Map Scale Calculator
Real distance from a map measurement and scale, the map distance for a real one, or the scale from both: at 1:50,000, 10 cm is 5 km. How it works
Use the Map Scale Calculator
About the Map Scale Calculator
On a 1:50,000 map, 1 cm is 500 m on the ground, so 10 cm measured on the map is 5 km. Real distance = map distance × scale number. This map scale calculator takes the measurement in cm, mm or inches and gives the ground distance in km, m, miles, feet or yards, and its Ground to map mode works the other way: 5 km at 1:50,000 is 10 cm on the map. Find the scale works out the ratio from both distances: 3 cm on the map for 1 km on the ground is 1 : 33,333.
What 1 cm and 1 inch on the map represent
| Scale | 1 cm (m) | 1 cm (km) | 1 in (ft) | 1 in (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:10,000 | 100 | 0.1 | 833.3333 | 0.1578283 |
| 1:24,000 | 240 | 0.24 | 2,000 | 0.3787879 |
| 1:25,000 | 250 | 0.25 | 2,083.333 | 0.3945707 |
| 1:50,000 | 500 | 0.5 | 4,166.667 | 0.7891414 |
| 1:62,500 | 625 | 0.625 | 5,208.333 | 0.9864268 |
| 1:63,360 | 633.6 | 0.6336 | 5,280 | 1 |
| 1:100,000 | 1,000 | 1 | 8,333.333 | 1.578283 |
| 1:250,000 | 2,500 | 2.5 | 20,833.33 | 3.945707 |
| 1:1,000,000 | 10,000 | 10 | 83,333.33 | 15.78283 |
Values shown to 7 significant digits, as the calculator shows them.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a map scale of 1:24,000 mean?
- One unit on the map is 24,000 of the same unit on the ground. 1 inch on the map is 24,000 inches, which is 2,000 feet, and 1 cm is 240 m.
- How far is 4 cm on a 1:25,000 map?
- 4 cm × 25,000 = 100,000 cm, which is 1 km or 0.6213712 miles.
- How do I convert a map distance to miles?
- Pick Miles as the output unit. On a 1:24,000 map, 3.5 inches is 1.325758 miles; on a 1:50,000 map, 10 cm is 3.106856 miles.
- How do I convert a real distance to a map distance?
- Divide by the scale number: map distance = real distance ÷ scale. Choose Ground to map, enter the scale and the distance on the ground, and pick cm, mm or inches. 5 km at 1:50,000 is 10 cm (100 mm, 3.937008 in), and 1 mile at 1:24,000 is 2.64 inches.
- Which map scale is one inch to the mile?
- 1:63,360, because a mile is 63,360 inches. 1 inch on that map is 5,280 feet, exactly 1 mile.
- Is the answer the walking distance?
- No, it is the straight-line distance measured on a flat map. It ignores hills and the distortion of the map projection, so measure a winding trail in short straight pieces and add them up.
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