This calculator provides conversion of miles to nautical miles (mi to nmi) and backwards nautical miles to miles (nmi to mi).
What is a mile?
A mile is a unit of length primarily used in the United States and a few other countries, equivalent to 5,280 feet or 1,760 yards. The term “mile” originates from the Latin word “mille,” meaning thousand, referring to the 1,000 paces a Roman legionary would cover. One mile equals exactly 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet.
In the U.S., miles are widely used to measure long distances, such as roads or race courses. They are also employed in aviation and maritime industries for navigation, though nautical miles (1.150779448 statute miles) are often used in these contexts for greater precision. Conversely, most countries adopt the metric system, using kilometers (1 mile ≈ 1.60934 kilometers) as the standard unit for long distances. For global applications, converting between miles and kilometers is essential for accurate communication and navigation.
What is a US Nautical Mile?
A US nautical mile is a unit of measurement primarily used in navigation, marine activities, and aviation, defined as exactly 1,852 meters or approximately 6,076.12 feet. The term “nautical mile” emerged from the need to measure distances on the Earth’s curved surface, aiding sailors in accurate navigation.
The US nautical mile aligns with the international nautical mile, standardized in 1929 by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The IHO defined it as one minute of latitude along any meridian. Due to the Earth’s slightly irregular shape, the length of a nautical mile varies marginally by latitude, but for consistency, the US nautical mile is fixed at 1,852 meters. This standardization ensures uniformity across global navigation systems.
In the US, nautical miles are integral to marine charts, navigation systems, and aviation, providing a reliable standard for calculating distances at sea or in the air. They are also critical for measuring speed over water or air, expressed in knots, where one knot equals one nautical mile per hour. For context, one US nautical mile is approximately 1.15078 statute miles, distinguishing it from the land-based mile used in terrestrial measurements. This distinction is vital for precise navigation and communication in maritime and aviation contexts.
Why would I convert miles to US nautical miles?
Converting statute miles to US nautical miles is essential for maritime and aviation activities, where precise distance measurements are critical. While both statute miles and nautical miles measure distance, they serve distinct purposes. A US nautical mile, defined as exactly 1,852 meters (approximately 6,076.12 feet), is based on the Earth’s circumference and accounts for its curvature. In contrast, a statute mile, commonly used on land, equals 5,280 feet (1,760 yards) and is derived from terrestrial measurements.
Miles to Nautical miles Formula
Nautical Miles=Miles×0.868976
Explanation:
Statute miles are land-based units commonly used in the United States.
1 statute mile = 0.868976 nautical miles (approximately).
Nautical miles are based on the Earth’s longitude and latitude coordinates, with 1 nautical mile = 1 minute of arc.
How to convert Miles to Nautical Miles?
To convert land miles to nautical miles, divide the number of land miles by 1.150779448 to obtain the equivalent in nautical miles. For precise conversions, using a calculator or an online converter is recommended to ensure accuracy. For rough estimates, you can perform the calculation mentally. For example, 100 land miles is approximately 86.9 nautical miles (100 ÷ 1.150779448). Note that nautical miles are commonly used in aviation and maritime navigation, while land (statute) miles are standard for terrestrial measurements. Always verify the context of your measurement to choose the appropriate unit.
Land miles to nautical miles conversion example
Task: Convert 8 land miles to nautical miles.
Formula:
Nautical Miles=Miles×0.868976
Calculation:
Nautical Miles=8 miles×0.868976
Result: 6.951808
8 miles is equal to 6.951808 Nautical Miles
Miles to Nautical Miles Conversion Table
| Statute Miles (mi) | Nautical Miles (NM) |
|---|---|
| 1 mi | 0.86897624 NM |
| 2 mi | 1.73795248 NM |
| 3 mi | 2.60692872 NM |
| 4 mi | 3.47590496 NM |
| 5 mi | 4.34488120 NM |
| 6 mi | 5.21385744 NM |
| 7 mi | 6.08283368 NM |
| 8 mi | 6.95180992 NM |
| 9 mi | 7.82078616 NM |
| 10 mi | 8.68976241 NM |
| 20 mi | 17.37952481 NM |
| 30 mi | 26.06928722 NM |
| 40 mi | 34.75904962 NM |
| 50 mi | 43.44881203 NM |
| 60 mi | 52.13857443 NM |
| 70 mi | 60.82833684 NM |
| 80 mi | 69.51809924 NM |
| 90 mi | 78.20786165 NM |
| 100 mi | 86.89762405 NM |
| 200 mi | 173.79524810 NM |
| 300 mi | 260.69287215 NM |
| 400 mi | 347.59049620 NM |
| 500 mi | 434.48812026 NM |
| 600 mi | 521.38574431 NM |
| 700 mi | 608.28336836 NM |
| 800 mi | 695.18099241 NM |
| 900 mi | 782.07861646 NM |
| 1000 mi | 868.97624051 NM |
Notes:
- Conversion Factor: 1 mi=0.86897624 nmi1 mi=0.86897624 nmi (exact)..
- Rounding: Values are shown to 8 decimal places for precision but can be rounded as needed.