Convert Square Miles to Square Kilometers
Use our free online converter to easily convert from Square Miles to Square Kilometers. Get accurate conversions instantly.
Converting Square Miles to Square Kilometers
Converting square miles to square kilometers is essential in geography, environmental science, and international development, particularly when translating between US or UK measurements and international standards.
Mathematical Relationship
The mathematical relation between square miles and square kilometers is: 1 square mile = 2.58999 square kilometers. To convert an area in square miles to square kilometers, multiply the square mile value by 2.58999.
Common Conversion Values
| Square Miles | Square Kilometers |
|---|---|
| 1 | 2.58999 |
| 5 | 12.95 |
| 10 | 25.8999 |
| 50 | 129.5 |
| 100 | 258.999 |
Unit Definitions
Square Miles
The square mile (symbol: mi²) is an imperial and US customary unit of area equal to the area of a square with sides of one mile. It equals 640 acres and is commonly used for measuring large land areas in the United States and United Kingdom.
Square Kilometers
The square kilometer (symbol: km²) is a metric unit of area equal to 1,000,000 square meters. It is commonly used for measuring large land areas, geographic regions, and administrative territories.
Historical Context
The mile has ancient Roman origins, while the kilometer was introduced during the French Revolution as part of the metric system. The conversion between their square units became increasingly important with the internationalization of science and geography.