Convert distances between miles and kilometres, plus speed conversions for UK travellers
1 mile = 1.60934 kilometres | 1 km = 0.62137 miles
Kilometres = Miles × 1.60934
Example: 10 miles × 1.60934 = 16.0934 km
Miles = Kilometres × 0.621371
Example: 100 km × 0.621371 = 62.14 miles
Miles → Km: Use Fibonacci numbers (1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21...)
Each Fibonacci number in miles ≈ the next number in km!
5 miles ≈ 8 km | 8 miles ≈ 13 km | 13 miles ≈ 21 km
Essential for UK drivers travelling to Europe where speed limits are in km/h:
| Miles | Kilometres | Metres | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 0.80 | 805 | Short walk |
| 1 | 1.61 | 1,609 | ~20 minute walk |
| 3.1 | 5 | 5,000 | 5K run |
| 6.2 | 10 | 10,000 | 10K run |
| 13.1 | 21.1 | 21,097 | Half Marathon |
| 26.2 | 42.2 | 42,195 | Marathon |
| 50 | 80.5 | 80,467 | Ultra distance |
| 62.1 | 100 | 100,000 | 100 km ultra |
| 100 | 160.9 | 160,934 | Century ride |
The UK is one of only a few countries that still uses miles for road distances. Here's why:
| Country | Road Signs | Speed Limits |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Miles | MPH |
| United States | Miles | MPH |
| Liberia | Miles (mostly) | MPH |
| Myanmar | Miles (transitioning) | MPH |
| All other countries | Kilometres | KM/H |
| Event | Kilometres | Miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkrun | 5 km | 3.11 miles | Weekly UK community runs |
| 10K Race | 10 km | 6.21 miles | Popular distance |
| Great North Run | 21.0975 km | 13.1 miles | Half marathon |
| London Marathon | 42.195 km | 26.2 miles | Full marathon |
| Ultra Marathon (50 mi) | 80.47 km | 50 miles | Common ultra distance |
| 100 Mile Ultra | 160.93 km | 100 miles | Extreme endurance |
There are exactly 1.609344 kilometres in one mile. For most practical purposes, 1.61 km is accurate enough. For quick mental maths, multiply miles by 1.6 to get an approximate kilometre value (e.g., 10 miles × 1.6 = 16 km).
There are approximately 0.621371 miles in one kilometre. For quick mental maths, multiply kilometres by 0.6 or divide by 1.6 to get an approximate mile value (e.g., 100 km × 0.6 = 60 miles, or 100 km ÷ 1.6 = 62.5 miles).
The UK uses miles for road distances due to historical tradition. While the UK officially adopted the metric system in 1965, road signs and speed limits were exempted. The estimated cost of converting all road signs to kilometres (over £700 million) combined with public familiarity with miles has prevented the change. Most EU countries use km for roads.
To convert miles per hour (mph) to kilometres per hour (km/h), multiply by 1.60934. For example: 70 mph × 1.60934 = 112.65 km/h. The UK motorway limit of 70 mph equals approximately 113 km/h, which is similar to European motorway limits of 110-130 km/h.
A marathon is exactly 42.195 kilometres or 26.2188 miles (commonly rounded to 26.2 miles). This distance was established at the 1908 London Olympics. A half marathon is 21.0975 km or 13.1094 miles (rounded to 13.1 miles).
The Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89...) provides a clever approximation because the ratio between consecutive numbers approaches 1.618, close to the miles-to-km conversion factor of 1.609. So: 5 miles ≈ 8 km, 8 miles ≈ 13 km, 13 miles ≈ 21 km, and so on. It's remarkably accurate for quick mental maths!
Only four countries officially use miles for road distances: the United Kingdom, United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. All other countries in the world use kilometres. This means UK drivers need to be particularly careful when driving in Europe or elsewhere, as road signs and speed limits will be in km and km/h.
Last Updated: December 2025 | This calculator uses the exact conversion factor: 1 mile = 1.609344 kilometres. Conversions are accurate for all practical purposes. Speed limit information is based on current UK and European regulations.
Expert Reviewed — This calculator is reviewed by our team of financial experts and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: January 2026.
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