Miles to Kilometres Converter
Convert miles to kilometres (mi to km) and kilometres to miles (km to mi) instantly. One mile equals exactly 1.60934 kilometres. UK roads, speed limits, and signage use miles, while Europe uses kilometres — this converter handles both directions with speed conversion included.
Miles ↔ Kilometres Converter
Speed Converter: mph ↔ km/h
Conversion Formulas
km to miles: miles = km × 0.62137
mph to km/h: km/h = mph × 1.60934
km/h to mph: mph = km/h × 0.62137
Key Reference Values
Quick estimate: 5 miles ≈ 8 km • 10 miles ≈ 16 km
Miles to Kilometres Conversion Table (1–100 miles)
| Miles | Kilometres | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 1.609 km | |
| 2 miles | 3.219 km | |
| 3 miles | 4.828 km | |
| 4 miles | 6.437 km | |
| 5 miles | 8.047 km | Approx. 5-mile road race |
| 6 miles | 9.656 km | |
| 7 miles | 11.265 km | |
| 8 miles | 12.875 km | |
| 9 miles | 14.484 km | |
| 10 miles | 16.093 km | Common road race distance |
| 13.1 miles | 21.082 km | Half marathon |
| 15 miles | 24.140 km | |
| 20 miles | 32.187 km | |
| 25 miles | 40.234 km | |
| 26.2 miles | 42.195 km | Marathon distance |
| 30 miles | 48.280 km | |
| 40 miles | 64.374 km | |
| 50 miles | 80.467 km | |
| 60 miles | 96.561 km | |
| 70 miles | 112.654 km | UK motorway speed limit |
| 75 miles | 120.701 km | |
| 100 miles | 160.934 km | Century cycling ride |
UK Speed Limits in mph and km/h
The UK uses miles per hour (mph) for all speed limits. If you are driving in Europe or using a European GPS device, you need to convert to km/h. Here are the key UK speed limits:
| Speed Limit (mph) | km/h | UK Road Type |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mph | 32.2 km/h | Residential zones (many UK cities) |
| 30 mph | 48.3 km/h | Built-up areas (national limit) |
| 40 mph | 64.4 km/h | Some A-roads with street lighting |
| 50 mph | 80.5 km/h | Some A-roads, temporary limits |
| 60 mph | 96.6 km/h | Single carriageway A-roads |
| 70 mph | 112.7 km/h | Motorways and dual carriageways |
Running and Race Distance Conversions
Running events in the UK are increasingly measured in kilometres (especially Parkrun, 5k, 10k), while older road races may still use miles. Here is a complete race distance conversion guide:
| Race Distance (miles) | Kilometres | Event Name |
|---|---|---|
| 3.107 miles | 5.0 km | Parkrun / 5k race |
| 4 miles | 6.437 km | 4-mile road race |
| 5 miles | 8.047 km | 5-mile road race |
| 6.214 miles | 10.0 km | 10k race |
| 10 miles | 16.093 km | 10-mile road race |
| 13.109 miles | 21.097 km | Half marathon |
| 26.219 miles | 42.195 km | Full marathon (London, etc.) |
| 50 miles | 80.467 km | Ultra marathon |
| 100 miles | 160.934 km | 100-mile ultra |
Running Pace Converter (min/mile to min/km)
To convert running pace from minutes per mile to minutes per kilometre, divide by 1.60934. Here are common training paces:
| Pace (min/mile) | Pace (min/km) | Race equivalent (marathon) |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 min/mile | 3:44 min/km | 2:37:19 marathon |
| 7:00 min/mile | 4:21 min/km | 3:03:33 marathon |
| 8:00 min/mile | 4:58 min/km | 3:29:46 marathon |
| 9:00 min/mile | 5:35 min/km | 3:56:00 marathon |
| 10:00 min/mile | 6:12 min/km | 4:22:13 marathon |
| 11:00 min/mile | 6:50 min/km | 4:48:27 marathon |
| 12:00 min/mile | 7:27 min/km | 5:14:40 marathon |
UK vs Europe: Why Roads Use Different Units
The United Kingdom is the only country in Europe (and one of only three countries worldwide, alongside the United States and Liberia) that uses miles for road distances and mph for speed limits. When the UK joined the European Community in 1973, other member states expected the UK to convert road signs to kilometres, but this change was never implemented.
This creates a practical challenge for UK drivers visiting Europe: their speedometer shows mph, but European roads are signed in km/h. Most modern cars have dual readouts, but the quick mental conversion is to multiply your mph speed by 1.6 to get km/h. At 60 mph, you are travelling at approximately 96 km/h — safely below the common European motorway limit of 120-130 km/h.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Converting 26.2 miles (marathon) to km
(Official marathon distance is 42.195 km = 26.2188 miles)
Example 2: Converting 100 km to miles
Example 3: UK motorway limit in km/h
Frequently Asked Questions
How many kilometres are in 1 mile?
1 mile equals 1.60934 kilometres (km). This is the exact internationally agreed conversion. For quick mental arithmetic, many people use 1 mile ≈ 1.6 km, which introduces only a tiny 0.04% error. A convenient approximation is 5 miles = 8 km exactly (it is actually 8.047 km, an error of less than 0.6%).
Why do UK roads use miles instead of kilometres?
UK roads have used miles since Roman times and the unit was retained when the metric system was adopted elsewhere. Road distances and speed limits were never converted to metric. The UK national speed limit is 70 mph (112.7 km/h) on motorways. Road signs across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland display distances in miles and yards.
How far is a marathon in kilometres?
A marathon is 26.2 miles = 42.195 km. The London Marathon follows this standard distance. Common race distances: 5km = 3.107 miles, 10km = 6.214 miles, half marathon = 21.0975 km = 13.109 miles. Parkrun events are 5km = 3.107 miles.
What is 70 mph in km/h?
70 mph (miles per hour) equals 112.654 km/h. This is the UK national speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways. Other UK limits: 30 mph = 48.3 km/h (built-up areas), 60 mph = 96.6 km/h (single carriageways), 20 mph = 32.2 km/h (residential zones).
How do I convert running pace from min/mile to min/km?
To convert from minutes per mile to minutes per kilometre, divide by 1.60934. For example, an 8:00 min/mile pace = 8 ÷ 1.60934 = 4:58 min/km. To go from min/km to min/mile, multiply by 1.60934. A 5:00 min/km pace = 5 × 1.60934 = 8:03 min/mile.
How many miles is 100 kilometres?
100 kilometres equals 62.137 miles. A 100km sportive (cycling event) is about 62 miles. The Prudential RideLondon event offers 100-mile (160.93 km) and 46-mile routes. Many European long-distance walking trails use 100km as a landmark distance.
What is 5 miles in kilometres?
5 miles equals 8.047 kilometres. The quick approximation of 5 miles = 8 km is widely used and introduces only a 0.6% error. This is one of the most useful conversion facts for UK residents as many road distances are multiples of 5 miles.