Feet to Meters Converter
1 foot = 0.3048 meters
The conversion from feet to meters bridges two measurement traditions in distance and dimension measurement. The meter was first defined in 1791 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. Knowing that 1 ft equals 0.3048 m is useful for general distance measurement, construction, athletics, and scientific research.
Did you know? Did you know? The foot is commonly used for building construction, human height measurement, and aviation altitude. An Olympic swimming pool is 50 meters long - and knowing the conversion between these two units makes working across measurement systems effortless.
Conversion Formula
meters = feet x 0.3048
To convert feet to meters, multiply by 0.3048. This is an exact conversion factor defined by the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which set 1 foot as exactly 0.3048 meters.
Feet to Meters Table
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 |
| 5 | 1.524 |
| 5.5 | 1.6764 |
| 6 | 1.8288 |
| 10 | 3.048 |
| 20 | 6.096 |
| 50 | 15.24 |
| 100 | 30.48 |
| 500 | 152.4 |
| 1000 | 304.8 |
About Feet to Meters
The feet-to-meters conversion is used constantly in construction, aviation, and personal height measurements. A 6-foot person stands 1.8288 meters tall, while someone who is 5'6" (5.5 feet) is 1.6764 meters.
In aviation, altitude is measured in feet worldwide, even in metric countries. A cruising altitude of 35,000 feet equals 10,668 meters or about 10.7 km. The minimum safe altitude over congested areas is 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) above the highest obstacle.
Real estate frequently involves this conversion. A 2,000 square foot apartment is about 185.8 square meters. A standard American lot of 50 x 100 feet measures 15.24 x 30.48 meters.
In sports, a football field is 100 yards (300 feet) long, which equals 91.44 meters. A basketball court is 94 feet long, or 28.65 meters. The pitcher's mound in baseball sits 60.5 feet (18.44 meters) from home plate.
For a quick mental calculation, divide feet by 3.3 to get meters. So 33 feet is about 10 meters, 66 feet is roughly 20 meters. Alternatively, multiply feet by 0.3 for a fast estimate that's within 2% accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meters is 6 feet?
6 feet equals 1.8288 meters, commonly rounded to 1.83 meters. This is a common height for tall adults.
How do I convert feet and inches to meters?
First convert everything to feet by adding inches/12. Then multiply by 0.3048. For example, 5'10" = 5 + 10/12 = 5.833 feet x 0.3048 = 1.778 meters.
Why does aviation use feet instead of meters?
The convention dates back to early aviation development in the US and UK. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) maintains feet as the standard for flight levels to ensure universal understanding among pilots worldwide.
Is 5 feet 7 inches short for a man?
5'7" (1.70 m) is slightly below the global average male height of about 5'9" (1.75 m). However, average heights vary significantly by country.