in the metric system. It’s 1,000 meters or 0.62 miles. It’s mostly used to measure the distance between points on land.

The metric system of kilometers is part of what was invented in France in the 1790s. The idea was to make a universal unit of measurement to be used all around the world. Almost 2 centuries later, in 1960, the modern international unit system was made. Now, it has official status in almost all countries around the world, including the US and Great Britain.

3. Mile and kilometer conversion chart