Feet to Meters Converter
Convert feet to meters with our online calculator. Perfect for construction, engineering, and everyday measurements. Get results in seconds.
Feet to Meters Converter
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Relationship Between Feet and Meters
The conversion between feet and meters is based on the international foot definition where 1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters.
1 ft = 0.3048 m
Therefore,
1 m = 3.28084 ft
To convert feet to meters, we multiply the value in feet by 0.3048.
For example, 10 feet equals 3.048 meters.
Note: This conversion is based on the international foot, which has been the standard definition since 1959. The relationship is exact: 1 international foot = 0.3048 meters precisely. This is used worldwide for surveying, construction, and engineering applications.
Foot (ft)
What is a Foot?
A foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since 1959, the international foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. The foot is subdivided into 12 inches, and three feet make up one yard.
History and Origin
The foot has been used as a unit of measurement since ancient times, with its length varying by region and time period. The name derives from the average length of a human foot. In 1959, the international yard and pound agreement standardized the foot as exactly 0.3048 meters, creating the "international foot" used today. This replaced earlier definitions including the US survey foot (still occasionally used for land surveying in the US).
Current Use
- United States: Primary unit for measuring height, distance, and dimensions in everyday life and construction
- Construction and Architecture: Building dimensions, room sizes, ceiling heights (commonly 8-10 ft)
- Real Estate: Property measurements and floor area calculations
- Aviation: Altitude measurements (e.g., cruising at 35,000 feet)
- Sports: Court and field dimensions (basketball court: 94 ft long, football field: 300 ft)
- Human Height: Commonly used in the US, UK, and Canada (e.g., 5'10" = 5 feet 10 inches)
- Marine Navigation: Water depth measurements (in feet or fathoms)
- Surveying: Land measurements and property boundaries
Feet and Inches
The foot is commonly divided into inches, with 1 foot = 12 inches. Heights are often expressed as feet and inches (e.g., 6'2" means 6 feet 2 inches, or 6.167 feet). This fractional system, while less decimal-friendly than metric, remains deeply embedded in American culture and industry.
Meter (m)
What is a Meter?
The meter (symbol: m) is the base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). Since 1983, the meter has been officially defined as the distance traveled by light in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. This makes it one of the most precisely defined units in science.
Historical Development
The meter was originally conceived in 1791 during the French Revolution as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along the Paris meridian. Over time, the definition evolved through various physical standards: a platinum-iridium bar (1889-1960), a wavelength of krypton-86 radiation (1960-1983), and finally the current speed-of-light definition (1983-present). Each redefinition increased precision while maintaining the same practical length.
Global Standard
- Scientific Research: Universal standard for all scientific measurements and publications
- International Trade: Standard for product dimensions, shipping containers, and specifications
- Construction: Primary unit in most countries worldwide (except the US)
- Sports: Olympic track events (100m, 200m, etc.), swimming pools (50m standard)
- Transportation: Road distances, vehicle dimensions, railway specifications
- Manufacturing: Product dimensions and engineering specifications globally
- Geography: Elevation measurements, depth measurements
- Daily Life: Height measurements in most countries (e.g., 1.75 m = 175 cm)
Metric Advantages
The meter is part of the decimal-based metric system, making calculations straightforward: 1 kilometer = 1,000 meters, 1 meter = 100 centimeters, 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters. This coherent system eliminates complex conversions (like 12 inches per foot, 3 feet per yard, 1,760 yards per mile in the imperial system).
International Adoption
The meter is the legal standard for length measurements in every country except the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. Even the UK, which historically used imperial units, has largely converted to metric for official purposes. Understanding feet-to-meters conversion is essential for international communication, engineering specifications, and scientific collaboration.
Feet to Meters Conversion Table
Common feet to meters conversions for reference:
- Feet [ft]
- Meters [m]
- 1 ft
- 0.3048 m
- 2 ft
- 0.6096 m
- 3 ft
- 0.9144 m
- 4 ft
- 1.2192 m
- 5 ft
- 1.524 m
- 6 ft
- 1.8288 m
- 7 ft
- 2.1336 m
- 8 ft
- 2.4384 m
- 9 ft
- 2.7432 m
- 10 ft
- 3.048 m
- 15 ft
- 4.572 m
- 20 ft
- 6.096 m
- 25 ft
- 7.62 m
- 30 ft
- 9.144 m
- 40 ft
- 12.192 m
- 50 ft
- 15.24 m
- 75 ft
- 22.86 m
- 100 ft
- 30.48 m
- 150 ft
- 45.72 m
- 200 ft
- 60.96 m
