What is a metre?
A metre is the main metric unit used to measure length and distance. It is equal to 100 centimetres, 1,000 millimetres and about 3.28 feet.
A metre is a metric unit of length. It is commonly used for room sizes, fabric, height, short distances, construction measurements and everyday dimensions.
The metre belongs to the metric system. In UK English it is usually written as metre; in US English, the spelling meter is also common.
Why metres matter
Metres are one of the most useful everyday units because they sit between small measurements such as centimetres and longer distances such as kilometres.
For example, you might measure a room in metres, a person’s height in metres and centimetres, a garden fence in metres, or a short running distance in metres.
Metre conversions
Here are the most common metre conversions used in everyday measurements.
| Conversion | Value | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 metre to millimetres | 1,000 mm | 2 m = 2,000 mm |
| 1 metre to centimetres | 100 cm | 1.8 m = 180 cm |
| 1 metre to kilometres | 0.001 km | 500 m = 0.5 km |
| 1 metre to inches | about 39.37 in | 2 m ≈ 78.74 in |
| 1 metre to feet | about 3.28 ft | 3 m ≈ 9.84 ft |
| 1 metre to yards | about 1.09 yd | 10 m ≈ 10.94 yd |
Metre conversion formulas
Most metre conversions use a simple conversion factor.
millimetres = metres × 1,000
feet = metres × 3.28084
inches = metres × 39.3701
To convert back into metres, divide by the same factor. For example, centimetres to metres uses centimetres ÷ 100.
Metres vs centimetres
A metre is larger than a centimetre. There are exactly 100 centimetres in 1 metre.
| Unit | Best for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| centimetres | smaller everyday lengths | phone width, book size, shoe length |
| metres | medium lengths and dimensions | room size, height, garden length |
| kilometres | longer distances | travel distance, running route, road journey |
Common UK examples
In the UK, metres are often used alongside imperial units. Property, DIY and sports measurements may use metres, centimetres, feet, inches, yards or miles depending on the context.
- Room dimensions: often shown in metres, sometimes with feet and inches too.
- Height: may be given as metres and centimetres, or feet and inches.
- Running and athletics: short races are measured in metres.
- DIY materials: timber, fabric, flooring and fencing may be measured in metres.
Metre conversion examples
| Question | Calculation | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| How many cm is 1.75 m? | 1.75 × 100 | 175 cm |
| How many feet is 2 m? | 2 × 3.28084 | about 6.56 ft |
| How many metres is 250 cm? | 250 ÷ 100 | 2.5 m |
| How many kilometres is 750 m? | 750 ÷ 1,000 | 0.75 km |
Rounding metre conversions
Metric conversions such as metres to centimetres are exact and usually easy to read. Imperial conversions such as metres to feet or inches often produce decimals, so rounding is normal for everyday use.
For general household measurements, one or two decimal places is usually enough. For technical, engineering or legal measurements, keep more precision.
Quick answers
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many centimetres are in a metre? | 100 centimetres. |
| How many millimetres are in a metre? | 1,000 millimetres. |
| How many feet are in a metre? | About 3.28 feet. |
| Is metre the same as meter? | Yes, it is the same unit. Metre is the usual UK spelling; meter is common in US English. |
FAQs
What is a metre used for?
A metre is used to measure length, height, width and distance. It is common in room measurements, DIY, sport, construction and everyday dimensions.
Is a metre bigger than a centimetre?
Yes. One metre is equal to 100 centimetres, so a metre is much larger than a centimetre.
How do you convert metres to feet?
Multiply metres by 3.28084. For example, 2 metres is about 6.56 feet.
How do you convert centimetres to metres?
Divide centimetres by 100. For example, 180 centimetres is 1.8 metres.