Feet to Meters Converter
Enter the length in feet below to convert it to meters.
Convert Feet to Meters
Enter a value in feet (ft) to convert to meters (m).
Feet to Meters Conversion Chart (1–40 Continuous)
Continuous 1 to 40 feet lookup table with exact decimals and reduced nearest 1/64 fractions. Highlighted rows mark common shop and ruler values.
| Feet (ft) | Decimal (m) | Fraction — Nearest 1/64 (Reduced) | Nearest 1/16 (Tape) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 ft★ Common | 0.3048 m | 5/16 m | 5/16 m |
2 ft★ Common | 0.6096 m | 39/64 m | 5/8 m |
3 ft★ Common | 0.9144 m | 59/64 m | 15/16 m |
4 ft | 1.2192 m | 1 7/32 m | 1 1/4 m |
5 ft★ Common | 1.524 m | 1 17/32 m | 1 1/2 m |
6 ft★ Common | 1.8288 m | 1 53/64 m | 1 13/16 m |
7 ft | 2.1336 m | 2 9/64 m | 2 1/8 m |
8 ft★ Common | 2.4384 m | 2 7/16 m | 2 7/16 m |
9 ft | 2.7432 m | 2 3/4 m | 2 3/4 m |
10 ft★ Common | 3.048 m | 3 3/64 m | 3 1/16 m |
11 ft | 3.3528 m | 3 23/64 m | 3 3/8 m |
12 ft★ Common | 3.6576 m | 3 21/32 m | 3 11/16 m |
How to Convert Feet to Meters
To convert feet to meters, multiply the length by the following conversion ratio: 0.3048 meters/foot.
Since one foot is equal to 0.3048 meters, you can use this simple formula to convert:
The length in meters is equal to the length in feet multiplied by 0.3048.
For example, here's how to convert 8 feet to meters using the formula above.
How Many Meters Are in a Foot?
There are 0.3048 meters in a foot, which is why we use this value in the formula above.
Our foot fraction and decimal calculator can convert feet and meters, and it automatically converts the results to US customary, imperial, and SI metric values.
Feet and meters are both units used to measure length. Keep reading to learn more about each unit.
How to Convert Feet to Fractional Inches (1/16″, 1/32″ & 1/64″)
Plain-language method for turning decimal inches into a standard tape-measure or machinist ruler fraction
Calculators give you a decimal number (such as 96 in), but tape measures and woodworking rulers are marked in binary fractions of an inch—most commonly 1/16″ on carpenter tapes, 1/32″ on fine woodworking rules, and 1/64″ on machinist scales.
Here is the step-by-step worked example for converting 8 feet (ft) into fractional inches:
- Find the decimal inches result: Convert 8 ft to inches to get 96 in.
- Separate the whole inches from the decimal part: Keep the whole number 96 aside, leaving the decimal remainder 0.
- Multiply the decimal part by your desired fraction denominator (16, 32, or 64) and round half up: Multiply 0 by 16, 32, or 64, then round to the nearest whole number (values ending in .5 round up).
- Reduce the fraction to lowest terms: If the rounded top number (numerator) is even, divide both top and bottom by 2 (or their Greatest Common Divisor) until the top number is odd, then combine with your whole inches.
What Is a Foot?
A foot is a US customary and imperial unit of length equal to 12 inches or 1/3 of a yard. Under the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, one foot is legally defined as exactly 0.3048 meters (30.48 centimeters). [1]
Feet are widely used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for human height, building construction, real estate floor plans, and aviation altitude. Feet can be abbreviated as ft; for example, 1 foot can be written as 1 ft.
Feet can also be denoted using the ′ symbol, known as a prime (or a single quote ' for convenience). For example, 5 feet 10 inches is frequently written as 5′ 10″ or 5' 10".
Feet are measured using 12-inch rulers, carpenter's folding rules, 25-foot steel tape measures, and laser distance meters across residential framing, architecture, and surveying.
What Is a Meter?
The meter (or metre) is the fundamental base unit of length in the International System of Units (SI), officially defined by the BIPM as the length of the path traveled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. [2]
All metric units of length—from nanometers and millimeters to kilometers—are derived as decimal powers of the meter. Meters can be abbreviated as m; for example, 1 meter can be written as 1 m.
One meter is equal to 100 centimeters, 1,000 millimeters, or approximately 39.3700787 inches (3.28084 feet or 1.09361 yards).
Meters are measured using meter sticks, retractable steel tape measures, laser distance finders, and total station surveying instruments in construction, athletics, physics, and civil engineering.
When converting length between feet (ft) and meters (m), keep full floating-point precision (1' = 0.3048 m; 1 m = 3.2808399 ft) during intermediate calculations and round only the final meter figure to match your instrument tolerance.
More Foot & Meter Conversions
Need to calculate in the opposite direction? Use our meters to feet converter (m to ft) to switch your starting unit immediately. You can also explore related tools such as converting yards to meters, converting centimeters to meters, or converting feet to inches.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- [1]NIST OWM StandardNIST OWM (SI Units — Length)·Length Metrology Standard — Feet (ft) to Meters (m)
- [2]BIPM SpecificationBIPM (SI Base Unit: Metre (m))·Unit Specifications: Foot (ft) & Meter (m)
- [3]NIST HB 133 ReferenceNIST HB 133 (NIST Handbook 133 (2019 Ed.))·Conversion Factors & Mathematical Basis (ft to m)