Example: Room Height
A standard room is 10 ft tall. Convert to meters.
Calculation:
10 ft × 0.3048 = 3.048 m
Result: —
Length Conversion
Feet Converter (ft)
Convert feet to metric, imperial, survey, and even astronomical distance units. Enter a value in feet, pick the target unit, and get instant results with a clear conversion formula. Learn the history, applications, and practical uses of feet in real-world scenarios.
1 ft = 0.3048 m (exact)
1 ft = 12 in
1 yd = 3 ft
1 mi = 5280 ft
1 fathom = 6 ft
1 chain = 66 ft
What is a foot?
The foot (ft) is a common US customary and imperial length unit. The international foot is defined exactly as 0.3048 meters. Used in construction, aviation, and everyday measurements in the US and UK.
Survey units
Survey feet appear in older land records and maps. This converter includes both international feet and U.S. survey feet (1200/3937 m), historically used for surveying and mapping.
Astronomy scale
Light years, astronomical units, and parsecs are enormous distances. Results display in scientific notation for readability and practical understanding.
Feet Scale Visualization
See how feet compare to other common length units on a visual scale.
1 Foot Compared to Other Units
Common Heights in Feet
Average Human Height
5.5 - 6 ft
Basketball Hoop
10 ft
Standard Door
6.67 ft
Single Story Building
10 - 14 ft
Tree Height (average)
40 - 60 ft
Commercial Building Floor
12 - 15 ft
Swimming Pool Depth
3 - 8 ft
Airplane Cruising Altitude
35,000 ft
Visual Foot Ruler
Understanding the actual length of a foot in different measurements:
1 Foot = 12 Inches
12 inches (1 foot)
1 Foot = 30.48 Centimeters
30.48 cm (1 foot)
1 Foot = 0.3048 Meters
0.3048 m (1 foot)
Feet to Metric Quick Reference
1 Foot =
0.3048 m
Meters
1 Foot =
30.48 cm
Centimeters
1 Foot =
304.8 mm
Millimeters
1 Foot =
12 in
Inches
Understanding Feet: History & Applications
Learn about the foot unit, its origins, standardization, and widespread use across different industries and countries.
Evolution of the Foot Unit
Ancient Times
The foot originated from the human foot length. Different civilizations used varying lengths—Roman foot (~11.65 in), Greek foot (~12.44 in), and Egyptian foot (~11.8 in).
Medieval Period
The English foot became standardized at 12 inches during the reign of King Henry VII. This measurement was based on the length of the king's foot, a common practice for defining standards.
1959 - International Standardization
The international foot was officially defined as exactly 0.3048 meters through an agreement between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other nations. This precise definition ensures consistency worldwide.
Present Day
Despite metric adoption in most countries, feet remain the standard in construction, aviation, and sports globally. The US, UK, and several other nations continue official use in specific industries.
Historical Origins
The foot originated from the length of a human foot, varying across cultures and time periods. The Roman foot was approximately 11.65 inches, while the English foot evolved to 12 inches. In 1959, the international foot was standardized to exactly 0.3048 meters through an international agreement. This standardization was crucial for trade, engineering, and global commerce.
Construction & Architecture
Feet remain the standard measurement in construction, especially in the United States. Building blueprints, room dimensions, ceiling heights, and property measurements are all expressed in feet. Standard door heights are 6'8" (6 feet 8 inches), and typical ceiling heights are 8-10 feet. Lumber dimensions (2x4s, 2x6s) are also measured in feet.
Aviation & Altitude
Feet are the universal standard for measuring altitude in aviation worldwide. Aircraft cruising altitude is typically 35,000-40,000 feet. Air traffic control, runway elevations, and altitude restrictions are all specified in feet, regardless of whether the country uses metric units. This global standardization is essential for flight safety and international coordination.
Maritime & Water Depth
Nautical depth measurements use fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet). Ocean depth, water navigation, and underwater measurements frequently use feet. Recreational diving depth limits are expressed in feet, and swimming pool dimensions are measured in feet. Ships' specifications and marine charts also rely on feet for depth measurements.
Sports & Recreation
Sports fields and courts worldwide measure in feet: basketball hoops at 10 feet, football fields 100 yards (300 feet) long, baseball bases 90 feet apart. Track and field events use feet for distance measurements, and skiing/snowboarding terrain elevation is marked in feet. Even international sports competitions maintain feet as the standard measurement unit.
Surveying & Land Measurement
Land surveying in the US uses feet and survey feet. Property boundaries, plot dimensions, and deed measurements are recorded in feet. Survey feet (1200/3937 m) appear in historical documents and maintain precision for legacy land records and mapping. Understanding both feet and survey feet is essential for property professionals and historians.
Engineering & Manufacturing
Engineering drawings, mechanical specifications, and manufacturing standards in the US and UK extensively use feet. Pipe sizes, equipment dimensions, and installation specifications are all measured in feet. This consistency is critical for quality control, interoperability, and international trade in manufactured goods.
Education & Training
Educational curricula in the US teach feet alongside metric measurements. Students learn to convert between systems, understanding both traditional and modern measurement approaches. This dual literacy is valuable for careers in construction, engineering, aviation, and international business where both systems are used.
Feet to Anything Converter
Choose your target unit, enter feet, then copy the result. Use Swap to quickly invert (for example meters to feet).
How this conversion works
Feet → meters → target unit
This page uses the meter (m) as the base unit. First it converts feet to meters using the exact factor 0.3048, then meters to your selected unit. This ensures maximum accuracy across all unit conversions.
Base unit: meter (m)
Plain language
Feet are common for height, rooms, construction, and maps. Metric units (m, cm, mm) are used worldwide in science and engineering. Understanding both systems is valuable in our globalized world.
Common formulas
m = ft × 0.3048
in = ft × 12
yd = ft ÷ 3
mi = ft ÷ 5280
cm = ft × 30.48
km = ft × 0.0003048
Real world uses
Construction plans, sports fields, aviation altitude (ft), hiking distances, engineering drawings, interior design, property deeds, and education across multiple disciplines.
Tip: You can type commas (like 10,000). The converter reads it as 10000.
—
Enter a value to convert
Conversion Formula
—
Notes: Very large units (light years, AU, parsecs) will display using scientific notation for readability.
Quick Reference Chart
Common feet to other unit conversions at a glance. Use this table for quick lookups and understanding conversion ratios.
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) | Inches (in) | Yards (yd) | Miles (mi) | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 | 12 | 0.3333 | 0.000189 | 30.48 |
| 5 | 1.524 | 60 | 1.6667 | 0.000947 | 152.4 |
| 10 | 3.048 | 120 | 3.3333 | 0.001894 | 304.8 |
| 50 | 15.24 | 600 | 16.6667 | 0.009470 | 1524 |
| 100 | 30.48 | 1200 | 33.3333 | 0.018939 | 3048 |
| 500 | 152.4 | 6000 | 166.6667 | 0.094697 | 15240 |
| 1000 | 304.8 | 12000 | 333.3333 | 0.189394 | 30480 |
Worked Examples
Quick examples help visitors understand typical magnitudes and real-world applications. Each example shows the calculation step-by-step.
Example: Human Height
Average person is 5.75 ft tall. Convert to inches.
Calculation:
5.75 ft × 12 = 69 in
Result: —
Example: Basketball Hoop
Basketball hoop is 10 ft high. Convert to centimeters.
Calculation:
10 ft × 30.48 = 304.8 cm
Result: —
Example: Feet to Miles
Convert 5,280 ft (exactly 1 mile) to miles.
Calculation:
5,280 ft ÷ 5,280 = 1 mi
Result: —
Example: Airplane Altitude
Commercial plane cruises at 35,000 ft. Convert to kilometers.
Calculation:
35,000 ft × 0.3048 ÷ 1,000 = 10.668 km
Result: —
Example: Swimming Pool
Olympic pool is 10 ft deep. Convert to yards.
Calculation:
10 ft ÷ 3 = 3.333 yd
Result: —
Example: Building Height
A 20-story building is approximately 240 ft tall. Convert to meters.
Calculation:
240 ft × 0.3048 = 73.152 m
Result: —
Example: Mountain Height
Mount Everest is 29,032 feet. Convert to kilometers.
Calculation:
29,032 ft × 0.3048 ÷ 1,000 = 8.849 km
Result: —
Example: Tree Height
A tall tree is 150 feet high. Convert to meters.
Calculation:
150 ft × 0.3048 = 45.72 m
Result: —
Example: Bridge Span
Golden Gate Bridge main span is 4,200 feet. Convert to kilometers.
Calculation:
4,200 ft × 0.3048 ÷ 1,000 = 1.281 km
Result: —
Example: Ship Depth
Ocean depth is 12,000 feet. Convert to fathoms (nautical measure).
Calculation:
12,000 ft ÷ 6 = 2,000 fathoms
Result: —
Example: Football Field
American football field is 100 yards (300 feet). Convert to meters.
Calculation:
300 ft × 0.3048 = 91.44 m
Result: —
FAQ
Is 1 foot exactly 0.3048 meters?
Yes. The international foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. This definition was established in 1959 and is the standard used for everyday engineering and construction worldwide.
What is a fathom, rod, and chain?
These are older length units still seen in navigation and surveying. A fathom is 6 ft (used for water depth and nautical measurements), a rod is 16.5 ft (surveying and land measurement), and a chain is 66 ft (surveying and land measurement, part of Gunter's chain system).
Why do light years, AU, and parsecs look "tiny" in feet?
They are enormous distance units. When converting feet to those units, the numbers are extremely small, so scientific notation is used. For example, 1 light-year = 9.46 × 10¹⁵ meters, which is why 1 foot in light-years appears as a minuscule decimal or scientific notation value.
What's the difference between international feet and survey feet?
The international foot = 0.3048 m exactly. The U.S. survey foot = 1200/3937 m ≈ 0.3048006096 m. Survey feet were used historically for land surveying and appear in older property records. The difference is tiny (about 0.002% difference) but matters for precise surveying and historical property boundaries.
How many feet are in common distances?
1 mile = 5,280 ft | 1 nautical mile = 6,076.12 ft | 1 yard = 3 ft | 1 inch = 0.0833 ft | 100 meters = 328.08 ft | 1 kilometer = 3,280.84 ft | 1 fathom = 6 ft
Why is feet still used in aviation worldwide?
Feet became the international standard for aviation altitude before metrication occurred. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standardized on feet for altitude measurements globally. This ensures consistency and safety in international air traffic control, even in countries that use metric units for other measurements.
What countries still primarily use feet?
The United States, Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Palau, Turks and Caicos, and the United Kingdom (for some applications) officially use feet or feet alongside metric. However, feet appear in international contexts like aviation, maritime, and sports regardless of country.
How do I convert feet to centimeters quickly?
Simply multiply feet by 30.48. For example: 6 feet × 30.48 = 182.88 cm. This works because 1 foot = 0.3048 meters = 30.48 centimeters.
Are feet used in the UK?
The UK officially adopted the metric system but feet are still commonly used for height measurements, property dimensions, and some traditional contexts. Road distances are in miles, and heights are often given in feet and inches alongside metric measurements.