Feet to Meters Converter

How to Convert Feet to Meters

Complete Guide to Feet to Meters Conversion

Converting feet to meters is a fundamental skill used in various fields including engineering, architecture, construction, and international trade. Here's everything you need to know:

The Conversion Formula

Conversion Formula:

1 foot = 0.3048 meters (exactly)

To convert: meters = feet × 0.3048

Step-by-Step Conversion Process

1
Enter the value in feet you want to convert
2
Multiply the value by 0.3048
3
The result is your measurement in meters
4
Alternatively, use our calculator above for instant, accurate conversions

Historical Background

The foot has ancient origins dating back to early civilizations. It was originally based on the length of a human foot, which varied between cultures:

In ancient Egypt, one foot was measured as the length of four palms (approximately 11.8 inches)
In ancient Greece, one foot was about one-six hundredth of a stadion (approximately 11.9 inches)
The modern foot was standardized to exactly 12 inches or 0.3048 meters in 1959 by international agreement

The meter, on the other hand, was developed during the French Revolution and was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator. Today, it's defined by the distance light travels in a vacuum during a specific time interval.

Practical Applications

The feet to meters conversion is essential in many fields:

Architecture and Construction: Converting between imperial and metric measurements for building plans
International Trade: Standardizing product dimensions across different measurement systems
Aviation: Flight altitudes are often measured in feet while many countries use meters for ground measurements
Sports: Converting field dimensions between different standards
Science and Engineering: Converting between measurement systems for calculations

Quick Reference Table

Feet	Meters
1 ft	0.3048 m
3 ft	0.9144 m
5 ft	1.524 m
10 ft	3.048 m
20 ft	6.096 m
50 ft	15.24 m
100 ft	30.48 m

Tips for Accurate Conversion

For quick mental estimates, remember that 10 feet is approximately 3 meters
When precision matters, use the exact conversion factor of 0.3048
For complex calculations, consider using a dedicated conversion tool
When working with architectural plans, always verify which unit system is being used

Did you know?

The United States is one of only three countries (along with Liberia and Myanmar) that still primarily uses the imperial system including feet, while most of the world has adopted the metric system with meters as the standard unit of length.

Examples

Common Examples

Example 1 3 Feet to Meters

3 feet = 0.9144 meters

Example 2 10 Feet to Meters

10 feet = 3.048 meters

More Practical Examples

Example 3 Average Height

5'10" (5.83 feet) = 1.78 meters

The average adult male height in many countries

Example 4 Basketball Court

94 feet = 28.65 meters

Standard length of an NBA basketball court

Real-World Applications

Converting between feet and meters is crucial in many international contexts:

Olympic swimming pools are 50 meters long (164 feet)
The Eiffel Tower is 330 meters tall (1,083 feet)
Mount Everest is 8,848.86 meters tall (29,031.7 feet)
Commercial aircraft typically cruise at 10,668 meters (35,000 feet)

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