How many fathoms are in 1 mile?

One mile contains exactly 880 fathoms (5,280 feet / 6 feet per fathom).

How many miles is 1 fathom?

One fathom equals exactly 1/880 of a mile (approximately 0.001136 miles).

How deep is the ocean in miles?

Average ocean depth is about 2.3 miles (2,024 fathoms). The deepest point (Mariana Trench) is about 6.83 miles (6,011 fathoms).

Miles to Fathoms (mi to ftm) Converter

1 mi = 880 ftm

1 Mile equals 880 Fathoms (1 mi = 880 ftm). Convert Miles to Fathoms with formula, table, and examples.

One mile equals exactly 880 fathoms. Since 1 mile = 5,280 feet and 1 fathom = 6 feet, divide 5,280 by 6. This conversion connects road distance with nautical depth - two units that serve different axes of travel.

How to Convert Miles to Fathoms

ftm = mi × 880

Multiply the value in Miles by 880

Take your value in Miles
Multiply by 880
Read the result in Fathoms

Common Miles to Fathoms Conversions

Miles (mi)	Fathoms (ftm)	Status
0.05 mi	44 ftm
0.1 mi	88 ftm
0.25 mi	220 ftm
0.5 mi	440 ftm
1 mi	880 ftm
2 mi	1,760 ftm
5 mi	4,400 ftm
10 mi	8,800 ftm
26.2 mi	23,056 ftm
50 mi	44,000 ftm
100 mi	88,000 ftm
200 mi	176,000 ftm
500 mi	440,000 ftm

Good to Know About Miles to Fathoms Conversion

The mile and fathom are both English units derived from the foot, but they measure perpendicular things: miles measure horizontal travel, fathoms measure vertical depth. The 880:1 ratio connects the road and the ocean through the same foot-based system.

Miles to Fathoms: What You Need to Know

A mile is 880 fathoms. The average ocean depth (about 2.3 miles) is about 2,024 fathoms. The Mariana Trench at 6,011 fathoms is about 6.83 miles deep. Expressing ocean depth in miles makes it tangible for Americans who think in road distances.

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 →

What is a Fathom? ftm

Exactly 6 feet (1.8288 m). Traditionally used to measure water depth in nautical contexts. Originally based on the span of outstretched arms.

Imperial water depth nautical marine charts

Learn more about Fathom →

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

Miles to Fathoms FAQ

One mile contains exactly 880 fathoms (5,280 feet / 6 feet per fathom).
One fathom equals exactly 1/880 of a mile (approximately 0.001136 miles).
Average ocean depth is about 2.3 miles (2,024 fathoms). The deepest point (Mariana Trench) is about 6.83 miles (6,011 fathoms).

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Miles to Fathoms

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

The Mariana Trench is 6.83 miles deep. At 60 mph straight down, you would reach the bottom in about 6.8 minutes. The pressure at the bottom would crush your car in milliseconds. This is not a recommended road trip.
If your commute is under 7 miles, the Mariana Trench (6.83 miles) is deeper than your commute is long. The ocean's deepest point is shorter than most Americans' drive to work. But vertical miles are much harder to travel than horizontal ones.
880 fathoms laid horizontally = 1 mile = about 20 minutes of walking. But 880 fathoms of water depth = 1 mile down = absolutely impossible to walk. The same distance is trivial horizontally and lethal vertically. Direction matters in fathoms.