Skip to main content
conversion

Feet to Meters Converter

Convert feet to meters using the exact conversion factor of 0.3048. Essential for international measurements, construction, and metric system conversions.

Reviewed by Christopher FloiedPublished Updated

This free online feet to meters converter provides instant results with no signup required. All calculations run directly in your browser — your data is never sent to a server. Enter your values below and see results update in real time as you type. Perfect for everyday calculations, homework, or professional use.

Results

Meters

1.8288 m

How to Use This Calculator

1

Enter your input values

Fill in all required input fields for the Feet to Meters Converter. Most fields include unit selectors so you can work in your preferred unit system — metric or imperial, whichever matches your problem.

2

Review your inputs

Double-check that all values are correct and that you have selected the right units for each field. Incorrect units are the most common source of calculation errors and can produce results that are off by factors of 2, 10, or more.

3

Read the results

The Feet to Meters Converter instantly computes the output and displays results with units clearly labeled. All calculations happen in your browser — no loading time and no data sent to a server.

4

Explore parameter sensitivity

Try adjusting individual input values to see how the output changes. This is a quick and effective way to develop intuition about how different parameters influence the result and to identify which inputs have the largest effect.

When to Use This Calculator

  • •Use the Feet to Meters Converter when you need accurate results quickly without the risk of manual computation errors or unit conversion mistakes.
  • •Use it to verify calculations made by hand or in spreadsheets — an independent check can catch errors before they lead to costly decisions.
  • •Use it to explore how changing input parameters affects the output — a quick way to develop intuition and identify the most influential variables.
  • •Use it when collaborating with others to ensure everyone is working from the same numbers and applying the same assumptions.

Related Calculators

Kilograms to Pounds Converter

Convert kilograms to pounds using the exact conversion factor of 2.20462. Essential for weight, mass, and international fitness measurements.

Liters to Gallons Converter

Convert liters to US gallons (and vice versa) using the exact conversion factor. Essential for fuel economy, recipes, and international comparisons.

Volume Converter

Convert volume measurements between liters, gallons (US), cubic meters, cubic feet, milliliters, fluid ounces, and cups. Covers cooking, chemistry, engineering, and everyday liquid measurement conversions across metric and imperial systems.

Area Converter

Convert area measurements between square meters, square feet, square kilometers, square miles, hectares, acres, and square inches. Perfect for real estate, land surveying, construction planning, and geographic area comparisons across measurement systems.

Inches to Centimeters Converter

Convert inches to centimeters using the exact conversion factor of 2.54 cm per inch. Perfect for crafting, clothing, and international dimensions.

Kilometers to Miles Converter

Convert kilometers to miles instantly. The kilometer-mile conversion is essential for travel, running, driving, and any conversion between metric and imperial distance measurements.

About Feet to Meters Converter

The Feet to Meters Converter is one of the most commonly needed unit conversions in the world. Since most countries use the metric system but the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar still use the imperial system, conversions between feet and meters happen constantly — in international trade, sports, construction, science, aviation, and everyday life. The conversion factor 0.3048 is exact since 1959, when the United States and other English-speaking countries officially defined the international foot. Whether you're converting your height to share with international friends, planning international shipments, comparing real estate listings, or doing engineering calculations, this calculator provides accurate, instant results.

The Math Behind It

The conversion between feet (imperial) and meters (metric/SI) is one of the most important unit conversions in the modern world. **The Formula**: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters (exactly) 1 meter = 3.28084 feet (approximately) This is an exact definition, not a measurement. Since 1959, the international foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. **Common Conversions**: | Feet | Meters | Use Case | |------|--------|----------| | 1 ft | 0.305 m | Small measurements | | 5 ft | 1.524 m | Average height | | 6 ft | 1.829 m | Tall person | | 10 ft | 3.048 m | Room ceiling | | 20 ft | 6.096 m | Container length | | 50 ft | 15.24 m | Pool length | | 100 ft | 30.48 m | Football yards | | 1000 ft | 304.8 m | Tall building | | 5280 ft | 1609.34 m | 1 mile | **Common Heights in Both Units**: - 5'0" (60 inches): 152.4 cm = 1.52 m - 5'4" (64 inches): 162.6 cm = 1.63 m - 5'8" (68 inches): 172.7 cm = 1.73 m - 6'0" (72 inches): 182.9 cm = 1.83 m - 6'4" (76 inches): 193.0 cm = 1.93 m **Quick Mental Math**: - 1 m ≈ 3.3 feet - 3 m ≈ 10 feet - 10 m ≈ 33 feet - 100 m ≈ 328 feet (about a football field) - 1 km ≈ 0.62 miles **History of the Foot**: The foot is ancient — different cultures defined it differently: - **Roman foot**: ~296 mm - **Greek foot**: ~308 mm - **English foot** (King Henry I, 1100s): based on his actual foot length - **Survey foot** (US, until 2022): 1200/3937 m ≈ 0.3048006 m - **International foot** (1959-present): exactly 0.3048 m In 2022, the US officially deprecated the survey foot in favor of the international foot. **The Metric System**: The metric system was developed during the French Revolution (1790s) and is based on the meter, originally defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Today, the meter is defined by the speed of light: the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second. **Common Length Conversions**: | Imperial | Metric | |----------|--------| | 1 inch | 2.54 cm | | 1 foot | 30.48 cm | | 1 yard | 91.44 cm | | 1 mile | 1.609 km | | 1 nautical mile | 1.852 km | | 1 furlong | 201.17 m | **Construction Applications**: - **Lumber lengths**: 8', 10', 12' = 2.44m, 3.05m, 3.66m - **Standard ceiling**: 8' = 2.44 m - **Door height**: 6'8" = 2.03 m - **Container (20 ft)**: 6.10 m × 2.44 m × 2.59 m - **Container (40 ft)**: 12.19 m × 2.44 m × 2.59 m **Aviation Applications**: Aircraft altitudes are typically given in feet worldwide: - 35,000 ft cruise altitude = 10,668 m - 1,000 ft = 305 m - Ground level = 0 ft = 0 m Even in metric countries, aviation uses feet by international convention (ICAO). **Sports**: - **NFL**: 100 yards = 91.44 m - **Soccer pitch**: 100-110 m = 328-361 ft - **Olympic pool**: 50 m = 164 ft - **Marathon**: 26.2 miles = 42.195 km

Formula Reference

Feet to Meters

Meters = Feet × 0.3048

Variables: Exact international conversion since 1959

Meters to Feet

Feet = Meters / 0.3048

Variables: Or × 3.28084

Worked Examples

Example 1: Converting Height

A person is 5 feet 10 inches tall. What is that in meters?

Step 1:First convert to total feet: 5 + 10/12 = 5.833 feet
Step 2:Convert to meters: 5.833 × 0.3048
Step 3:= 1.778 meters
Step 4:Or 178 cm

5'10" = 1.778 meters or 178 cm. This is the average height for an American male.

Example 2: Construction Project

A wall is 12 feet long. How many meters?

Step 1:Meters = Feet × 0.3048
Step 2:Meters = 12 × 0.3048
Step 3:Meters = 3.6576

12 feet = 3.66 meters. This is a useful length conversion for international building plans.

Common Mistakes & Tips

  • !Using approximate conversion (0.3 m/ft) instead of exact (0.3048). For precision work, use the full value.
  • !Confusing US Survey Foot with International Foot. They differ by tiny amounts but matter for surveying.
  • !Forgetting to convert inches before converting feet. 5'8" needs to become 5.667 feet first.
  • !Calculator rounding errors over many conversions. Use full precision until final result.

Related Concepts

Inches to Centimeters

Smaller unit conversions.

Miles to Kilometers

Larger distance conversions.

Cm to Inches

Reverse direction conversions.

Used in These Calculators

Calculators that build on or apply the concepts from this page:

Inches to Centimeters Converter

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the foot 0.3048 meters exactly?

In 1959, the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa standardized the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. Before this, different countries had slightly different definitions. The US briefly used both this 'international foot' and a slightly different 'survey foot' (1200/3937 m), but switched fully to international in 2022.

What's 1 meter in feet and inches?

1 meter = 3 feet 3.37 inches, or about 3 feet 3.4 inches. The exact conversion is 1/0.3048 = 3.28084 feet, where 0.28084 feet = 3.37 inches. This is why 1 meter is often described as 'just over a yard' (1 yard = 3 feet exactly).

How do I convert square feet to square meters?

Square the conversion factor: 1 ft² = 0.3048² = 0.0929 m². So multiply square feet by 0.0929 to get square meters. For example, 1000 sq ft × 0.0929 = 92.9 m². Conversely, m² × 10.764 = ft².

Which countries still use feet?

Officially: United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that haven't adopted metric as primary. The UK uses both (metric is official, but feet/inches are common in everyday speech for height, etc.). Canada is officially metric but Canadians often use feet for height. Most other countries are fully metric.

Embed this calculator on your site

Paste this snippet into your blog, course page, or documentation to drop a live, interactive Feet to Meters Converter into your page.

Free to embed — includes a link back to MegaCalc.