How to convert miles to km
Example: the 26.2-mile marathon is 26.2 × 1.609 = 42.2 km — the familiar 42.195 km once you use the unrounded race distance. Mental math: add 60%: 50 miles → 50 + 30 = 80 km. A charming coincidence: consecutive Fibonacci numbers approximate the ratio — 5 miles ≈ 8 km, 8 miles ≈ 13 km, 13 miles ≈ 21 km.
Miles to km conversion chart
| miles | km |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1.6 |
| 2 | 3.2 |
| 3 | 4.8 |
| 5 | 8 |
| 10 | 16.1 |
| 13.1 | 21.1 |
| 20 | 32.2 |
| 26.2 | 42.2 |
| 30 | 48.3 |
| 40 | 64.4 |
| 50 | 80.5 |
| 60 | 96.6 |
| 70 | 112.7 |
| 80 | 128.7 |
| 90 | 144.8 |
| 100 | 160.9 |
| 200 | 321.9 |
| 500 | 804.7 |
| 1000 | 1609.3 |
Speed limits: mph → km/h
| mph | km/h | Where you'd see it |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 32 | School zones (UK/US) |
| 30 | 48 | Urban streets |
| 55 | 89 | Classic US highway limit |
| 65 | 105 | US interstates |
| 70 | 113 | UK motorways / US interstates |
| 80 | 129 | Fastest US interstate limits |
Running distances decoded
Races mix systems freely: a 5K is 3.11 miles, a 10K is 6.21 miles, a half marathon is 13.11 miles (21.1 km), and the marathon 26.22 miles (42.195 km). Runners converting treadmill paces should remember pace inverts: 6 min/mile is about 3:44 min/km.
Frequently asked questions
How many km is 1 mile?
Exactly 1.609344 km — the statute mile has been metric-defined since 1959. For quick math, 1.6 km per mile is accurate to 0.6%.
How far is a marathon in km and miles?
42.195 km, which is 26.219 miles — usually said as 26.2. The odd distance dates to the 1908 London Olympics, when the route was stretched to finish before the royal box.
How do I convert mph to km/h?
Same factor — multiply by 1.609. A 70 mph motorway limit is 113 km/h; a 100 km/h limit is 62 mph. Rental-car speedometers usually show both scales.
What's the Fibonacci trick for miles and km?
The golden ratio (1.618) is close to the km/mile ratio (1.609), so consecutive Fibonacci numbers convert almost perfectly: 3→5, 5→8, 8→13, 13→21, 21→34. Handy, and accurate to about half a percent.
Is a nautical mile the same as a mile?
No — a nautical mile is 1.852 km (one minute of latitude), about 15% longer than the statute mile's 1.609 km. Aviation and shipping use nautical miles; road signs use statute miles.