Miles to kilometers, Fahrenheit to Celsius, pounds to kilograms — and clothing sizes worldwide.
Advertisement
Distance & Length
Miles vs. kilometers, feet vs. meters — know how far that "walkable" attraction really is.
Quick answer1 mi = 1.61 km
Common Conversions
1 mile1.61 km
5 miles8.05 km
10 miles16.1 km
1 km0.62 mi
5 km3.1 mi
1 foot30.5 cm
6 feet1.83 m
1 meter3.28 ft
Why it matters: A listing that says a hotel is "2km from the beach" is about 1.2 miles — closer to a 25-minute walk than a quick stroll. Knowing this before you book saves a lot of surprise.
Temperature
Know whether to pack the jacket. Most of the world uses Celsius — here's what it actually feels like.
Quick answer75°F = 23.9°C
What It Feels Like
0°C32°F — freezing
10°C50°F — cool
20°C68°F — mild
25°C77°F — warm
30°C86°F — hot
35°C95°F — very hot
37°C98.6°F — body temp
40°C104°F — dangerous heat
Why it matters: A forecast of "32°C" sounds harmless to American ears but it's nearly 90°F — plan your sightseeing accordingly and carry water.
Weight
Pounds vs. kilograms — essential for luggage limits and not getting hit with overweight bag fees.
Quick answer50 lb = 22.68 kg
Common Airline Baggage Limits
23 kg50.7 lb
20 kg44.1 lb
32 kg70.5 lb
50 lb22.7 kg
1 kg2.2 lb
1 lb453.6 g
Why it matters: Most international airlines cap checked bags at 23kg (50.7 lb). If your scale at home reads in pounds, double-check before you head to the airport — overweight fees add up fast.
Volume
Cups, liters, and gallons — useful for everything from cooking in a rental kitchen to figuring out gas prices abroad.
Quick answer1 gal = 3.79 L
Common Conversions
1 gallon3.79 L
1 cup237 ml
1 liter4.23 cups
1 fl oz29.6 ml
500 ml2.11 cups
1 L0.26 gal
Why it matters: Gas pumps abroad price by the liter, not the gallon — a price that looks cheap per liter can be more expensive overall. Roughly 3.8 liters = 1 gallon.
Clothing & Shoe Sizes
Sizing charts vary wildly by country. Use this before you buy anything abroad, or pack a tape measure.
US
UK
EU
Japan
0
4
32
5
2
6
34
7
4
8
36
9
6
10
38
11
8
12
40
13
10
14
42
15
12
16
44
17
US
UK
EU
Japan
S (34-36)
34-36
44-46
S
M (38-40)
38-40
48-50
M
L (42-44)
42-44
52-54
L
XL (46-48)
46-48
56-58
XL
XXL (50-52)
50-52
60-62
XXL
US
UK
EU
Japan (cm)
5
2.5
35.5
22
6
3.5
36.5
23
7
4.5
37.5
24
8
5.5
38.5
24.5
9
6.5
40
25.5
10
7.5
41
26.5
11
8.5
42.5
27.5
US
UK
EU
Japan (cm)
7
6
40
25
8
7
41
26
9
8
42.5
27
10
9
44
28
11
10
45
29
12
11
46
30
13
12
47.5
31
Why it matters: A "Medium" in the US is often a "Large" or "10-12" in UK or EU sizing. If you're shopping abroad, sizing up or trying things on beats guessing from the tag.