Feet to Meters Converter

Foot

A foot is a unit that most Americans grew up with. It’s part of the imperial and US customary systems, and it’s exactly 12 inches, or one-third of a yard. In metric terms, one foot equals 0.3048 meters, a definition that has been set since 1959. But the idea of a “foot” as a unit goes way, way back. Long before international standardization, ancient civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Chinese had their own versions of the foot, often based on the length of an actual human foot. That makes sense as before rulers and lasers and atomic clocks, what else did people have to go by other than their bodies?

What’s interesting is how variable the foot used to be. Depending on the region and era, it ranged from 250 mm to 335 mm. For instance, in Ancient Greece, a foot was about 11.9 inches, while in Egypt, it was 11.8 inches based on four palms or 16 fingers. Further in medieval England, King Henry I declared that a foot should be the length of his foot which is 12 inches. That kind of inconsistency is exactly why measurements need to be standardized.

Today, the foot is still commonly used in the United States and, to a lesser degree, in the UK and Canada. You’ll hear it used in construction, real estate, and even aviation such as when measuring building dimensions, runway lengths, or altitude. People casually use feet to describe height too—”I’m 6 feet tall” is a phrase you’ll rarely hear converted to meters in the U.S. Do not also forget sports: fields, tracks, and courts are all often measured in feet and yards. Even in countries that are officially metric, there’s often a cultural hangover from the imperial system, especially in older or more traditional contexts.

Meter

The meter (or metre in British English) is the cornerstone of the metric system and the SI (International System of Units). It’s used universally around the world, except mainly in the United States. The meter has had quite the journey itself, starting as a noble attempt to link measurement with the natural world. Back in 1793, it was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. That was incredibly ambitious and as it turned out, very complicated to measure with any precision.

Over time, the definition of the meter evolved. In 1889, they used a physical meter bar made from platinum and iridium. Then in 1960, scientists tried defining it using the wavelength of krypton-86 light and finally in 1983, the definition was based on something even more fundamental: the speed of light. Today, the meter is officially the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

The meter is used almost everywhere in daily life across the globe, from road signs and school rulers to architectural plans and scientific formulas. You’ll find it in construction, healthcare, transportation, and education. It’s simple, logical, and cleanly divisible—1,000 meters in a kilometer, 100 centimeters in a meter, and so on. That decimal structure makes it very user-friendly, especially when compared to the more fractured imperial system, which jumps between inches, feet, yards, and miles without a consistent pattern.

How to Convert Feet (ft) to Meters (m)

You need to remember this formula: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly.

It’s the precise conversion factor established by international agreement. So when someone asks you to convert 10 feet to meters, multiply the value by 0.3048 and get 3.048 meters.

Feet to meters conversion:

• Meters = Feet × 0.3048
• Example: 5 ft × 0.3048 = 1.524 m

Meters to feet conversion:

• Feet = Meters × 3.28084
• Example: 2 m × 3.28084 = 6.56168 ft

While the exact conversion requires multiplying by 0.3048, a few mental shortcuts can provide quick approximations:

• Rough approximation: Divide feet by 3 (gives meters within about 10% accuracy)
• Better approximation: Multiply feet by 0.3 (more accurate for quick estimates)
• Quick doubling method: 6 ft ≈ 2 m, 12 ft ≈ 4 m (useful for height comparisons)

Converting fractional values like 5’6″ (5 feet 6 inches) needs first to calculate decimal feet: 5.5 ft, then multiply by 0.3048 to get 1.676 m or about 1.68 m.

Will you remember this formula when you need it or especially in case of big complex values? That’s what our feet to meters converter tool above is for to help you out.

Feet to Meters Conversion Table

Here’s your go-to reference table covering all the commonly searched conversions. This chart includes decimal values, whole numbers, and the exact measurements people search for most:

Large Distance Conversions

Decimal and Fractional Conversions

Height and Personal Measurements

Converting human heights from feet and inches to meters is one of the most common searches. Here are the most common conversions:

Common Real World Distance Ft to M Conversions

• 3 ft = 0.914 m (table height)
• 5.5 ft = 1.676 m (common ceiling height)
• 8 ft = 2.438 m (standard ceiling)
• 10 ft = 3.048 m (room length)
• 15 ft = 4.572 m (large room)
• 20 ft = 6.096 m (garage length)
• 25 ft = 7.620 m (swimming pool)
• 30 ft = 9.144 m (house width)
• 50 ft = 15.240 m (lot frontage)
• 60 ft = 18.288 m (basketball court width)
• 70 ft = 21.336 m (tennis court width)
• 80 ft = 24.384 m (aircraft wingspan)
• 90 ft = 27.432 m (baseball basepath)
• 100 ft = 30.480 m (football field width)
• 200 ft = 60.960 m (city block)
• 300 ft = 91.440 m (football field length)
• 500 ft = 152.400 m (tall building)
• 1000 ft = 304.800 m (skyscraper height)
• 2000 ft = 609.600 m (mountain hiking)
• 3000 ft = 914.400 m (airport runway)
• 5000 ft = 1524.000 m (mile marker)
• 10000 ft = 3048.000 m (aircraft altitude)

Construction and Architecture

In construction, you’ll frequently encounter situations where architectural plans use feet but material specifications use meters. A standard residential ceiling height of 8 ft equals 2.438 m, while commercial buildings with 10 ft ceilings measure 3.048 m high.

Room dimensions are another common conversion challenge. A typical master bedroom measuring 12 ft × 14 ft converts to 3.658 m × 4.267 m. Knowing these conversions helps a lot to order materials, calculate square footage, or work with international suppliers.

Sports and Fitness

Athletic measurements frequently require ft to m conversions. A basketball hoop stands 10 ft (3.048 m) high, while a volleyball net measures 7.97 ft (2.43 m) for men’s competition. Swimming pools also have their depths marked in both units such as a 6 ft deep end equals 1.829 m. Track and field events use metric measurements officially, but many athletes consider feet.

Real Estate and Property

Property listings often mix measurement systems depending on location and target audience. A lot measuring 100 ft × 150 ft equals 30.48 m × 45.72 m. Understanding these conversions helps when comparing properties across different markets or working with international buyers.

Building codes may specify minimum distances in feet that need conversion to meters for metric-based construction documents. Setback requirements, parking space dimensions, and accessibility measurements all benefit from accurate conversion.