How many miles is 1 furlong?

One furlong equals exactly 0.125 miles (1/8 mile). Eight furlongs make one mile.

How do I convert furlongs to miles?

Divide the furlong value by 8. For example, 10 furlongs = 10/8 = 1.25 miles.

Why are there 8 furlongs in a mile?

The Elizabethan Parliament standardized the statute mile at 8 furlongs (5,280 feet) in 1593, aligning the Roman-derived mile concept with the Anglo-Saxon furlong-based system.

Furlongs to Miles (fur to mi) Converter

1 fur = 0.125 mi

1 Furlong equals 0.125 Miles (1 fur = 0.125 mi). Convert Furlongs to Miles with formula, table, and examples.

One furlong equals exactly 0.125 miles, or one-eighth of a mile. This is the defining relationship between furlongs and miles: 8 furlongs make one mile. Horse races and old road distances in furlongs convert to miles by dividing by 8.

How to Convert Furlongs to Miles

mi = fur ÷ 8

Divide the value in Furlongs by 8

Take your value in Furlongs
Divide by 8
Read the result in Miles

Common Furlongs to Miles Conversions

Furlongs (fur)	Miles (mi)	Status
0.5 fur	0.0625 mi
1 fur	0.125 mi
2 fur	0.25 mi
4 fur	0.5 mi
5 fur	0.625 mi
8 fur	1 mi
10 fur	1.25 mi
16 fur	2 mi
20 fur	2.5 mi
40 fur	5 mi
80 fur	10 mi
100 fur	12.5 mi
200 fur	25 mi
500 fur	62.5 mi

Good to Know About Furlongs to Miles Conversion

The 8:1 furlong-to-mile ratio is the key to understanding the entire English distance system. Romans brought the mile (1,000 paces). Anglo-Saxons had the furlong (furrow length). Parliament married them at 8 furlongs per mile in 1593, and that ratio defines the American mile to this day.

Furlongs to Miles: What You Need to Know

Eight furlongs make one mile. The Kentucky Derby (10 furlongs) is 1.25 miles. The Preakness (9.5 furlongs) is 1.1875 miles. Old British milestone markers often showed distances in furlongs. When the Statute of Winchester (1592) standardized the mile at 8 furlongs, it created the 5,280-foot mile still used in America today.

What is a Furlong? fur

Exactly 660 feet or one-eighth of a mile (201.168 m). Originally the length of a plowed furrow. Still used in horse racing.

Imperial horse racing historical

Learn more about Furlong →

What is a Mile? mi

An imperial unit of length equal to 5,280 feet or approximately 1.609 kilometers. The standard unit for road distances in the US and UK.

Imperial Us-customary road distances (US/UK) running aviation

Learn more about Mile →

Going the other way? Use our Miles to Furlongs converter.

Furlongs to Miles FAQ

One furlong equals exactly 0.125 miles (1/8 mile). Eight furlongs make one mile.
Divide the furlong value by 8. For example, 10 furlongs = 10/8 = 1.25 miles.
The Elizabethan Parliament standardized the statute mile at 8 furlongs (5,280 feet) in 1593, aligning the Roman-derived mile concept with the Anglo-Saxon furlong-based system.

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Furlongs to Miles

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

The Kentucky Derby is 10 furlongs = 1.25 miles exactly. This is one of the cleanest furlong-to-mile conversions in racing: 10/8 = 1.25. Other race distances are less tidy: 7 furlongs = 0.875 miles, 9 furlongs = 1.125 miles. Derby math is satisfying.
Because Queen Elizabeth I defined a mile as 8 furlongs (5,280 feet) in 1593. Before that, the Roman mile was 5,000 feet (7.576 furlongs). Elizabeth added 280 feet to make the mile an exact multiple of furlongs. Agriculture won over Roman tradition.
A 4-minute mile = 240 seconds / 8 furlongs = 30 seconds per furlong. So yes, running a 4-minute mile means maintaining exactly 30-second furlongs. A racehorse does a furlong in about 12 seconds. So a horse runs 2.5 times faster than the human 4-minute mile pace.