Feet to Meters Converter for ft to m and m to ft
Convert decimal international feet to meters or meters to decimal feet with the exact relation 1 ft = 0.3048 m. Review equivalent centimeters, millimeters, inches, a feet-and-inches view, and each formula step.
- Two-way conversion
- Exact 0.3048 factor
- Round-to-even display
- International foot
Online Feet and Meters Converter
Choose a direction, enter one decimal value, and select the displayed precision. The calculator stores the full value as an exact fraction and rounds only the text you see.
The displayed output is exact under the international-foot definition.
Equivalent Lengths
Every row comes from the same stored exact length. Rounded rows are labelled.
| Unit | Equivalent value | Display status |
|---|---|---|
| Meters | 0.3048 m | Exact |
| Centimeters | 30.48 cm | Exact |
| Millimeters | 304.8 mm | Exact |
| Decimal feet | 1 ft | Exact |
| Inches | 12 in | Exact |
Calculation Steps
- Read 1 ft as an exact decimal input.
- Use the exact international-foot factor 381/1250 m per ft.
- Multiply 1 by 381/1250 before any display rounding.
- Report 1 ft = 0.3048 m.
This is a linear-length conversion using the international foot. The factor is exact, but the precision of a real measurement still depends on how the source value was measured.
How to Use the Feet to Meters Converter
Most conversions take about two minutes. Follow these steps:
- Choose the direction. Select feet to meters or meters to feet.
- Enter the value. Type a complete decimal or scientific-notation number without a unit symbol.
- Select the precision. Choose how many significant digits the displayed answer should contain.
- Run the conversion. Select Convert Length or press Enter while you are in the form.
- Read the relation sign. An equals sign marks an exact displayed value, while an approximately-equal sign marks display rounding.
- Review the equivalents. Check meters, centimeters, millimeters, decimal feet, inches, and the feet-and-inches view.
- Copy or reverse. Copy the current answer or reverse the direction while keeping the same numeric input.
What Does Feet to Meters Conversion Mean?
Feet and meters measure the same physical quantity: length. A conversion changes the numerical value and unit without changing the underlying distance. A board that is 10 ft long is also 3.048 m long. These are two descriptions of one length.
The calculator uses the international foot. Its symbol is ft. The SI unit is the metre, with symbol m. This page uses the common American spelling “meter” in headings and search terms, while official SI references use “metre.” The unit symbol remains m in either spelling.
Use this converter for decimal feet, such as 5.5 ft or 12.375 ft. If your source is written as separate feet and inches, first convert the inches to a fraction of a foot or use a height-specific converter that accepts the two parts separately. Keeping those inputs separate prevents a value such as 5.10 from being mistaken for 5 ft 10 in. In decimal notation, 5.10 ft equals 5 ft 1.2 in, not 5 ft 10 in.
Feet to Meters and Meters to Feet Formulas
NIST lists the international foot as exactly 0.3048 meter. The decimal is exact, not a measured approximation. It is also the rational number 381/1250.
To convert in the reverse direction, divide meters by 0.3048. The same operation can be written as multiplication by 1250/381.
The reverse decimal repeats: 1 m is approximately 3.28083989501312 ft. That is why this calculator uses an approximately-equal sign when the selected number of digits does not reproduce the stored fraction exactly. The calculation itself remains rational and unrounded until the display step.
Worked Feet and Meters Conversion Examples
Example 1: Convert 6 feet to meters
Multiply 6 by the exact factor 0.3048. The calculation is 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288. Therefore, 6 ft = 1.8288 m exactly as a unit conversion.
Example 2: Convert 10.1 feet to meters
Calculate 10.1 × 0.3048 = 3.07848. Therefore, 10.1 ft = 3.07848 m. The final digit is supported by the entered decimal, but a measured length might warrant fewer significant digits.
Example 3: Convert 1 meter to feet
Divide 1 by 0.3048. The exact result is the fraction 1250/381 ft. Its decimal expansion repeats, so 1 m ≈ 3.28084 ft when displayed to six significant digits.
Example 4: Convert 1.8288 meters to feet
Calculate 1.8288 ÷ 0.3048 = 6. The quotient terminates exactly, so 1.8288 m = 6 ft. The feet-and-inches view is 6 ft + 0 in.
Quick Feet to Meters Reference Table
| Feet | Meters | Common context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0.3048 m | Exact unit relation |
| 3 ft | 0.9144 m | One international yard |
| 5 ft | 1.524 m | Short height or clearance |
| 6 ft | 1.8288 m | Room or height reference |
| 10 ft | 3.048 m | Construction measurement |
| 100 ft | 30.48 m | Site or field distance |
| 1000 ft | 304.8 m | Long distance or elevation |
The table values are exact mathematical conversions of the stated decimal feet. It does not imply that every source measurement was recorded with infinite accuracy.
Exact Factors, Rounding, and Significant Digits
An exact conversion factor and an exact measurement are different ideas. The factor 0.3048 m per ft is exact by definition. A field measurement such as 12.3 ft might have uncertainty because of the tool, method, or rounding used to record it. Converting the number does not add new measurement information.
This calculator uses round-to-nearest with ties sent to an even final digit. It applies that rule only to displayed text. Internal conversions use integer numerators and denominators, so a rounded answer never becomes the input for another equivalent row. The equals sign appears only when the displayed decimal parses back to the stored rational value. Otherwise, the page shows an approximately-equal sign and labels the row as rounded.
Choose four or six significant digits for ordinary estimates. Choose more digits when a specification, data exchange, or verification task requires them. Do not copy all available digits into a report unless your source measurement supports that precision.
International Foot vs. the Retired U.S. Survey Foot
This calculator always means the international foot: 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly. NIST deprecated the U.S. survey foot after December 31, 2022. The legacy survey foot equals 1200/3937 m, or about 0.304800609601 m. The difference is small per foot but grows across large geospatial coordinates.
Do not silently convert identified legacy survey-foot data with the international-foot factor. Check the metadata, coordinate reference system, agency specification, or project documentation first. Modern general measurements labelled only “ft” normally use the international foot. Historical surveying records might require the retired definition.
Common Feet and Meters Conversion Mistakes
- Using 3.28 as an exact reverse factor: 3.28 is a rounded shortcut. Use division by 0.3048 or multiplication by 1250/381.
- Reading decimal feet as feet and inches: 5.5 ft means 5 ft 6 in. It does not mean 5 ft 5 in.
- Dropping the unit: Write a space between the number and symbol, such as 6 ft or 1.8288 m.
- Pluralizing symbols: Use ft, m, and in for singular and plural values. Do not write fts or ms for these units.
- Using a linear factor for area or volume: Square and cubic units require squared and cubed factors.
- Assuming every foot is a survey foot: The converter uses the international foot. Legacy geospatial data needs explicit review.
- Reporting excessive precision: Preserve appropriate significant digits from the source measurement.
Zero is valid. Negative inputs are also accepted for signed coordinates, elevations, changes, or offsets. A physical length magnitude itself is normally nonnegative, so keep the sign’s meaning clear in your work.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1 foot exactly 0.3048 meter?
Yes. One international foot equals exactly 0.3048 meter. This calculator uses that international definition for every feet-to-meters conversion.
What is the formula for feet to meters?
Multiply decimal feet by 0.3048. For example, 10 ft × 0.3048 = 3.048 m.
What is the formula for meters to feet?
Divide meters by 0.3048, or multiply meters by the exact fraction 1250/381. The decimal reverse factor repeats, so displayed feet often need rounding.
How many feet are in 1 meter?
One meter equals exactly 1250/381 feet, which is approximately 3.280839895 ft. The number of displayed digits depends on your selected precision.
How many meters is 6 feet?
Six international feet equal exactly 1.8288 meters because 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288.
Why does the calculator sometimes show an approximately-equal sign?
The sign appears when the selected number of displayed digits does not exactly reproduce the stored rational result. The calculator keeps the unrounded value internally.
Does this tool use the international foot or U.S. survey foot?
It uses the international foot. The U.S. survey foot equals 1200/3937 meter and was deprecated after December 31, 2022. Identified legacy survey data needs separate handling.
Is 5.5 feet the same as 5 feet 5 inches?
No. The decimal part 0.5 ft equals 6 in, so 5.5 ft equals 5 ft 6 in. Five feet five inches equals about 5.41667 ft.
Can I enter zero, negative values, or scientific notation?
Yes. Zero, signed decimal values, and scientific notation are accepted. Use negative values only when direction matters, such as an offset, elevation, or coordinate.
Can I use 0.3048 for square feet or cubic feet?
No. The factor 0.3048 converts linear feet to meters. Square feet require its square, and cubic feet require its cube.
Method and Official Sources
The calculator uses exact rational arithmetic built from the NIST international-foot relation. SI naming and the metre definition follow the BIPM SI Brochure. The legacy survey-foot note follows current NIST guidance.
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B conversion factors
- NIST revised foot conversion factors
- NIST U.S. Survey Foot retirement guidance
- BIPM SI Brochure
Measurement note: This tool converts entered numbers. It does not determine measurement uncertainty, construction tolerance, survey datum, or the correct unit definition for unidentified historical data.