metre (m)
1 metre = 0.001 kilometres
What is metre?
The metre is the SI base unit of length. It is used globally in science, engineering, geography, and everyday measurement as the standard reference for distance.
Notes: Base unit for length
Real-world uses
The metre is the standard unit for everyday measurements worldwide, from room dimensions and furniture sizes to athletic track events like the 100 m sprint. Engineers, architects, and scientists use it as the fundamental length reference in the SI system.
History
Originally defined in 1793 during the French Revolution as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the equator along a meridian through Paris. Since 1983, it is defined by the speed of light in vacuum.
Common mistakes
Confusing "meter" (the measuring device) with "metre" (the unit of length) in British English. Also, people sometimes incorrectly assume 1 metre equals exactly 3 feet; it is actually about 3.281 feet.
When is this conversion used?
This conversion is frequently needed in construction, architecture, and real estate where building codes may specify dimensions in one system while materials are sold in another. Road distances and speed limits are posted in kilometres in most countries and miles in the US and UK, making this conversion essential for international drivers and route planning.
How to convert metre to kilometre
To convert metre to kilometre, multiply the value by 0.001.
Conversion formula (from base unit)
x * 1.0
Measurement standards
The metre is one of seven SI base units, maintained by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). Since 2019, it is defined by fixing the numerical value of the speed of light in vacuum to exactly 299,792,458 metres per second.
Did you know?
A human hair is roughly 70 micrometres wide, while a single gold atom measures about 0.144 nanometres in diameter — meaning you could line up nearly half a million atoms across the width of one hair.
| metres | kilometres |
|---|---|
| 0.1 | 0.0001 |
| 0.5 | 0.0005 |
| 1 | 0.001 |
| 2 | 0.002 |
| 5 | 0.005 |
| 10 | 0.01 |
| 25 | 0.025 |
| 50 | 0.05 |
| 100 | 0.1 |
| 250 | 0.25 |
| 500 | 0.5 |
| 1,000 | 1 |
Common values
| metres | kilometres | |
|---|---|---|
| Height of a door | 2.1 metres | 0.0021 kilometres |
| Basketball court length | 28 metres | 0.028 kilometres |
| Football field (soccer) | 105 metres | 0.105 kilometres |
| Marathon distance | 42,195 metres | 42.195 kilometres |
| Altitude of a cruising airplane | 10,668 metres | 10.668 kilometres |
Full metre conversion table
| Unit | Value | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| kilometre | 1 m = 0.001 km | × 0.001 |
| centimetre | 1 m = 100 cm | × 100 |
| millimetre | 1 m = 1,000 mm | × 1,000 |
| inch | 1 m = 39.37007874 in | × 39.37007874 |
| foot | 1 m = 3.2808399 ft | × 3.2808399 |
| mile | 1 m = 0.00062137 mi | × 0.00062137 |
| yard | 1 m = 1.0936133 yd | × 1.0936133 |
| micrometre | 1 m = 1,000,000 µm | × 1,000,000 |
| nanometre | 1 m = 999,999,999.99999988 nm | × 999,999,999.99999988 |