Feet to Inches Converter

How to Convert Feet to Inches

To convert feet to inches, follow these steps:

1
Enter the value in feet you want to convert
2
Click "Convert Distance" to see the result in inches

Conversion Formula:

1 foot = 12 inches

Info

Comprehensive Guide to Feet and Inches

Historical Origin

The foot as a unit of measurement has ancient origins dating back thousands of years. Many early measurements were based on human body parts:

In ancient times, the "foot" literally referred to the length of a human foot, though this varied by region and individual.
The ancient Egyptians used the "cubit" (the length from elbow to fingertip) as their primary measurement, which was approximately 18 inches or 1.5 feet.
The Romans standardized the foot at approximately 11.65 modern inches.
The relationship between feet and inches (1 foot = 12 inches) comes from the Roman system, where they divided the foot into 12 unciae (which gave us both the words "inch" and "ounce").

In 1959, the international yard and pound agreement standardized the foot at exactly 0.3048 meters, making the modern foot slightly different from historical versions.

Different Types of "Feet" Throughout History

Roman foot: 11.65 inches
Greek foot: 12.45 inches
English foot (medieval): varied between 13.2-14.0 inches
Modern international foot: exactly 12 inches (0.3048 meters)
U.S. survey foot: slightly longer at 0.3048006 meters (used in land surveying until 2022)

Practical Applications

The feet to inches conversion is essential in many fields:

Construction

Building plans and blueprints
Material measurements
Room dimensions
Ceiling heights

Interior Design

Furniture sizing and placement
Window treatments
Room planning
Cabinetry and shelving

Manufacturing

Product specifications
Part measurements
Tool sizing
Quality control

Daily Life

Height measurements
DIY projects
Sports field dimensions
Screen sizes (TV, monitors)

Advanced Information

When working with feet and inches, these additional tips may be helpful:

Fractional Measurements

When working with partial feet, you can either express them as decimals or as feet and inches:

0.5 feet = 6 inches
0.25 feet = 3 inches
0.75 feet = 9 inches

Quick Mental Conversion

For quick mental calculations, remember that each foot equals 12 inches:

For each foot, add 12 inches
2.5 feet = 2 × 12 + 6 = 30 inches
3.75 feet = 3 × 12 + 9 = 45 inches

Converting Back to Feet

To convert inches back to feet, divide by 12:

24 inches ÷ 12 = 2 feet
30 inches ÷ 12 = 2.5 feet (or 2 feet 6 inches)
42 inches ÷ 12 = 3.5 feet (or 3 feet 6 inches)

Interesting Fact:

Despite the global adoption of the metric system, feet and inches remain the primary measurement units in the United States and are still commonly used for human height measurements in the United Kingdom and Canada. The international aviation industry also uses feet for altitude measurements worldwide.

Feet to Inches Conversion Tables

These reference tables provide quick conversions from feet to inches for whole numbers and common fractions:

Feet	Inches	Feet	Inches
1 ft	12 in	6 ft	72 in
2 ft	24 in	7 ft	84 in
3 ft	36 in	8 ft	96 in
4 ft	48 in	9 ft	108 in
5 ft	60 in	10 ft	120 in

Fractional Feet Conversions

Fractional Feet	Decimal Feet	Inches
1/8 ft	0.125 ft	1.5 in
1/4 ft	0.25 ft	3 in
1/3 ft	0.333 ft	4 in
1/2 ft	0.5 ft	6 in
2/3 ft	0.667 ft	8 in
3/4 ft	0.75 ft	9 in
7/8 ft	0.875 ft	10.5 in

Common Human Heights

For reference, here are some common height measurements converted to inches:

5 feet (average female height in some countries) = 60 inches
5 feet 4 inches = 64 inches
5 feet 9 inches (average male height in some countries) = 69 inches
6 feet = 72 inches
6 feet 3 inches = 75 inches

Modern Measuring Tools & Digital Applications

While the basic conversion formula remains constant, the tools we use for measurement have evolved significantly:

Traditional Measuring Tools

Tape measures: Most show both feet and inches
Folding rulers: Compact tools with joint hinges
Yard/meter sticks: Rigid measuring sticks
Measuring wheels: For longer distances

Digital Measurement Technology

Laser distance meters: Accurate to fractions of an inch
Digital calipers: Display measurements in multiple units
Ultrasonic measurers: Use sound waves to determine distance
Smartphone apps: Use cameras or sensors for measurements

Industry-Specific Applications

Different industries use feet to inches conversions in specialized ways:

Architecture and Construction: Building plans in the US typically use feet and inches notation (like 5'-6" to represent 5 feet 6 inches). CAD software often supports this notation while allowing internal calculations in decimal feet or metric units.
Woodworking: Precision cutting often requires measurements in fractional inches (like 3/16"). Many tools include scales for both feet and fractional inches.
Surveying: Until 2022, the US survey foot (slightly different from the international foot) was used for land measurements. Modern GPS equipment can display measurements in multiple units.
Aviation: Aircraft altitude is measured in feet internationally. Air traffic control and pilots use feet for vertical separation standards.

Pro Tip:

When communicating measurements, always specify the units clearly to avoid confusion. In professional settings, it's common to use the notation feet-inches with a hyphen, apostrophe, or abbreviations (ft/in). For example, 5'-6", 5ft 6in, or 5-6 all represent five feet six inches.

Examples

Common Examples

Example 1 1 Foot to Inches