Metres to Yards: Understanding the Conversion
The metre (m) and the yard (yd) are both units of length, but they come from different measurement systems. The metre is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), used universally in science and by most of the world for everyday measurement. The yard is an imperial unit, historically used throughout the British Empire and still widely used today in the United Kingdom for road distances, sports fields, and fabric measurement.
The exact conversion factor is: 1 metre = 1.09361 yards (or more precisely, 1.0936132983...). This means a metre is slightly longer than a yard — specifically about 9.36 centimetres longer. Going the other way, 1 yard = 0.9144 metres exactly (this is the internationally agreed definition since 1959).
The Conversion Formula
To convert metres to yards:
yards = metres × 1.09361
To convert yards to metres:
metres = yards × 0.9144
Worked Examples
- 1m to yards: 1 × 1.09361 = 1.094 yd
- 5m to yards: 5 × 1.09361 = 5.468 yd
- 10m to yards: 10 × 1.09361 = 10.936 yd
- 100m to yards: 100 × 1.09361 = 109.361 yd
- 50 yards to metres: 50 × 0.9144 = 45.72 m
Also Converting to Feet, Inches and Centimetres
Our calculator also shows the equivalent in feet, inches, and centimetres. Here are the key conversion factors from metres:
- 1 metre = 3.28084 feet
- 1 metre = 39.3701 inches
- 1 metre = 100 centimetres
- 1 yard = 3 feet
- 1 yard = 36 inches
- 1 yard = 91.44 centimetres
History of the Metre and the Yard
The metre was defined during the French Revolution in the 1790s, originally as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Over the centuries, its definition was refined multiple times. Since 1983, the metre has been defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second — a definition based on the fundamental constant of the speed of light.
The yard has a much older, more variable history. In medieval England, various definitions existed — including the distance from a man's nose to his outstretched thumb. The yard was formally standardised in 1855 by the UK through the creation of a physical bronze yard bar kept at the Houses of Parliament. Following the International Yard and Pound Agreement in 1959, the yard was redefined as exactly 0.9144 metres, bringing it into alignment with the metric system.
Where Yards Are Still Used in the UK
Despite the UK's official metrication, yards remain deeply embedded in British culture and law. Road signs in the UK still use yards for distances under half a mile — you'll see signs reading "Road narrows 200 yards ahead" or "Junction 400 yards." The Highway Code and the DVSA use yards throughout their guidance. UK law (the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016) actually requires road signs to use yards and miles rather than metres and kilometres.
Golf courses throughout the UK and the world measure hole distances in yards. A par-4 hole might be 400 yards long; the iconic 18th at St Andrews is 356 yards. Cricket pitches are defined in yards — the wicket-to-wicket distance is 22 yards (one chain). Swimming pools in Britain are commonly 25 metres or 50 metres for competitive events, but older pools were often measured in yards (25 yards = 22.86 metres).
In the textile and fabric industry, many UK retailers still sell fabric by the yard or half-yard, particularly for craft and upholstery fabrics. Carpet and flooring is increasingly sold by the square metre, but older quotes and patterns may reference square yards.
Yards in Sports and Athletics
In American football, the field is 100 yards long (91.44 metres), with 10-yard (9.14 m) first-down markers. NFL field goal distances are measured in yards. Rugby union matches are played on a field up to 100 metres long — the metric equivalent of the traditional yard-based measurement.
In track and field, Olympic events use metric distances: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, etc. However, older records and American high school athletics still reference yards (100 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards). The 100-metre sprint is 109.36 yards, making it longer than the historical 100-yard dash by almost 10 yards.
Swimming competitions at the Olympics use 50-metre pools, but many US competitive swimming programmes use 25-yard pools (known as short course yards, or SCY). This means world records in 25-metre pools (short course metres, SCM) and 25-yard pools are tracked separately.
Practical Applications of Metres to Yards Conversion
Gardening and landscaping: UK garden centres increasingly sell in metres (a 2m fence panel, a 3m hedge), but older gardening books and plans may use yards. If your plot plan says "20 yards," that's 18.29 metres.
DIY and home improvement: Wallpaper is sold in rolls of a set length, often 10 metres. Timber lengths in UK builders' merchants are quoted in metres. But if you're following a pattern from an older UK or American source, you may encounter yards and feet.
Navigation: Maritime navigation traditionally uses nautical miles and yards for certain measurements. Modern GPS systems use metres and kilometres, but chart distances may still reference yards for harbour approaches.
Military: Shooting ranges in the UK traditionally use yards (25 yards, 100 yards, 300 yards, etc.). Military specifications and ballistics data often cite yards.
Quick Conversion Reference: Common Distances
Some everyday distances to help you visualise the metre-yard relationship:
- A typical swimming pool lane width: 2.5 metres = 2.73 yards
- A standard UK parking space: 4.8 metres long = 5.25 yards
- A double-decker bus: ~11 metres = 12.03 yards
- A football penalty spot distance: 11 metres = 12.03 yards (which is why it is called "the 12-yard box" in older references)
- A cricket pitch: 22 yards = 20.12 metres (one chain)
- 100 metres: 109.36 yards
- A mile: 1,760 yards = 1,609.34 metres
Frequently Asked Questions
How many yards are in a metre?
There are 1.09361 yards in one metre. Since 1959, the yard has been defined as exactly 0.9144 metres, making the inverse (metres per yard) exactly 1/0.9144 ≈ 1.093613 yards per metre.
What is the difference between a metre and a yard?
A metre is approximately 9.36 cm (about 3.7 inches) longer than a yard. One metre = 1.09361 yards; one yard = 0.9144 metres. They are close in size but not equal — a metre is about 9.4% longer than a yard.
How do I convert yards to metres?
Multiply the yards by 0.9144. For example: 50 yards × 0.9144 = 45.72 metres. You can also use our calculator above by typing in the yards field.
How many metres is 100 yards?
100 yards equals 91.44 metres exactly (100 × 0.9144). This is why the classic 100-yard dash is slightly shorter than the modern 100-metre sprint used in the Olympics.
Why does the UK use both metres and yards?
The UK metrication process began in the 1960s and is still ongoing for some applications. Road signs must legally use yards and miles; scientific and most commercial measurements use metres. This creates an ongoing need for conversion between the two systems.
How many feet and inches is one metre?
One metre equals 3 feet and approximately 3.37 inches (specifically 3 feet 3.3701 inches, or 3.28084 feet total). A quick mental estimate is "a metre is about three feet and three inches."
How many centimetres are in a yard?
Exactly 91.44 centimetres make up one yard. This is the internationally agreed definition since 1959. One metre contains 100 cm, so a yard is 8.56 cm shorter than a metre.