A mile is an imperial and US customary unit of length used for roads, travel, geography, running, aviation context, and large everyday distances in mile-using countries.
Quick facts
- Unit name
- mile
- Plural
- miles
- Symbol
- mi
- Quantity
- length
- System
- imperial and US customary
- Foot relation
- 1 mi = 5,280 ft
- Yard relation
- 1 mi = 1,760 yd
- Kilometer relation
- 1 mi = 1.609344 km
Visual scale
A mile is larger than a kilometer and is mainly used for road and travel-scale distance.
Definition and exact value
The international mile is exactly 5,280 feet. Since one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters, one mile is exactly 1,609.344 meters or 1.609344 kilometers.
Symbol and writing rules
The common symbol for mile is mi. Do not write mis as a plural symbol; use mi for both singular and plural values.
How big is one mile?
A mile is suited for road, route, and city-scale distance. It is too large for building dimensions but natural for travel time, running, driving, and location distance.
Road scale
Road signs and distances in the United States commonly use miles.
Running scale
One mile is a standard track and running benchmark.
Travel scale
Miles are used for route planning, vehicle range, and distance between places.
Mile vs kilometer
The mile is customary; the kilometer is metric. One mile is exactly 1.609344 kilometers, and one kilometer is about 0.6213711922 miles.
Common uses
- Road distances, route planning, and travel in mile-using regions.
- Running, walking, cycling, and fitness distance goals.
- Vehicle range, fuel economy, and speed when paired with hours as miles per hour.
- Geographic distances and everyday location references.
How miles are measured
Miles are commonly measured with odometers, GPS, maps, surveyed road networks, and route-planning tools.
Conversion formulas
Mile conversion table
| Miles | Kilometers | Feet | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mi | 1.609344 km | 5,280 ft | 1,760 yd |
| 5 mi | 8.04672 km | 26,400 ft | 8,800 yd |
| 10 mi | 16.09344 km | 52,800 ft | 17,600 yd |
Common mistakes
- Using 1.6 km as exact for a mile. The exact value is 1.609344 km.
- Confusing miles with nautical miles; they are different units.
- Mixing miles and kilometers without checking signs, maps, or speed units.
Related Xunits pages
Mile converters
Length references
FAQ
How many feet are in one mile?
One mile equals exactly 5,280 feet.
How many kilometers are in one mile?
One mile equals exactly 1.609344 kilometers.
What is the symbol for mile?
The common symbol is mi.
Is a mile the same as a nautical mile?
No. A nautical mile is a different unit used in navigation.