How the length converter works
Last updated 10 November 2026
This converter uses exact definitions of each unit, so results are as accurate as the number you enter.
How it works
- Each unit is defined as a fixed number of metres, for example an inch is exactly 0.0254 metres.
- The answer is the amount times the factor of the unit you convert from, divided by the factor of the unit you convert to.
Worked example
With the starting figures:
- 10.0000 km is 6.213712 mi.
Everyday conversions
South Africa uses the metric system, but you meet other units all the time: inches on a television, feet in imported furniture specifications and miles on overseas road signs. This converter moves between them and shows the answer in every other unit as well.
- Millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometres
- Inches, feet and yards
- Miles
How it works
Each unit is defined as an exact fraction or multiple of a metre. The tool converts your amount to metres, then from metres to the unit you want. Because it uses the exact definitions, the only limit on accuracy is the number you type in.
Handy things to remember
- A kilometre is a thousand metres.
- A mile is longer than a kilometre. A mile is roughly one and a half kilometres.
- An inch is a little over two and a half centimetres.
- Feet and inches combine: a person who is five feet six inches tall is sixty-six inches tall.
Common mistakes
Mixing metres and millimetres is the classic one, and it changes the answer a thousandfold. Check the units on both sides before you act on the result.
What this does not cover
The tool converts lengths only. For areas, volumes or weights use the matching converter. Speed limits and distances on South African roads are in kilometres, so distances from overseas sources may need converting before you plan a trip.
A short example
Suppose a flat-pack cupboard from overseas is listed in inches and you want to know if it fits a space measured in centimetres. Enter the width in inches, convert to centimetres and compare. The table underneath also lists the same length in feet and metres.
Related tools
See the area converter for floor and land sizes and the weight converter for kilograms and pounds.
Rounding
The tool shows a limited number of decimals but keeps the full value behind the scenes. If you need a rounded figure for a quote or a shopping list, round the displayed answer to the precision you need and no further.
Things to watch
- Speed signs in South Africa use kilometres per hour, not miles.
The conversion factors are definitions, not measurements. They are listed with their source in the data notes. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
Like every tool on MoneyMzansi, this one runs entirely in your browser. There is no account, no upload and no sign-up, so it keeps working even if your connection drops once the page has loaded.