Convert km to light years
Input the number of kilometers you want to convert to light years.
How to Convert Kilometers to Light Years
The kilometer and light year are both units of length. By definition, 1 light year equals exactly 9.461e12 kilometers. This means to convert kilometers to light years, you divide by 9.461e12.
Formula
Step-by-Step Example
Convert 5 km to light years:
We need to convert kilometers to light years
Since 1 ly = 9.461e12 km, divide by 9.461e12
5 ÷ 9.461e12 = 5.2848536096e-13
5 km = 5.2848536096e-13 ly
Kilometer to Light Year Conversion Table
Quick reference table for common kilometer to light year conversions. Click any value for detailed calculation.
| Kilometers (km) | Light Years (ly) |
|---|---|
| 0.1 km | 1.0569707219e-14 ly |
| 0.5 km | 5.2848536096e-14 ly |
| 1 km | 1.0569707219e-13 ly |
| 2 km | 2.1139414438e-13 ly |
| 5 km | 5.2848536096e-13 ly |
| 10 km | 1.0569707219e-12 ly |
| 25 km | 2.6424268048e-12 ly |
| 50 km | 5.2848536096e-12 ly |
| 100 km | 1.0569707219e-11 ly |
About These Units
Kilometer (km)
A kilometer (km) is a metric unit of length equal to 1,000 meters or approximately 0.621 miles. Kilometers are the standard unit for measuring road distances, running races, and geographic distances in most countries worldwide. Common conversions: 1 km = 0.621 miles, 1 mile = 1.609 km.
Light Year (ly)
A light year (ly) is the distance light travels in one year: approximately 9.461 trillion kilometers or 5.879 trillion miles. Light years measure interstellar distances. The nearest star Proxima Centauri is 4.24 light years away. Light travels 299,792 km/second.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert kilometers to light years?
To convert kilometers to light years, divide the value by 9.461e12. For example, 10 km = 1.0569707219e-12 ly.
How many light years are in 1 kilometer?
1 kilometer equals 1.0569707219e-13 light years.
What is the formula for kilometers to light years?
The formula is: ly = km ÷ 9.461e12.