Convert Light years to kilometers
1 light year = 9,460,730,472,580.8 kilometers · km = ly × 9,460,730,473,000
When you need this conversion
This conversion goes from light years, the astronomical distance light travels in a year, to kilometers, the metric unit for road distances and travel. Both measure the same physical quantity, so the conversion is exact — the difference is which unit your source, tool, or region happens to use.
Light years to kilometers conversion table
| Light years (ly) | Kilometers (km) |
|---|---|
| 1 ly | 9,460,730,472,580.8 km |
| 2 ly | 18,921,460,945,161.6 km |
| 3 ly | 28,382,191,417,742.4 km |
| 5 ly | 47,303,652,362,904 km |
| 10 ly | 94,607,304,725,808 km |
| 15 ly | 141,910,957,088,712 km |
| 20 ly | 189,214,609,451,616 km |
| 25 ly | 236,518,261,814,520 km |
| 50 ly | 473,036,523,629,040 km |
| 75 ly | 709,554,785,443,559.9 km |
| 100 ly | 946,073,047,258,080 km |
| 250 ly | 2.365183e15 km |
| 500 ly | 4.730365e15 km |
| 1,000 ly | 9.460730e15 km |
The formula
km = ly × 9,460,730,473,000Because both units measure length, the conversion is a single multiplication by a fixed factor. That factor never changes, so the result is exact.
Convert the other way
Kilometers to light years →Related length conversions
- Meters to kilometers
- Millimeters to micrometers
- Centimeters to inches
- Centimeters to feet
- Kilometers to meters
- Inches to centimeters
- Feet to centimeters
- Feet to yards
- Yards to feet
- Micrometers to millimeters
- Millimeters to kilometers
- Centimeters to kilometers
Frequently asked questions
- How many kilometers are in a light year?
- There are 9,460,730,472,580.8 kilometers in 1 light year. The formula is km = ly × 9,460,730,473,000.
- How do you convert light years to kilometers?
- Use the formula km = ly × 9,460,730,473,000. For example, 10 light years equals 94,607,304,725,808 kilometers.
- Is the light years to kilometers conversion exact?
- Yes. Light years and kilometers are both units of length, related by an exact defined factor. Displayed results are rounded for readability.
- What is ly short for?
- ly is the standard symbol for light year. km is the symbol for kilometer.