Meters to Feet Converter
Result
5.9055 feet
Feet and Inches
5 ft 10.87 in
Also Equal To
How Meters to Feet Conversion Works
A meter-to-foot conversion translates a metric length measurement into the Imperial foot used in the United States, United Kingdom (for some applications), and a few other countries. One meter equals approximately 3.28084 feet, which is the reciprocal of the exact definition: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters, as established by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement and maintained by NIST.
This is one of the most frequently needed unit conversions worldwide. According to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM), the meter is the base unit of length in the SI system, used by over 95% of countries. Height, construction dimensions, athletic distances, and property measurements all frequently require meter-to-feet conversion when communicating across measurement systems.
Whether you are converting your height for a US driver's license, understanding international real estate listings, or interpreting athletic records, this converter gives you instant results. Our Feet to Meters Converter provides the reverse calculation, and the Length Converter handles all major length units.
The Meters to Feet Formula
The formula divides by the exact meters-per-foot factor:
Feet = Meters / 0.3048
Or equivalently: Feet = Meters x 3.28084
To get feet and inches: take the decimal part of the feet result and multiply by 12.
- 1 meter = 3.28084 feet = 3 ft 3.37 in
- 1 meter = 100 centimeters = 39.3701 inches
- 1 kilometer = 3,280.84 feet = 0.62137 miles
Worked example: You are 1.72 meters tall and need your height in feet and inches for a US form. Calculation: 1.72 x 3.28084 = 5.6430 feet. The whole number is 5 feet. The decimal: 0.6430 x 12 = 7.72 inches. Your height is 5 feet 7.7 inches, typically rounded to 5'8".
Key Terms You Should Know
- Meter (m) -- The SI base unit of length, defined as the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. This definition, adopted in 1983 by the BIPM, makes the meter one of the most precisely defined units of measurement.
- Foot (ft) -- An Imperial/US customary unit equal to exactly 0.3048 meters or 12 inches. Used for height, room dimensions, and construction in the US and UK. One foot = 30.48 centimeters exactly.
- Inch (in) -- Equal to 1/12 of a foot or exactly 2.54 centimeters. Used for fine measurements in construction, manufacturing, and display screen sizes. There are 39.3701 inches in a meter.
- Yard (yd) -- Equal to 3 feet or 0.9144 meters exactly. Used primarily in US sports (football), fabric measurement, and informal distance estimates.
- Centimeter (cm) -- Equal to 1/100 of a meter. The standard unit for human height in metric countries. 1 cm = 0.3937 inches.
Meters to Feet Height Conversion Table
Common height conversions from meters to feet and inches, based on the NIST conversion factor.
| Meters | Feet (decimal) | Feet & Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50 m | 4.921 | 4 ft 11.1 in |
| 1.55 m | 5.085 | 5 ft 1.0 in |
| 1.60 m | 5.249 | 5 ft 3.0 in |
| 1.65 m | 5.413 | 5 ft 5.0 in |
| 1.70 m | 5.577 | 5 ft 6.9 in |
| 1.75 m | 5.741 | 5 ft 8.9 in |
| 1.80 m | 5.906 | 5 ft 10.9 in |
| 1.85 m | 6.070 | 6 ft 0.8 in |
| 1.90 m | 6.234 | 6 ft 2.8 in |
| 2.00 m | 6.562 | 6 ft 6.7 in |
Practical Examples
Converting height for a US medical form: Your doctor's office in Europe recorded your height as 1.68 meters. For a US form: 1.68 x 3.28084 = 5.512 feet = 5 feet 6.14 inches. You would write "5'6"" on the form. Use our BMI Calculator to calculate your body mass index from this height.
Understanding a European property listing: An apartment in Barcelona is listed as 85 square meters. Converting the dimensions: if the living room is 5 x 4 meters, that is 16.4 x 13.1 feet (approximately 215 sq ft). Total: 85 sq m x 10.764 = 915 sq ft. Use our Area Converter for precise area conversions.
Athletic distance conversion: A 1,500-meter race (a standard Olympic middle-distance event) equals 1,500 x 3.28084 = 4,921.3 feet, or approximately 0.932 miles. That is just under a mile, which is why the 1,500 meters is sometimes informally called the "metric mile" -- though it is about 109 meters (358 feet) shorter than an actual mile.
Tips for Accurate Meters to Feet Conversion
- Use "multiply by 3.3" for quick estimates: Multiplying meters by 3.3 overestimates by only 0.6%, which is close enough for conversation. Example: 10 meters x 3.3 = 33 feet (exact: 32.81 feet).
- Remember the "3 feet 3 inches" rule: One meter is approximately 3 feet 3 inches. For every additional meter, add another 3'3". Two meters is about 6'6", three meters is about 9'10".
- Convert to feet and inches correctly: Do not round the decimal feet to the nearest inch directly. Multiply the decimal portion by 12 to get inches. Example: 5.75 feet = 5 feet and 0.75 x 12 = 9 inches, so 5'9".
- For areas, square the factor: To convert square meters to square feet, multiply by 10.764 (3.28084 squared). A 100 sq m apartment is 1,076 sq ft, not 328 sq ft.
- Be precise for construction: In construction, even small conversion errors compound over long distances. For a 50-meter wall, the difference between using 3.28 and 3.28084 is about 1.3 inches -- enough to cause alignment problems.
Average Heights Around the World
Understanding meter-to-feet conversion is particularly useful for comparing international height data. According to the CDC and World Health Organization data, average adult male heights vary significantly by country: the Netherlands leads at approximately 1.838 m (6'0.3"), while the US average is 1.753 m (5'9") and the global average is approximately 1.71 m (5'7.3"). For women, the Netherlands averages 1.693 m (5'6.7"), the US averages 1.613 m (5'3.5"), and the global average is approximately 1.59 m (5'2.6"). These differences reflect genetics, nutrition, and healthcare access across populations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many feet is 1 meter?
One meter equals approximately 3.28084 feet, or exactly 3 feet and 3.37 inches. The precise value is 1 divided by 0.3048, giving 3.280839895... feet. This conversion is derived from the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, which defined 1 foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. For quick mental math, remember that 1 meter is about 3 feet 3 inches -- slightly longer than a yardstick.
How do I convert 1.75 meters to feet and inches?
1.75 meters equals approximately 5 feet 8.9 inches. First, multiply 1.75 by 3.28084 to get 5.7415 feet. The whole number (5) is the feet. Multiply the decimal (0.7415) by 12 to get inches: 0.7415 x 12 = 8.9 inches. So 1.75 m = 5 feet 8.9 inches (commonly rounded to 5'9"). This is very close to the average height for American men (5'9" or 175.3 cm) according to CDC data.
What is 2 meters in feet?
Two meters equals approximately 6.562 feet, or 6 feet 6.74 inches. The calculation is 2 x 3.28084 = 6.56168 feet. At 6'7", a person who is 2 meters tall would be considered very tall -- taller than 99.9% of the adult population. For reference, the average NBA player height is approximately 1.98 meters (6'6"), and the average height of the general US male population is 1.753 meters (5'9") according to the CDC.
How do I convert square meters to square feet?
To convert square meters to square feet, multiply by 10.7639 (which is 3.28084 squared). For example, a 50 square meter apartment equals 50 x 10.7639 = 538.2 square feet. This conversion is critical in international real estate -- average apartment sizes vary from about 30 square meters (323 sq ft) in Hong Kong to 200+ square meters in suburban US homes. Use our Area Converter for comprehensive calculations.
What is 100 meters in feet?
100 meters equals 328.084 feet, or approximately 328 feet 1 inch. This distance is familiar as the standard Olympic sprint distance. A 100-meter running track is about 9.4 feet longer than a US football field (300 feet = 100 yards = 91.44 meters). In athletics, the world record for the 100 meters is 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009. The 100-meter distance is also a common benchmark in construction and urban planning.
Is 5 feet 7 inches the same as 170 cm?
5 feet 7 inches equals 170.18 cm, so it is extremely close to 170 cm but not exactly the same. The calculation: (5 + 7/12) x 30.48 = 5.5833 x 30.48 = 170.18 cm. The difference of 0.18 cm (less than 2 mm) is negligible for all practical purposes. In international height charts, 170 cm is typically listed as equivalent to 5'7". According to CDC anthropometric data, 170 cm (5'7") is approximately the average height for US adult women aged 20-39.