How Many Feet Are in a Mile?
Last updated February 14, 2026 · Length
A statute mile contains exactly 5,280 feet. It also equals 1,760 yards, 63,360 inches and exactly 1,609.344 metres.
Why 5,280?
The Roman mile was a thousand paces, about 5,000 feet. In 1593 an English statute redefined the mile as eight furlongs, and a furlong was 660 feet — the length of a ploughed furrow. Eight times 660 gives 5,280, and the awkward number has survived ever since.
Mile equivalents
| Unit | In one statute mile |
|---|---|
| Feet | 5,280 |
| Yards | 1,760 |
| Inches | 63,360 |
| Metres | 1,609.344 |
| Kilometres | 1.609344 |
| Furlongs | 8 |
The nautical mile is different
A nautical mile is exactly 1,852 metres — about 6,076 feet, or 15% longer than a statute mile. It is used in marine and air navigation because it corresponds to one minute of latitude.