Feet to Meters: Convert Feet to Metres
Convert feet to meters: one foot equals 0.3048 meters. Learn the exact factor, how it is used for height and room sizes, and common feet-to-meters values.
Why Feet to Meters Comes Up
Feet are the US unit for height and room dimensions, while meters are used almost everywhere else. Converting a height or a floor plan to meters is a common need.
One foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters. Our meters converter handles the reverse; the feet-to-meters factor is fixed.
The Feet to Meters Formula
The factor comes from the inch: one inch is 2.54 cm, one foot is 12 inches, so a foot is 30.48 cm, or 0.3048 m. Multiply feet by 0.3048.
The Exact Calculation
For 1 ft: 1 × 0.3048 = 0.3048 m. For 6 ft: 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288 m. For 10 ft: 10 × 0.3048 = 3.048 m. The factor is exact.
For mixed heights like 5 ft 9 in, convert feet (5 × 0.3048 = 1.524 m) and inches (9 × 0.0254 = 0.2286 m) and add: 1.7526 m.
Why 0.3048
The number is exact by international agreement: 1 foot = 12 inches = 12 × 2.54 cm = 30.48 cm = 0.3048 m. No rounding is needed for the factor itself.
What the Numbers Look Like
A 6 ft person is 1.83 m; an 8 ft ceiling is 2.44 m; a 10 ft room is 3.05 m. Ceiling heights and room sizes convert this way for metric floor plans.
For the reverse, our guide to 1 meter to feet shows how a metric length maps back to feet.
Feet to Meters Compared With Nearby Values
Reference points: 3 ft = 0.9144 m, 5 ft = 1.524 m, 10 ft = 3.048 m. Each foot adds exactly 0.3048 m.
The reverse, meters to feet, divides by 0.3048, so 1 m is 3.281 ft and 2 m is 6.562 ft.
When You Need Feet in Meters
The conversion matters for travel and building. A US height of 5 ft 10 in becomes about 1.78 m on a metric form; a room size in feet becomes meters for an international plan.
It also helps compare product dimensions, since imports often list meters or centimeters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meters is 1 foot?
1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters, because 12 inches × 2.54 cm = 30.48 cm = 0.3048 m.
How do I convert feet to meters?
Multiply feet by 0.3048. For 6 ft: 6 × 0.3048 = 1.8288 m.
How many meters is 5 ft?
5 feet equals 1.524 meters.
Is a meter bigger than a foot?
Yes. One meter is about 3.281 feet.
How do I convert meters to feet?
Divide meters by 0.3048. For 2 m: 2 / 0.3048 = 6.562 ft.
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Meters to Feet Converter
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Quick Summary
1 foot equals 0.3048 meters. Multiply feet by 0.3048 (exact, from 12 inches × 2.54 cm): 1 × 0.3048 = 0.3048 m. Six feet is 1.8288 m.
Related Guide
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Disclaimer
Unit conversions on this site use internationally recognized, fixed conversion factors (for example, 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg, 1 °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32). They are provided for general, informational, and educational use. For applications where accuracy is critical — such as medical dosing, engineering, scientific research, trade, or legal compliance — always verify results against authoritative sources such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the official International System of Units (SI) brochure, and follow any applicable local standards.
Exact Constants & Authoritative Sources
Every conversion on this page uses the fixed, internationally agreed constants below — drawn from NIST and the SI Brochure. No values are estimated or rounded as if exact. See the full list on our Sources & Standards page.
- EXACT1 inch (in) = 25.4 millimetres (exact)
- EXACT1 foot (ft) = 0.3048 metres (exact, 12 in)
- EXACT1 yard (yd) = 0.9144 metres (exact, 3 ft)
- EXACT1 mile (mi) = 1609.344 metres (exact, 5280 ft)
- EXACT1 centimetre (cm) = 0.01 metre (definition)
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
US survey foot is deprecated
The old US survey foot (0.304800609601 m) was retired in 2023 in favor of the international foot (0.3048 m). Modern conversions use the international foot; mixing them drifts over long distances.
Inches vs. centimetres for screens
Display and wheel sizes are often rounded to the nearest convenient number; a "27-inch" monitor is nominal, not a precise 68.58 cm panel.
A unit-conversion reference site has no manufacturer-specific or device calibration parameters, so "layered tuning" does not apply here. The only real error-handling is input validation: the converter rejects non-numeric, empty, or out-of-range entries and shows a clear message, then falls back to exact constants above. No estimated or rounded figures are ever presented as exact.
Authoritative sources for this page
- NIST (U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology) — NIST SP 330 — The International System of Units (SI), 2019 edition
- BIPM (International Bureau of Weights and Measures) — SI Brochure — The International System of Units (9th edition)
Last Updated 2026 | This article was reviewed for accuracy