Convert kilometers (km) into feet using this easy calculator. Just enter the kilometer value below and click convert.
Converting kilometers (km) to feet (ft) bridges the gap between metric and imperial measurement systems. Kilometers are ideal for expressing large distances—such as the length of highways, geographic spans, and scientific observations—while feet are more intuitive for everyday, human-scale measurements, including room dimensions, height, and construction layouts. Mastering the km to feet conversion empowers engineers, architects, students, and travelers to interpret distances accurately across different contexts and standards.
A kilometer, abbreviated as “km,” is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It equals 1,000 meters, making it one of the most common units for measuring large distances such as travel routes, city-to-city spans, and terrain surveys. The kilometer’s decimal-based relationship to the meter simplifies calculations in engineering, navigation, and mapping.
A foot, abbreviated as “ft,” belongs to the Imperial and United States customary systems. It is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters (or 30.48 centimeters), a standard agreed upon internationally to harmonize metric and imperial units. Feet are widely used in building plans, real estate listings (e.g., square footage), and personal height measurements in countries like the United States.
There are several reasons you might need to convert kilometers to feet:
Because both feet and meters have an exact relationship, the kilometer-to-foot conversion is likewise exact:
Therefore:
1 kilometer = 1,000 meters × 3.280839895 ft/m = 3,280.839895 feet
The general conversion formula is:
Feet = Kilometers × 3,280.839895
Calculation: 1 × 3,280.839895 = 3,280.839895 ft
Result: 1 kilometer = 3,280.84 feet
Calculation: 0.5 × 3,280.839895 = 1,640.419948 ft
Result: 0.5 kilometer = 1,640.42 feet
Calculation: 2.75 × 3,280.839895 = 9,022.809212 ft
Result: 2.75 kilometers = 9,022.81 feet
Calculation: 10 × 3,280.839895 = 32,808.39895 ft
Result: 10 kilometers = 32,808.40 feet
Calculation: 123.456 × 3,280.839895 = 404,539.720 ft
Result: 123.456 kilometers = 404,539.72 feet
| Kilometers (km) | Feet (ft) |
|---|---|
| 0.001 km | 3.28084 ft |
| 0.01 km | 32.80840 ft |
| 0.1 km | 328.08399 ft |
| 0.5 km | 1,640.41995 ft |
| 1 km | 3,280.83990 ft |
| 5 km | 16,404.19948 ft |
| 10 km | 32,808.39895 ft |
| 42.195 km (marathon) | 138,435.062 ft |
| 100 km | 328,083.9895 ft |
=A1*3280.839895 to convert a cell value in km to feet.feet = kilometers * 3280.839895While the conversion is mathematically exact, real-world distance measurements (using GPS, odometers, or survey instruments) include uncertainties. Report converted values with appropriate significant figures—three to four decimal places for everyday use, five to six for engineering or surveying. Always note the measurement method’s tolerance and specify whether values are approximate or exact.
A1: Exactly 3,280.839895 feet.
A2: Because one foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. Multiplying 1,000 meters by (1/0.3048) yields 3,280.839895 feet per kilometer.
A3: Yes—use 1 km ≈ 3,281 ft for quick estimates, or remember 1 km ≈ 3,300 ft for rough planning.
A4: Less common for casual users, but essential for professionals in engineering, surveying, aviation, and GIS.
A5: Use digital tools or validated spreadsheet formulas, and always double-check your formulas to ensure the correct conversion factor.
A6: Include both the original and converted values with clear units and specify the number of decimal places, e.g., “Distance: 2.75 km (9,022.81 ft).”
A7: If your original measurement mixes kilometers and meters (e.g., 2 km 500 m), first convert all to kilometers (2.5 km) then to feet.
A8: Civil engineering, surveying, aviation, real estate development, GIS, and environmental management frequently use km-to-feet conversions.
A9: Organizations like ISO and ASTM provide guidelines on significant figures and unit notation; follow relevant standards for your field.
A10: Yes—divide feet by 3,280.839895 to return to kilometers. E.g., 6,561.67979 ft ÷ 3,280.839895 = 2 km.
Understanding how to convert kilometers to feet accurately is vital for professionals and learners working across metric and imperial systems. By using the exact factor (1 km = 3,280.839895 ft), following clear steps, leveraging reliable tools, and being mindful of precision requirements, you can ensure consistent, error-free measurements. Whether designing infrastructure, mapping terrain, or analyzing data, mastering the km to feet conversion enhances clarity, facilitates communication, and drives successful project outcomes.
Kilometers, abbreviated as km, are a widely used unit of length in the metric system. Whether you're calculating distances between cities, planning a long walk, or measuring road travel, kilometers are essential for understanding long-range measurements. In this detailed guide, we will cover what kilometers are, how they compare to other units, their history, real-world uses, formulas, conversion tables, and more.
A kilometer is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), which is the modern form of the metric system. One kilometer is equal to:
The abbreviation for kilometer is km. This unit is most commonly used to measure longer distances such as those between cities, across countries, or for transportation and navigation purposes.
The word “kilometer” comes from the Greek word “khilioi” meaning "thousand" and the French “mètre” derived from the Greek "metron" meaning "measure." The kilometer became an officially recognized metric unit in the late 18th century, as part of the adoption of the metric system by France during the French Revolution.
Kilometers fit within the metric system’s hierarchy as a multiple of meters:
This base-10 system makes conversions straightforward and logical, unlike some imperial units which require memorizing arbitrary values (e.g., 1 mile = 5280 feet).
Here are common conversions from kilometers to other units of length:
km × 1000 = meterskm × 100000 = cmkm × 1,000,000 = mmkm × 0.621371 = mileskm × 3280.84 = feetkm × 39370.1 = incheskm × 0.539957 = nautical milesm ÷ 1000 = kmmiles × 1.60934 = kmft ÷ 3280.84 = kmcm ÷ 100000 = kmIn most countries that use the metric system, highway signs show distances in kilometers. For example, “Next exit: 5 km.”
Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and apps like Google Maps offer route distances and estimated travel times in kilometers by default in most regions.
Races like 5K, 10K, and marathon (42.195 km) are measured in kilometers. Running and cycling trackers also show km as default distance units.
Kilometers are used in ground navigation and route planning for flights and ships, often alongside nautical miles or miles.
Physics, geography, and environmental science use kilometers to measure distances over large areas—like distances between cities or the radius of the Earth.
One of the most common comparisons is between kilometers and miles, especially in the context of travel:
While countries like the USA use miles for road distances, most of the world, including Europe and Asia, uses kilometers. Conversion between the two is often needed for international travelers and businesses.
On printed maps and satellite maps, distances are often represented in kilometers. For example, the map scale may say “1 cm = 5 km” indicating each centimeter on the map equals 5 real-world kilometers.
1 kilometer is approximately 0.621371 miles.
1 mile is equal to 1.60934 kilometers.
No, 1 kilometer is shorter than 1 mile. One mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers.
It typically takes 10 to 12 minutes to walk 1 km at a moderate pace.
The standard abbreviation is km.
| Kilometers | Miles | Meters | Feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 km | 0.6214 | 1,000 | 3,280.84 |
| 5 km | 3.1069 | 5,000 | 16,404.2 |
| 10 km | 6.2137 | 10,000 | 32,808.4 |
| 21.1 km | 13.11 (Half Marathon) | 21,100 | 69,225.7 |
| 42.195 km | 26.22 (Marathon) | 42,195 | 138,435 |
Kilometers are a standard and efficient way to measure long distances in most parts of the world. They form an integral part of transportation, travel, navigation, science, and fitness. Understanding kilometers and how to convert them to and from other units ensures clear communication, especially in global contexts.
Need to convert kilometers to meters, miles, or feet? Use our online Kilometer Conversion Calculator for instant results and greater accuracy!