Feet to Meters Real-World Size Comparison Table
These are the foot values people look up most often, from heights to a basketball hoop and cruising altitude. Heights are shown as decimal feet, so 5.5 means 5 ft 6 in.
| Feet (ft) | Meters (m) | Real-World Size Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0.3 m | One foot (exactly 0.3048 m) |
| 3 ft | 0.91 m | One yard |
| 5 ft | 1.52 m | 5 ft 0 in |
| 5.5 ft | 1.68 m | 5 ft 6 in |
| 5.83 ft | 1.78 m | About 5 ft 10 in |
| 6 ft | 1.83 m | 6 ft 0 in |
| 6.5 ft | 1.98 m | 6 ft 6 in |
| 8 ft | 2.44 m | A standard US ceiling height |
| 10 ft | 3.05 m | A basketball hoop |
| 100 ft | 30.48 m | A hundred-foot run, about 33 yards |
| 35000 ft | 10668 m | A typical airliner cruising altitude |
Feet to Meters Conversion Formula — How to Convert ft to m
meters = feet ÷ 3.28084
Or: meters = feet × 0.3048, the exact definition. Quick estimate: 3 feet is just under a meter, so divide by 3 and take off a tenth.
Step-by-Step ft to m Conversion Examples:
- •A person 6 ft tall:6 ÷ 3.28084 =1.83 m
- •A 10 ft basketball hoop:10 ÷ 3.28084 =3.05 m
- •A room 12 ft wide:12 ÷ 3.28084 =3.66 m
- •A flight at 35,000 ft:35,000 ÷ 3.28084 =10,668 m
Why the Feet to Meters Conversion Works & Common ft to m Converter Mistakes to Avoid
A foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, which is why multiplying by 0.3048 is the exact method. Dividing by 3.28084 gives the same answer, because 3.28084 is how many feet fit into a meter, rounded to five decimals. This standard foot has been used in the US and UK since the 1959 international agreement.
The Common ft to m Converter Mistake: Treating feet and inches as one decimal number. 5 ft 10 in is 5 + 10/12 = 5.83 feet, not 5.10, so it converts to 1.78 m rather than 1.55 m. Always change the inches to a fraction of a foot first, or turn the whole height into inches and multiply by 0.0254. A second slip is multiplying by 3.28084 when you should divide: meters are larger, so the number shrinks.
Where feet-to-meters matters
Feet remain the standard for heights, room sizes and aviation altitudes in the US and UK. The conversion comes up when you apply for something abroad, buy furniture from a US seller, read an altitude, or fill in a form that asks for height in meters.
- • Use ft For: US and UK heights, American room and lot dimensions, Aviation altitudes, Climbing and hiking elevations, US furniture and building specs
- • Use m For: Metric height on international forms, Metric floor plans, Altitude in meters for science and maps, Construction drawings in meters, Fitness and school records
Rule of Thumb: Three feet is just under a meter, and six feet is about 1.83 m.
ft to m Converter in Spreadsheets — Spreadsheet Shortcut (Excel & Google Sheets)
With feet in cell A1, =A1*0.3048 returns meters, and =CONVERT(A1,"ft","m") does the same job. For a height in feet and inches, with feet in A1 and inches in B1, use =(A1+B1/12)*0.3048.
Feet to Meters Conversion — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert feet to meters?
Multiply the feet by 0.3048, or divide by 3.28084. For example, 6 ft × 0.3048 = 1.83 m.
How many meters are in a foot?
One foot is exactly 0.3048 meters.
How many meters is 6 feet?
6 feet is 1.83 meters.
How do I convert feet and inches to meters?
Convert the inches to a fraction of a foot (divide by 12), add the feet, then multiply by 0.3048. For 5 ft 10 in, 5.83 × 0.3048 = 1.78 m.
How many meters is 10 feet?
10 feet is 3.05 meters.
How many meters is 35,000 feet?
35,000 feet is about 10,668 meters, a typical airliner cruising altitude.
Is 3 feet the same as 1 meter?
Not quite. 3 feet is 0.9144 m, about 8.5 cm shorter than a meter.
Is it feet to meters or feet to metres?
Both spellings are correct. Metres is used in the UK, Ireland, Australia and most other countries, and meters in the US.
ft to m Quick-Reference Conversion Table
The length conversions people use alongside feet to meters, including inches and yards.
| To convert | Operation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ft → m | × 0.3048 | 6 ft → 1.83 m |
| m → ft | × 3.28084 | 2 m → 6.56 ft |
| ft → cm | × 30.48 | 6 ft → 182.88 cm |
| in → m | × 0.0254 | 70 in → 1.78 m |