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The length reference brings metric and imperial measurements together so you can swap between meters, feet, and miles without reaching for a textbook.
Length is the foundation of engineering, construction, mapping, and day-to-day DIY projects. The tables and guidance below highlight the base SI unit (meter), how other units relate to it, and the conversions people ask for most often.
Jump directly to any available converter for length converter & reference units.
Every unit below references the SI base value so you can compare readings quickly.
| Unit | Symbol | 1 unit in m | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanometer | nm | 1 nm = 1.0000×10^-9 m | — |
| Micrometer | µm | 1 µm = 1.0000×10^-6 m | — |
| Millimeter | mm | 1 mm = 0.001 m | — |
| Centimeter | cm | 1 cm = 0.01 m | — |
| Inch | in | 1 in = 0.0254 m | — |
| Foot | ft | 1 ft = 0.3048 m | — |
| Yard | yd | 1 yd = 0.9144 m | — |
| Meter | m | Reference unit | — |
| Kilometer | km | 1 km = 1K m | — |
| Mile | mi | 1 mi = 1.61K m | — |
These presets mirror the quick actions available inside the SwapUnits converter.
| Conversion | Example | Reference page | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meter to Feet | 1 m = 3.28084 ft | Open | Ideal for quick checks inside the live converter. |
| Meter to Yards | 1 m = 1.09361 yd | Open | Ideal for quick checks inside the live converter. |
| Kilometer to Miles | 1 km = 0.621371 mi | Open | Ideal for quick checks inside the live converter. |
| Meters to Nanometers (Adv) | 1 m = 1.0000×10^+9 nm | Open | Ideal for quick checks inside the live converter. |
The meter (m) is the SI base unit. All other length measurements in the table convert back to meters, which keeps calculations consistent.
Multiply inches by 25.4 to get millimeters. Because this relationship is exact, it is reliable for engineering and machining work.
Meters tie directly to the global geodetic reference system, which makes integrating GPS data with surveying instruments much easier.
Head back to the SwapUnits converter to crunch numbers instantly and save your favorite presets.