Convert Feet to Meters
Feet to meters is the go-to conversion for heights, room dimensions, and building measurements moving from imperial to metric. One foot is exactly 0.3048 meters, so a measurement in feet becomes a smaller number in meters.
Feet to Meters conversion table
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3048 |
| 2 | 0.6096 |
| 3 | 0.9144 |
| 5 | 1.524 |
| 10 | 3.048 |
| 20 | 6.096 |
| 50 | 15.24 |
| 100 | 30.48 |
| 500 | 152.4 |
| 1,000 | 304.8 |
The formula
To convert feet to meters, multiply the length in feet by 0.3048:
meters = feet × 0.3048
A worked example
Convert a 20-foot ceiling height to meters:
20 × 0.3048 = 6.096 m
Handling feet and inches together
Heights are often given in feet and inches. Convert the inches to a fraction of a foot first (there are 12 inches in a foot), then multiply the whole thing by 0.3048. For 6 ft 2 in: 6 + 2/12 = 6.167 ft, and 6.167 × 0.3048 ≈ 1.88 m.
Why it's exact
Since 1959 the international foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 metres. That precision matters in construction and manufacturing, where a small per-foot error repeated across a large structure would add up quickly.
When you'll use it
Converting a person's height, room and ceiling dimensions, ceiling and doorway clearances, and any building or furniture measurement that crosses between imperial and metric plans.
Frequently asked questions
How many meters are in a foot?
Exactly 0.3048 meters. Like the mile, the foot is officially defined in terms of the metre, so the conversion is exact rather than rounded.
How do I convert a height like 5 feet 10 inches to meters?
First turn it fully into feet: 5 ft 10 in is 5 + 10/12 = 5.833 ft. Then multiply by 0.3048 to get about 1.78 m.
What's a rough way to estimate feet to meters?
Divide by about 3.3, or take roughly a third off. 30 feet is a little over 9 m; 10 feet is about 3 m. Use the exact factor when precision counts.