Feet to Meters Converter
Result
1.8288 meters
Also Equal To
How Feet to Meters Conversion Works
A foot-to-meter conversion translates a length measurement from the Imperial foot into the metric meter, the SI base unit of length. One foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters -- this is not an approximation but an exact definition established by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) maintains this standard for all US-to-metric length conversions.
This conversion is used across construction, real estate, aviation, athletics, and everyday life. The meter, defined by the BIPM as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second, is the length standard for over 95% of the world. According to the US Census Bureau, over 140 million residential properties in the US measure rooms in feet, but international property listings use square meters -- making conversion tools essential for cross-border real estate.
Our Meters to Feet Converter handles the reverse calculation. For broader length conversions including miles, kilometers, and yards, use the Length Converter.
The Feet to Meters Formula
The conversion formula is defined exactly by international agreement:
Meters = Feet x 0.3048
If inches are included:
Meters = (Feet + Inches/12) x 0.3048
- 1 foot = 0.3048 m = 30.48 cm (exact)
- 1 inch = 0.0254 m = 2.54 cm (exact)
- 1 yard (3 feet) = 0.9144 m (exact)
Worked example: A room is 12 feet 6 inches long. Converting: (12 + 6/12) x 0.3048 = 12.5 x 0.3048 = 3.81 meters. When ordering curtains from a European retailer, you would specify 3.81 m or round to 3.8 m.
Key Terms You Should Know
- International Foot -- The standard foot used since 1959, defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. This is the foot used in everyday measurement, construction, and real estate in the US and UK.
- US Survey Foot -- A slightly longer foot (0.3048006... m) used historically in US land surveying. Officially deprecated by NIST in 2023 in favor of the international foot. The difference is about 2 parts per million.
- Meter (m) -- The SI base unit of length, defined since 1983 as the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Used worldwide for scientific, industrial, and everyday length measurement.
- Centimeter (cm) -- Equal to 1/100 of a meter or 0.3937 inches. Human height is commonly expressed in centimeters in metric countries (e.g., 175 cm instead of 5'9").
- Fathom -- A nautical unit equal to 6 feet (1.8288 m), used to measure water depth. Still used informally in marine navigation despite metrication of nautical charts.
Feet to Meters Conversion Table
Common feet-to-meters conversions based on the exact factor of 0.3048 m per foot.
| Feet | Meters | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0.3048 | 30.48 |
| 3 ft (1 yd) | 0.9144 | 91.44 |
| 5 ft | 1.5240 | 152.40 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 1.6764 | 167.64 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 1.7780 | 177.80 |
| 6 ft | 1.8288 | 182.88 |
| 10 ft | 3.0480 | 304.80 |
| 20 ft | 6.0960 | 609.60 |
| 50 ft | 15.2400 | 1,524.00 |
| 100 ft | 30.4800 | 3,048.00 |
Practical Examples
Converting height for a passport or medical form: You are 5'11" tall. Converting: (5 + 11/12) x 0.3048 = 5.9167 x 0.3048 = 1.803 meters, or 180.3 cm. Most international documents require height in centimeters. According to the CDC, the average American male height is 175.3 cm (5'9") and the average female height is 161.3 cm (5'3.5").
Real estate listing conversion: A US apartment lists a living room at 15 x 12 feet. Converting: 15 x 0.3048 = 4.572 m and 12 x 0.3048 = 3.658 m. The room is about 4.6 x 3.7 meters, or 16.7 square meters (180 sq ft). Use our Area Converter for square footage conversions.
Swimming pool dimensions: A 25-foot backyard pool needs a solar cover ordered from a metric-country supplier. Converting: 25 x 0.3048 = 7.62 meters. If the pool is 12 feet wide: 12 x 0.3048 = 3.66 meters. You would order a 7.6 x 3.7 meter cover, rounding up slightly for overlap.
Tips for Accurate Feet to Meters Conversion
- Use the "multiply by 0.3" shortcut: For quick estimates, multiply feet by 0.3 to get meters. This underestimates by about 1.6%, which is acceptable for casual use. Example: 20 feet x 0.3 = 6 meters (exact: 6.096 m).
- Convert inches separately: If you have feet and inches, convert the inches to decimal feet first (divide by 12), then multiply the total by 0.3048. Or multiply inches directly by 0.0254.
- Remember key benchmarks: 5 feet = 1.524 m, 6 feet = 1.829 m, 10 feet = 3.048 m. These anchor points make mental estimation easier for height and room dimensions.
- Be aware of the survey foot: If working with US land survey data from before 2023, the survey foot (0.3048006 m) may apply. For building construction and everyday use, always use the international foot (0.3048 m exactly).
- For area, square the factor: To convert square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.0929 (which is 0.3048 squared). Do not simply multiply by 0.3048 -- that gives linear meters, not square meters.
The 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement
The exact value of 1 foot = 0.3048 meters was established by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959, signed by the national standards bodies of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Before this agreement, each country maintained slightly different definitions of the foot, causing small but problematic discrepancies in international engineering projects. The agreement defined 1 yard = 0.9144 meters exactly, from which 1 foot = 0.3048 m and 1 inch = 0.0254 m follow. NIST officially retired the older US survey foot in 2023, making the international foot the sole legal definition in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meters is 1 foot?
One foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters. This is not an approximation -- it is an exact definition established by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, which defined 1 yard as exactly 0.9144 meters and therefore 1 foot (1/3 yard) as exactly 0.3048 meters. This agreement was signed by the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. For quick mental math, 1 foot is approximately 30.5 centimeters or about 0.305 meters.
How do I convert 5 feet 10 inches to meters?
5 feet 10 inches equals 1.778 meters. First, convert everything to feet: 5 + (10/12) = 5.8333 feet. Then multiply by 0.3048: 5.8333 x 0.3048 = 1.778 meters. This is a common height conversion -- 5'10" is approximately 177.8 centimeters or 1.78 meters. For reference, the average American male height is 5'9" (1.753 m) according to the CDC, so 5'10" is slightly above average.
How many feet are in 1 meter?
One meter equals approximately 3.28084 feet, or 3 feet and 3.37 inches. The exact value is 1 / 0.3048 = 3.280839895... feet. For practical purposes, remembering that 1 meter is roughly 3 feet 3 inches is sufficient for most everyday conversions. A meter stick is about 3.4 inches longer than a yardstick (3 feet). Use our meters to feet converter for the reverse calculation with precision to multiple decimal places.
What is 6 feet in meters?
Six feet equals exactly 1.8288 meters (often rounded to 1.83 m). The calculation is 6 x 0.3048 = 1.8288 m. This is approximately 182.88 centimeters. Six feet is a commonly referenced height -- in many countries, it is considered tall. For context, the average height of NBA players is approximately 6'5" (1.96 m), while the average American male stands at 5'9" (1.75 m). The 6-foot mark is also commonly used as a standard door clearance height.
Why does the US still use feet instead of meters?
The US has not fully metricated primarily due to the cost and complexity of converting existing infrastructure. The Metric Conversion Act of 1975 made the metric system the preferred system for US trade, but adoption remained voluntary. According to NIST, the US uses metric units extensively in science, military operations, medicine, and international trade, but construction, real estate, and everyday measurements remain in feet. The estimated cost of converting all US road signs alone would exceed $1 billion.
How do I convert square feet to square meters?
To convert square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.0929 (which is 0.3048 squared). For example, a 1,500 sq ft apartment equals 1,500 x 0.0929 = 139.4 square meters. Conversely, multiply square meters by 10.764 to get square feet. This conversion is essential in international real estate -- a listing of 100 square meters equals approximately 1,076 square feet. Use our Area Converter for comprehensive area conversions.