Unit Converter
Convert between different units quickly and easily
1 Millimeters = 0.1 Centimeters
About Length Conversion
Length conversion is essential for various applications in engineering, construction, science, and everyday life. Understanding how to convert between different units of length helps in accurate measurements and calculations.
The metric system uses units like millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), meters (m), and kilometers (km), while the imperial system uses inches (in), feet (ft), yards (yd), and miles (mi).
Common conversion factors include:
- 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
- 1 foot = 0.3048 meters
- 1 mile = 1.60934 kilometers
- 1 meter = 3.28084 feet
Frequently Asked Questions
Fun Facts About Units & Measurements
The Marathon's Origin
The marathon's distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) commemorates the legendary run of Pheidippides from Marathon to Athens in 490 BCE to announce the Greek victory over the Persians.
The Metric System's Revolutionary Origin
The metric system was created during the French Revolution in the 1790s as a rational, decimal-based alternative to the confusing traditional systems with inconsistent conversion factors.
The Expensive Mars Climate Orbiter Mistake
NASA lost the $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter in 1999 because of a simple unit conversion error: one team used metric units while another used imperial units in their calculations.
The Foot's Actual Origin
The "foot" as a unit of measurement originally varied widely and was literally based on the length of a ruler's foot. King Henry I of England standardized it in the 12th century using his own foot.
The Kilogram's Perfect Standard
Until 2019, the kilogram was defined by a physical object: a platinum-iridium cylinder kept in a vault in Paris. It's now defined by the Planck constant, a fundamental constant of nature.
America's Metric Attempt
The U.S. actually tried to go metric in the 1970s with the Metric Conversion Act of 1975, but the voluntary nature of the program and public resistance led to its failure, making the U.S. one of only three countries not using the metric system.