How to convert feet to metres
To convert feet to metres, multiply by 0.3048, because one foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 metres (that is, 12 inches × 2.54 cm). The definition has been fixed since 1959, so the conversion is exact. The converter above also goes from metres back to feet.
For a rough estimate, take about a third of the feet: 6 ft → about 2 m. The exact figure is 1.83 m.
Where you’ll use feet to metres
Feet are common in the US and UK for height and building dimensions, while metres are the standard almost everywhere else and in most technical fields. You will typically convert feet to metres for:
- Height: a height in feet and inches that a form, sport or medical record wants in metres.
- Swimming and diving: pool lengths and diving depths quoted in feet that you want in metres.
- Rooms and buildings: ceiling heights, room sizes and floor plans switching between the two systems.
- Altitude and hiking: a summit or flight altitude given in feet converted to metres.
- Construction and DIY: matching imperial plans to metric materials.
Feet and metres: what each unit is
The foot (ft) is an imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 12 inches; three feet make a yard. The metre is the base unit of length in the metric (SI) system, defined by the distance light travels in a fixed tiny fraction of a second. Since the foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 m, the two convert precisely.
Feet to Metres conversion table
| Feet | Metres |
|---|
Common heights in feet and metres
| Feet & inches | Metres |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 1.52 m |
| 5 ft 4 in | 1.63 m |
| 5 ft 8 in | 1.73 m |
| 6 ft 0 in | 1.83 m |
| 6 ft 4 in | 1.93 m |
Worked examples
Convert 6 feet to metres
6 × 0.3048 = 1.83 m — a common height.
Convert 100 feet to metres
100 × 0.3048 = 30.48 m, roughly the height of a 10-storey building.
Convert a height of 5 ft 10 in to metres
5 ft 10 in = 70 inches = 70 × 0.0254 = 1.78 m.
Frequently asked questions
One foot equals exactly 0.3048 metres.
Convert everything to inches, multiply by 0.0254, or convert the feet with 0.3048 and add the inches in metres. 5 ft 10 in = 1.778 m.
Yes. Since 1959 the foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 metres.
6 feet is 1.83 metres. It is a useful landmark: a doorway is usually a little over 2 m, so a 6-foot person clears it easily.