Feet to Meter: Exact Conversion & Calculator

This calculator converts a length from feet to meters instantly. Enter the number of feet, and you get the equivalent in meters, using the exact standard conversion factor of 1 foot = 0.3048 meters. The result is shown to two decimal places for practical use.

Formula

The conversion uses a fixed international standard: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly. The formula is:

meters = feet × 0.3048

Where:

• feet – the length you want to convert, in feet (ft)
• meters – the resulting length, in meters (m)

This factor comes from the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which defined the yard as exactly 0.9144 meters. Since 1 foot = 1/3 yard, dividing 0.9144 by 3 gives 0.3048 meters per foot.

Worked Example

Convert 10 feet to meters using the default values from the calculator above.

1. Start with the value in feet: 10 ft
2. Multiply by the conversion factor: 10 × 0.3048
3. Result: 3.048 m
4. Rounded to two decimal places: 3.05 m

So 10 feet equals 3.05 meters (rounded). The calculator shows the same result.

Why Use the Exact Factor?

Many people use the approximations 1 ft ≈ 0.3 m or 1 m ≈ 3.28 ft. Those are fine for rough estimates, but for construction, engineering, sports, or any measurement where accuracy matters, you need the exact factor. The difference between 0.3 and 0.3048 is less than 2%, but over a long distance it adds up. For example, 100 feet is 30.48 m using the exact factor, but only 30 m if you use 0.3 – a half-meter error.

How to Convert Feet to Meters Manually

If you don’t have a calculator, you can still do it in your head with reasonable accuracy:

• Multiply the feet value by 0.3, then add 1.6% of the result. That gives the exact value to three decimals.
• Or simply multiply by 0.3048 using long multiplication if you need paper.
• For a quick mental estimate, divide the feet by 3.28 – that gives meters directly.

Example: 50 ft. 50 × 0.3 = 15. Then 15 × 0.016 = 0.24. Add: 15 + 0.24 = 15.24 m. The exact value is 15.24 m – spot on.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Mixing up the direction – To convert feet to meters you multiply by 0.3048. To convert meters to feet you divide by 0.3048 (or multiply by 3.28084).
• Using the wrong factor – Some sources give 0.3048, others 0.30480061 (the older US survey foot). For almost all everyday purposes, 0.3048 is correct. The difference is about 2 parts per million – negligible for most tasks.
• Forgetting to round appropriately – If you are measuring a room, 2 decimal places is plenty. If you are doing scientific work, keep more digits.
• Confusing feet with inches – Make sure your input is in feet, not inches. If you have inches, convert them to feet first (divide by 12).

Real-World Examples

Here are some typical conversions to give you a sense of scale:

• 6 feet (average human height) = 1.83 m
• 100 feet (a basketball court is 94 ft) = 30.48 m
• 5280 feet (1 mile) = 1609.344 m
• 3.28 feet (about 1 meter) = 1.00 m (exactly)

These examples show how the factor applies across different scales, from personal height to long distances.

When to Use This Conversion

You’ll need this conversion in many situations:

• Reading a US product spec (in feet) and needing metric units for a project abroad.
• Converting running or hiking trail distances – many countries use meters/kilometers, while the US uses feet/miles.
• Buying fabric, rope, or lumber – measurements are often in feet, but you might need meters.
• Converting building dimensions for architectural plans when switching between unit systems.

Even in countries that use the metric system, you may encounter feet in aviation, shipping, or older documents.

Limits of the Formula

The conversion factor is exact, so the formula itself has no error. The only limitations come from your input: if you round the feet value, the result will be rounded accordingly. Also, the calculator rounds to two decimal places, which is sufficient for most uses. If you need more precision, you can use the exact formula with a more precise calculator – the factor 0.3048 is exact, so the result is exact up to the number of digits you carry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1 foot exactly 0.3048 meters?

Yes, by international agreement since 1959, 1 foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. This is the standard used in science, engineering, and commerce worldwide, except in rare cases where the US survey foot is used (which is 0.30480061 m, but that’s being phased out).

How many feet are in a meter?

One meter equals approximately 3.28084 feet. To get this, divide 1 by 0.3048. For a quick estimate, 1 meter is about 3.28 feet, or about 3 feet 3⅜ inches.

What is the easiest way to convert feet to meters without a calculator?

Multiply the feet by 0.3 and then add 1.6% of that result. For example, 20 ft × 0.3 = 6, then 6 × 0.016 = 0.096, so the result is 6.096 m (exact is 6.096 m). This works because 0.3 × 1.016 = 0.3048.

Why do we use 0.3048 and not 0.3?

0.3 is a rounded approximation. The exact definition of the foot is 0.3048 meters, which comes from the international yard and pound agreement. Using 0.3 introduces an error of about 1.6%, which is unacceptable for precise measurements.

Does the conversion work the same for square feet to square meters?

No. To convert square feet to square meters, you multiply by 0.3048², which is 0.09290304. Similarly, cubic feet to cubic meters uses 0.3048³ = 0.0283168466. These are separate conversions.

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in ft | Feet | ft | 10 | 0
out m | Meters | m | ft * 0.3048 | 2