Distance Units Explained: Metres, Kilometres, Miles and Feet
A practical guide to common distance units and how conversion errors can affect a trip total.
Distance can be shown in metres, kilometres, miles or feet. A tracker may store a value internally in one unit and convert it for display. A bug can occur if the label changes but the value does not, or if a conversion is applied twice. Always check both the number and its unit.
Useful conversions
One kilometre is 1,000 metres and about 0.621 miles. One mile is about 1.609 kilometres; one foot is 0.3048 metres. For example, 5 km is approximately 3.11 miles. These conversions are exact enough for ordinary display checks when rounded appropriately, but they do not address GPS measurement uncertainty.
Distance and speed must be consistent
Average speed calculations depend on compatible distance and time units. If distance is in miles and time is in hours, the result is mph; if distance is in kilometres and time is in hours, the result is km/h. Mixing miles with a km/h label creates a misleading result even if the raw GPS samples are correct.
How to check a unit toggle
Record the distance before changing the unit, switch the display, and confirm the converted value is plausible. The underlying trip distance should not suddenly reset unless the interface explicitly says it starts a new session. Also verify top speed and average speed if the tool displays them.
Precision and rounding
The interface may show a rounded value to keep the display readable. Small differences can occur when converting a rounded value instead of the full internal value. For testing, compare values at similar precision and do not infer GPS quality from the number of decimal places.
Frequently asked questions
How many metres are in a mile?
About 1,609.34 metres.
Should changing distance units change the trip itself?
No. It should change the displayed unit, not the underlying route distance.
Technical references
These references explain the underlying browser and positioning concepts. They do not imply endorsement of this website.