How Many Miles Is A 5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon And Marathon?

A 5K is 3.11 miles, a 10K is 6.21 miles, a 15K is 9.32 miles, a half marathon is 13.11 miles, and a full marathon is 26.22 miles.

If you need to convert a different distance, use the converter above and it will handle any kilometer value you throw at it.

Distance Converter

Convert any distance between kilometers and miles, and see which race it matches.

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Race distances in miles and kilometers

Here is a quick reference for the most common race distances. Keep it handy for race day planning or training comparisons.

Common race distances in kilometers and miles.
Race	Kilometers	Miles
5K	5	3.11
8K	8	4.97
10K	10	6.21
12K	12	7.46
15K	15	9.32
10 miles	16.0934	10.00
20K	20	12.43
Half marathon	21.0975	13.11
25K	25	15.53
30K	30	18.64
Marathon	42.195	26.22

Why races are measured in kilometers

Races are measured in kilometers because the metric system is the international standard for athletics. From local 5Ks to the Olympics, organizers worldwide use kilometers to keep distances consistent. The wrinkle is that many runners in the US and UK train in miles, so the mental back-and-forth between the two systems comes up constantly.

Converting kilometers to miles in your head

The exact conversion is 1 kilometer equals 0.621 miles. For a quick mental check, multiply the kilometer distance by 0.62 and you will be close enough for pacing purposes. A rougher trick: multiply by 6 and drop the last digit. For a 10K, 10 times 6 is 60, drop a digit, and you get about 6 miles. It is not exact, but it works when you are mid-race and do not have a calculator handy.

How Many Miles Is A 5K, 10K, 15K, Half Marathon And Marathon?

The bottom line

The five distances runners talk about most, 5K through marathon, span from just over 3 miles to just over 26. Knowing the mile equivalent for your target race helps with pacing, gear choices, and setting realistic time goals.

Frequently asked questions