Convert miles to feet
Please provide values below to convert miles [mi] to feet [ft], or vice versa.
Mile
Definition: A mile (symbol: mi) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since 1959, the international mile has been defined as exactly 5,280 feet, or 1,760 yards, which equals 1,609.344 meters.
History/origin: The term "mile" comes from the Latin word "mille passus," meaning "thousand paces." The Roman mile consisted of 1,000 paces (or 5,000 Roman feet), with each pace being two steps. The Roman mile was slightly shorter than the modern mile, at approximately 1,480 meters.
In Anglo-Saxon times, the mile was based on other measurements, and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, the statute mile was defined as 8 furlongs (1,760 yards). This definition persisted and was formalized in the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which established the current definition of the mile in relation to metric units.
Current use: The mile is primarily used in the United States and the United Kingdom for measuring longer distances. In the US, it is used for road distances, area measurements, and some sporting events. In the UK, despite the official adoption of the metric system, miles are still commonly used for road signs and distances. Miles are also used internationally in aviation and nautical contexts, though nautical miles differ from statute miles.
Foot
Definition: A foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since 1959, the foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. There are 12 inches in one foot and 3 feet in one yard.
History/origin: The foot as a unit of measurement has origins dating back to ancient civilizations. The term is derived from the human foot, and its actual length has varied throughout history and across different cultures. Ancient Greece and Rome used the foot as a basic unit, though the exact length varied. The Roman foot was roughly 11.65 modern inches.
In the Middle Ages, the foot was increasingly standardized by rulers who specified its length. By 1959, the international yard and pound agreement defined the foot as exactly 0.3048 meters, which is the current standard used worldwide for the imperial foot.
Current use: The foot is primarily used in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom and Canada for many everyday measurements. It is commonly used for measuring height, shorter distances, and in construction and real estate for room dimensions and property sizes.