Feet to Meters
Convert feet to meters. 1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly. For height, elevation, and international specifications.
Tips & Notes
- ✓1 foot = 0.3048 m exactly — this is a definition, not a measurement. Use the full value for precision.
- ✓For height: multiply total feet by 0.3048 (e.g., 6 ft = 1.8288 m).
- ✓For feet+inches: convert inches to feet first (÷12) then multiply by 0.3048.
- ✓Aviation altitudes: multiply feet by 0.3048 for exact meters (e.g., 35,000 ft = 10,668 m).
Common Mistakes
- ✗Converting 5 ft 10 in as 5.10 feet — it is 5 + 10/12 = 5.833 feet.
- ✗Using 0.3 instead of 0.3048 — a 1.6% error that accumulates significantly.
- ✗Confusing feet with yards — 1 yard = 3 feet = 0.9144 m.
- ✗Not accounting for the US survey foot (0.3048006 m) vs international foot (0.3048 m) — only matters for geodesy.
Feet to Meters Overview
What This Calculator Does
Converts feet to meters using the exact factor: 1 foot = 0.3048 meters exactly (defined since 1959). 1 meter = 3.28084 feet.
Exact Conversion
1 foot = 12 inches × 2.54 cm/inch = 30.48 cm = 0.3048 m exactly. No rounding — this is a defined value. The inverse 1 m = 3.28084 ft involves an infinite decimal but 0.3048 itself is exact.
Aviation Context
Aircraft altitudes are measured in feet (ICAO standard). Key references: 1,000 ft = 304.8 m; 10,000 ft = 3,048 m; 35,000 ft (typical cruise) = 10,668 m.
Common Conversions
| Feet | Meters | Context | |------|--------|---------| | 1 ft | 0.305 m | Standard foot | | 6 ft | 1.829 m | 6-foot person | | 100 ft | 30.48 m | 10-story building | | 1,000 ft | 304.8 m | Low-level flight | | 5,280 ft | 1,609.3 m | 1 mile |