About

Conversion between metric length units and miles is not a singular operation due to the distinction between land-based and marine measurement standards. The Statute Mile, defined by the International Yard and Pound Agreement (1959), is strictly 1,609.344 meters. In contrast, the Nautical Mile, used universally in aviation and maritime shipping, is based on one minute of latitude and defined exactly as 1,852 meters.

Confusing these two units introduces significant error in long-distance route planning, fuel consumption estimates, and arrival times. This tool separates the two standards, allowing specific toggling between land (Statute) and sea/air (Nautical) contexts. It processes inputs with high-decimal precision to accommodate geodetic survey data or long-haul logistics planning where rounding errors accumulate.

Formulas

The conversion logic depends on the target mile definition:

{

Statute Mile ≈ L_m ÷ 1609.344Nautical Mile ≡ L_m ÷ 1852

Where L_m is the length in meters.

Reference Data

Input Unit	Equivalent Meters	Statute Miles	Nautical Miles
1 Kilometer	1,000	0.621371	0.539957
1 Meter	1	0.000621	0.000540
1 Yard	0.9144	0.000568	0.000494
1 Foot	0.3048	0.000189	0.000165
Marathon (42.2 km)	42,195	26.219	22.784
Equator (approx)	40,075,000	24,901	21,638

Frequently Asked Questions

A Statute Mile (5,280 feet) is used for roads and land transport in the US and UK. A Nautical Mile (6,076 feet) is used for air and sea navigation because it corresponds to one minute of arc of latitude along a meridian, making it convenient for chart work.

Aviation almost exclusively uses Nautical Miles (NM) for distance and Knots (NM per hour) for speed. Using Statute Miles in flight planning can result in fuel shortages due to the ~15% difference in distance.

This tool uses the exact international definitions: 1 Statute Mile = 1,609.344 meters exactly, and 1 Nautical Mile = 1,852 meters exactly. Results are provided up to 6 decimal places.