Feet to Meters Converter
Convert between feet, meters, yards, and miles for distance and height. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
Reviewed for accuracy by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator
Feet to Meters Converter
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Formula: Meters = (Feet + Inches/12) × 0.3048
Worked example — 1.8288 m
Formula
Meters = (Feet + Inches/12) × 0.3048
1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly, the international standard fixed since the 1959 international yard and pound agreement. Inches are first converted to a fractional number of feet by dividing by 12, added to the whole-feet value, then the total is multiplied by 0.3048 to reach meters.
Worked Examples
Example 1: 6 feet
Problem:Convert 6 feet to meters
Solution:6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288 m
Result:1.8288 m
Example 2: 5 feet 10 inches
Problem:Convert 5'10" to meters
Solution:(5 + 10/12) × 0.3048 = 1.778 m
Result:1.778 m
Example 3: Standard Ceiling Height
Problem:Convert a standard US 8-foot ceiling height to meters and centimeters for an international building spec.
Solution:Meters = 8 × 0.3048 = 2.4384 m Centimeters = 2.4384 × 100 = 243.84 cm Rounded for specification: approximately 2.4 m
Result:8 ft = 2.4384 m (243.84 cm)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meters in a foot?
Exactly 0.3048 meters. This is an international standard defined since 1959.
How do I convert feet and inches to meters?
Convert inches to feet (divide by 12), add to feet, then multiply by 0.3048.
What are some common feet-to-meters conversions I should know?
Some useful benchmarks: 1 ft = 0.305 m, 3 ft (1 yard) = 0.914 m, 5 ft = 1.524 m, 6 ft = 1.829 m, 10 ft = 3.048 m, 100 ft = 30.48 m. Average human height of 5'10" equals 1.778 meters.
Why do the US and UK still use feet instead of meters?
The United States chose not to formally adopt the metric system, though it is used in science and industry. The UK officially uses meters but feet remain common in everyday speech for heights and distances. Most other countries switched to metric in the 19th–20th centuries.
Why is human height so often written as feet-and-inches instead of a single decimal number?
Height in feet-and-inches (like 5'10") persists in the US and UK largely for readability and cultural familiarity rather than precision — saying 'five ten' is faster to say and easier to compare mentally than '70 inches' or '1.778 meters'. Most of the rest of the world records height purely in centimeters (178 cm rather than 5'10"), which is why international medical charts, sports federations, and passports typically list height in centimeters even in countries where feet and inches remain common in daily conversation.
How do construction and real estate use feet-to-meters conversion?
US building codes, lumber dimensions, and property listings are specified in feet and inches, while international construction standards, imported materials, and multinational engineering projects use meters. A contractor sourcing materials from a metric-standard supplier, or an architect collaborating across countries, must convert ceiling heights, room dimensions, and structural spans between the two systems accurately, since even small rounding errors compound significantly across a large structure. Standard US ceiling height (8 feet) converts to 2.438 meters, a figure often rounded to 2.4 m in international specifications.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Manoj Kumar, Mathematics Educator · Editorial policy
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