Feet to Metric Conversion Calculator

This calculator converts feet to meters (and centimeters) instantly. You enter a length in feet, and it returns the equivalent in meters and centimeters, along with the conversion factor used. It also works in reverse if you need to convert meters back to feet.

Formula

The exact conversion is: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters (exactly, by international definition since 1959). To convert feet to meters, multiply the number of feet by 0.3048.

Symbolically: m = ft × 0.3048

• ft = length in feet (the value you enter)
• m = resulting length in meters
• cm = meters × 100 (since 1 m = 100 cm)

For the reverse (meters to feet), divide by 0.3048: ft = m ÷ 0.3048.

Worked Example

Using the default value of 10 feet:

1. Start with 10 ft.
2. Multiply by 0.3048: 10 × 0.3048 = 3.048 m.
3. Convert to centimeters: 3.048 × 100 = 304.8 cm.
4. For the feet-and-inches output: 10 ft is exactly 10 ft 0 in (since there is no fractional foot).

The calculator shows 3.05 m (rounded to 2 decimals), 305 cm (rounded to 0 decimals), and 10 ft 0 in.

Why the Conversion Factor Is 0.3048

The foot has been defined in terms of the meter since 1959, when English-speaking countries agreed on an international yard of exactly 0.9144 meters. Since 1 yard = 3 feet, that gives 1 foot = 0.9144 ÷ 3 = 0.3048 meters exactly. This replaced older, slightly different foot definitions (like the U.S. survey foot, which was 0.3048006096 m, used for surveying until 2022). For everyday measurements, 0.3048 is the standard you should use.

How to Use the Calculator

• Enter feet – type any positive number (e.g., 5.5, 100, 0.25).
• Read meters – the primary result, rounded to 2 decimal places.
• Read centimeters – useful for heights and small lengths.
• Check the feet-and-inches output – shows the fractional part of the foot in inches, which helps when you have a tape measure in inches.

For example, if you enter 5.5 ft, you get 1.68 m and 168 cm, and the feet-inches output shows 5 ft 6 in (since 0.5 ft × 12 = 6 in).

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

• Mixing up feet and inches – A common error is typing inches into a feet calculator. If your measurement is 5 feet 6 inches, you must convert to feet first: 5 + (6 ÷ 12) = 5.5 ft, then enter 5.5.
• Using 0.3 instead of 0.3048 – For rough mental math, 0.3 is fine, but it introduces about 1.6% error. For precise work, always use 0.3048.
• Forgetting to convert centimeters to meters – 1 m = 100 cm, so 3.048 m is 304.8 cm, not 3.048 cm.
• Rounding too early – If you round 3.048 to 3.05 before multiplying further, you lose precision. Do all calculations with the full number, then round the final answer.

When to Use This Conversion

You’ll need this when reading international product dimensions, following building plans, or converting body height. For example, a 6-foot-tall person is 1.83 m (6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288, rounded to 1.83). A 100-foot soccer field is 30.48 m. In countries using the metric system, heights are often stated in centimeters: 6 ft = 183 cm.

In the U.S., feet and inches are used for most construction and personal height, while metric is used in science and increasingly in international trade. This calculator bridges that gap.

Limitations and Precision

This calculator assumes the standard international foot. If you are working with U.S. survey data (very rare, mostly for land survey), the difference is about 0.6 mm per 1000 ft – negligible for most purposes. Also, the calculator rounds to 2 decimal places for meters; if you need extreme precision (like for engineering), you should use the full 0.3048 factor and keep more decimals yourself.

For very large numbers (e.g., 1,000,000 ft), the result will be 304,800 m, which is fine, but remember that the calculator doesn’t handle scientific notation – it will show the full number.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many meters is 5 feet 10 inches?

First convert to feet: 5 + 10/12 = 5.8333 ft. Then multiply by 0.3048: 5.8333 × 0.3048 = 1.778 m. So 5’10” is about 1.78 meters.

How do I convert meters to feet without a calculator?

Multiply meters by 3.28084 (or roughly 3.28). For example, 2 m × 3.28084 = 6.5617 ft. To get feet and inches, take the decimal part (0.5617) and multiply by 12: 0.5617 × 12 ≈ 6.74 inches, so 2 m ≈ 6 ft 6.7 in.

Is 1 meter exactly 3 feet?

No. 1 meter is approximately 3.28084 feet. The common approximation of 3 feet is off by about 2.8 inches per meter. For precise work, use the full conversion factor.

Why do some countries use feet while others use meters?

The metric system was developed in France in the 1790s and adopted by most countries over the next two centuries. The U.S., Myanmar, and Liberia still use customary units (feet, pounds, etc.) for everyday life, though the U.S. has legally defined these units in terms of metric since 1893.

What is the difference between a foot and a square foot?

A foot is a unit of length (one-dimensional). A square foot is a unit of area (two-dimensional), equal to a square that is 1 foot on each side. To convert square feet to square meters, multiply by 0.09290304 (which is 0.3048²). This calculator only handles linear feet.

Can I use this for height measurements?

Yes. Enter your height in feet (e.g., 5.5 for 5’6″) and you’ll get meters and centimeters. This is commonly used for medical records, driver’s licenses, and international forms.

Related

• Diameter to Area Calculator: Circle Area from Diameter
• Diameter to Square Meter Calculator: How to Convert
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in ft | Length in feet | ft | 10 | 0
out m | Length in meters | m | ft * 0.3048 | 2
out cm | Length in centimeters | cm | ft * 30.48 | 0
out ft_in | Equivalent in feet and inches | ft+in | (ft - floor(ft)) * 12 | 1