How to convert feet to meters
Example: a 6-foot person is 6 × 0.3048 = 1.83 m. The estimate ×0.3 gives 1.8 — about 1.6% low, fine for conversation. For feet-and-inches, convert the inches to decimal feet first (divide by 12): 5 ft 10 in = 5.833 ft = 1.78 m.
Feet to meters conversion chart
| ft | m |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.3 |
| 2 | 0.61 |
| 3 | 0.91 |
| 4 | 1.22 |
| 5 | 1.52 |
| 6 | 1.83 |
| 7 | 2.13 |
| 8 | 2.44 |
| 9 | 2.74 |
| 1 | 3.05 |
| 12 | 3.66 |
| 15 | 4.57 |
| 2 | 6.1 |
| 3 | 9.14 |
| 5 | 15.24 |
| 1 | 30.48 |
| 25 | 76.2 |
| 5 | 152.4 |
| 1 | 304.8 |
| 528 | 1609.34 |
| 1 | 3048 |
| 35 | 10668 |
Heights in feet & inches → meters
| ft & in | meters |
|---|---|
| 5′0″ | 1.52 |
| 5′2″ | 1.57 |
| 5′4″ | 1.63 |
| 5′6″ | 1.68 |
| 5′8″ | 1.73 |
| 5′10″ | 1.78 |
| 6′0″ | 1.83 |
| 6′2″ | 1.88 |
| 6′4″ | 1.93 |
Where feet persist
Aviation worldwide measures altitude in feet — cruising at 35,000 ft is 10.7 km up — a rare domain where even metric countries use feet by international convention. Real estate mixes freely: an 8 ft ceiling is 2.44 m; a 10 ft one, 3.05 m. And 5,280 ft make a mile — 1,609.3 m, tying this page to its miles cousin.
Frequently asked questions
How many meters is 1 foot?
Exactly 0.3048 m — 30.48 cm. The definition is exact because the foot is 12 inches and the inch is exactly 2.54 cm.
What is 5 ft 10 in meters?
1.78 m. Convert the inches first: 10 ÷ 12 = 0.833 ft, so 5.833 ft × 0.3048 = 1.778 m.
Why do airplanes measure altitude in feet?
Historical convention frozen into international standards: flight levels (FL350 = 35,000 ft) keep global air traffic on one system. A few countries (China, North Korea) use meters, requiring conversion at their borders.
How many feet in a meter, roughly?
About 3.28 ft — a meter is a yard and a bit (3.4% longer). For quick reverse math, 'three and a quarter feet per meter' rarely misleads.
How accurate is multiplying by 0.3?
It runs 1.6% low — 20 ft → 6.0 m instead of 6.1 m. Fine for mental pictures; use 0.3048 when ordering materials or anything measured in centimeters.