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Convert feet to meters instantly with our accurate ft to m calculator. Uses the exact conversion factor of 0.3048 for construction, height, and international measurements.
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0.3048 m | One foot or standard ruler |
| 3 ft | 0.9144 m | One yard or arm span |
| 5 ft | 1.524 m | Average human height range |
| 6 ft | 1.829 m | Standard doorway height |
| 10 ft | 3.048 m | Standard ceiling height |
| 15 ft | 4.572 m | Small room dimension |
| 20 ft | 6.096 m | Parking space length |
| 30 ft | 9.144 m | House room length |
| 50 ft | 15.24 m | Swimming pool or lot width |
| 100 ft | 30.48 m | Building length or plot size |
| 328 ft | 100 m | Football field length (approx) |
| 500 ft | 152.4 m | City block or large building |
The foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary measurement systems. Historically based on the human foot, it has been standardized since 1959 at exactly 0.3048 meters. The foot is widely used in the United States, United Kingdom (for personal height), Canada, and some other countries for construction, real estate, and everyday measurements. One foot equals 12 inches, and 3 feet make 1 yard.
The meter (symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined in 1793 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole, the meter is now defined by the speed of light: the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. The meter is the standard length unit used by nearly every country in the world for science, engineering, construction, and everyday measurements.
The need to convert between feet and meters arises frequently in international construction, aviation (where altitude is reported in feet worldwide), sports (track and field events use meters), real estate (US uses square feet, most countries use square meters), and scientific research. Understanding this conversion is essential for anyone working across imperial and metric systems.
meters = feet × 0.3048
Since 1 foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, you simply multiply any value in feet by 0.3048 to get meters. This is an exact conversion with no rounding involved.
Question: Convert an 8-foot ceiling height to meters.
Standard US ceiling height, equivalent to roughly 2.4 meters in metric countries.
Question: Convert 5 feet 10 inches to meters.
Average adult male height in the US, commonly stated as “about 1.78 m” internationally.
Question: How long is a 300-foot football field in meters?
An American football field (100 yards) is 91.44 meters long, just under a 100-meter sprint distance.
For quick estimates, divide feet by 3 to get an approximate meter value. This gives roughly 1.5% error, which is close enough for casual estimates. Examples: 15 ft ÷ 3 ≈ 5 m (actual: 4.57 m), 30 ft ÷ 3 ≈ 10 m (actual: 9.14 m). For better accuracy, divide by 3.28. Remember key benchmarks: 3 ft ≈ 1 m, 6 ft ≈ 2 m, 10 ft ≈ 3 m.
| Height (ft-in) | Decimal Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 4'0" | 4 | 1.2192 m |
| 4'6" | 4.5 | 1.3716 m |
| 5'0" | 5 | 1.524 m |
| 5'4" | 5.333 | 1.6256 m |
| 5'6" | 5.5 | 1.6764 m |
| 5'8" | 5.667 | 1.7272 m |
| 5'10" | 5.833 | 1.778 m |
| 6'0" | 6 | 1.8288 m |
| 6'2" | 6.167 | 1.8796 m |
| 6'4" | 6.333 | 1.9304 m |
| 6'6" | 6.5 | 1.9812 m |
| Measurement | Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Standard door height | 6.67 ft | 2.032 m |
| Standard ceiling | 8 ft | 2.438 m |
| Garage door height | 7 ft | 2.134 m |
| Hallway width | 3.5 ft | 1.067 m |
| Parking space length | 18 ft | 5.486 m |
| 2-story building | 20 ft | 6.096 m |
| Residential lot width | 50 ft | 15.24 m |
| Tennis court length | 78 ft | 23.774 m |
International construction projects require metric measurements. Converting feet to meters ensures compliance with building codes in metric countries and accurate material ordering from global suppliers.
While aviation uses feet for altitude worldwide, airport infrastructure and runway measurements are often specified in meters. Pilots and air traffic controllers must understand both systems for safe operations.
Track and field events use meters internationally. Converting American sports measurements (football field in yards/feet, basketball court dimensions) to meters helps in international competition and comparison.
Property dimensions and room sizes differ between countries. Americans searching for real estate abroad encounter metric measurements, while international buyers in the US need feet-to-meters conversion for understanding listings.
When converting heights like 5'9", first divide inches by 12 (9/12 = 0.75), then add to feet (5.75 ft), then multiply by 0.3048. Don't treat 5'9" as 5.9 feet.
The exact conversion factor is 0.3048. Using 0.3 introduces ~1.6% error, and 0.305 gives ~0.07% error. For construction and engineering, use the full factor.
To convert square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.0929 (0.3048²), not 0.3048. Linear and area conversions use different factors.
When converting feet-and-inches, keep full decimal precision until the final answer. Rounding 5'9" to 5.8 ft instead of 5.75 ft changes the result by over 1.5 cm.
The US survey foot (1200/3937 m) differs slightly from the international foot (0.3048 m). The survey foot was deprecated by NIST in 2023. For typical conversions, always use 0.3048.
Multiply the foot value by 0.3048. Example: 10 feet × 0.3048 = 3.048 meters. This factor comes from the 1959 international agreement defining 1 foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. The conversion is essential for international construction, sports measurements, and real estate. Use our calculator for instant results.
The exact conversion factor is 1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly, established by international agreement in 1959. Since 1 inch = 25.4 mm and 1 foot = 12 inches, we get 304.8 mm = 0.3048 meters. This is a defined relationship with zero ambiguity, not an approximation.
Six feet equals 1.8288 meters (6 × 0.3048), commonly rounded to 1.83 meters. This is a significant benchmark—standard US doorway height, approximate height of a tall person, and common ceiling reference. In international contexts, 6 feet typically rounds to "about 1.8 meters" for casual conversation.
First convert to decimal feet by dividing inches by 12 and adding to feet, then multiply by 0.3048. Example: 5 feet 9 inches = 5 + (9÷12) = 5.75 feet × 0.3048 = 1.753 meters. This format is essential since US uses feet-inches (5'10") while international uses meters (1.78m).
In 1959, English-speaking countries standardized the foot at exactly 0.3048 meters through international agreement. This derived from defining the inch as 25.4 mm—since 1 foot = 12 inches, we get 304.8 mm = 0.3048 m. The 1959 definition ended confusion and enabled consistent global measurements.
Divide feet by 3 for quick estimates (~1.5% error). Example: 15 feet ÷ 3 ≈ 5 meters (actual: 4.57m). Remember key benchmarks: 3 feet ≈ 1 meter, 6 feet ≈ 2 meters, 10 feet ≈ 3 meters. These approximations help verify calculations but shouldn't replace precise calculations for construction or engineering.
Accuracy depends on application. Casual estimates: 0.1 meter suffices. Construction/carpentry: 0.01 meter (1 cm) precision needed. Surveying/engineering: 0.001 meter (1 mm) or better required. Building codes specify tolerances—foundations need millimeter precision while room dimensions allow centimeter accuracy. When uncertain, use higher precision.
Yes—the international foot (0.3048 meters, used since 1959) and US survey foot (0.30480061 meters, used in some land surveys). The difference is tiny—3mm per mile—but accumulates over distance. NIST officially deprecated the US survey foot in 2023. For typical conversions, always use the international foot (0.3048m).
US codes specify feet; metric countries use meters. Maintain precision to avoid code violations: 8-foot ceiling = 2.438 meters (not 2.4m). Minimum dimensions (egress width, stair risers, ceiling heights) must meet code after conversion. Professional architects maintain dual-dimensioned drawings for international projects to ensure compliance in both systems.
Many sports use both: football fields (100 yards = 91.44m), baseball mound (60.5 feet = 18.44m), basketball three-point line (23.75 feet = 7.24m). Olympic specifications use meters exclusively—10m diving platform, 50m pool. Understanding both systems helps follow international competitions and US sporting events using different conventions.
Square the linear factor: multiply by (0.3048)² = 0.09290304. Example: 100 sq ft × 0.09290304 = 9.29 m². Don't just multiply by 0.3048—that's for linear conversion! Real estate listings show both: "1200 sq ft (111.5 m²)." Our calculator focuses on linear dimensions; use area calculators for square footage.
The US inherited the imperial system from Britain and never fully adopted metric despite 1975 legislation. Cultural familiarity, enormous infrastructure costs (road signs, construction standards, equipment), and practical inertia prevent change. Construction and everyday measurements remain imperial, though US science, medicine, and military use metric. This creates ongoing conversion needs.
Aviation uses feet worldwide for altitude (FL350 = 35,000 feet = 10,668m), even in metric countries. Topographic maps vary by country. Mountain heights list both: Everest is 29,029 feet or 8,849 meters. GPS devices allow unit switching. Understanding both prevents confusion with international maps and hiking guides.
Common errors: using 0.3 instead of 0.3048 (~1.5% error), forgetting to convert inches to decimal feet first (6'3" is 6.25 feet, not 6.3), confusing linear and area conversions, mixing US survey feet with international feet, and rounding intermediate steps. Always convert feet-inches to decimal first, then multiply by 0.3048.
Yes, when working with international contractors, imported materials, or building in metric countries. Materials specified metrically (2.4m lumber, 3m ceiling) don't match US imperial sizes directly. International codes and engineering standards use meters. Dual-dimensioned drawings prevent errors. Modern global construction requires fluency in both measurement systems.
This calculator uses the internationally defined conversion factor of 1 foot = 0.3048 meters. For surveying and geodetic work, consult a licensed surveyor as the deprecated US survey foot may still apply in some legacy contexts. Results are for informational purposes and should be verified for critical engineering or construction applications.