How Many Feet in a Mile? The Simple Answer
There are 5,280 feet in a mile. That is the exact answer for how many feet in a mile in the US customary system: 1 mile = 5,280 feet = 1,760 yards = 63,360 inches.
Quick Answer: 1 mile = 5,280 feet. To convert miles to feet, multiply by 5,280: feet = miles x 5,280. To convert feet to miles, divide by 5,280.
The mile comes from the Roman mille passus, or a thousand paces, but the modern statute mile was fixed at 5,280 feet in 1593 in England, and that definition is still used in the United States today. It is the standard distance for roads, running races and land measurement in the US.
Miles to Feet Conversion Chart
| Miles | Feet | Yards | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 mile | 1,320 ft | 440 yd | 15,840 in |
| 1/2 mile | 2,640 ft | 880 yd | 31,680 in |
| 3/4 mile | 3,960 ft | 1,320 yd | 47,520 in |
| 1 mile | 5,280 ft | 1,760 yd | 63,360 in |
| 2 miles | 10,560 ft | 3,520 yd | 126,720 in |
| 3 miles | 15,840 ft | 5,280 yd | 190,080 in |
| 5 miles | 26,400 ft | 8,800 yd | 316,800 in |
| 10 miles | 52,800 ft | 17,600 yd | 633,600 in |
| 26.2 miles (marathon) | 138,336 ft | 46,112 yd | 1,660,032 in |
Feet to Miles: The Reverse Conversion
To convert feet to miles, divide by 5,280. Ten thousand feet is about 1.89 miles. One thousand feet is about 0.19 miles. A standard running track lap is 400 meters, or about 1,312 feet, which is a quarter of a mile.
Why 5,280? The Yard Connection
The number 5,280 is not random: it is 1,760 yards times 3 feet per yard. A furlong, an old farming unit, is 660 feet, and 8 furlongs make a mile: 8 x 660 = 5,280. That is why the mile divides neatly into halves, quarters and eighths, which are useful for road signs and race distances.
Common Mile Distances
A mile is about 20 city blocks in a typical US grid, though this varies by city. Walking a mile takes most adults about 20 minutes. Running a mile in under 6 minutes is a strong pace. Driving a mile at 60 miles per hour takes exactly 1 minute.
Related Conversions
For more length help, see MM to In: Easy Conversion Guide and Chart, and for volume, see how many cups in a gallon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many feet in a mile?
5,280 feet.
How many feet in half a mile?
2,640 feet.
How many feet in 2 miles?
10,560 feet.
How many yards in a mile?
1,760 yards.
How many inches in a mile?
63,360 inches.
How many feet in a marathon?
A marathon is 26.2 miles, or 138,336 feet.
Conclusion
One mile = 5,280 feet. Multiply miles by 5,280 to get feet, or divide feet by 5,280 to get miles.
Source: Mile – Wikipedia