Convert metres to feet
Turn lengths and heights from metres into feet with the exact factor.
Calculator inputs
Results
Enter your values and press “Calculate” to see the result.
In short
- What it calculates
- Turn lengths and heights from metres into feet with the exact factor.
- Formula used
feet = metres ÷ 0.3048- Example
- 1.80 m to feet:
Metres to feet converter
Height, flight altitude and property measurements in English-speaking countries are given in feet, so this conversion shows up in sports profiles and estate agent listings alike.
How it works
The length in metres is divided by 0.3048, the exact value of the international foot. To express it in feet and inches, multiply the decimal part by 12.
Formula
feet = metres ÷ 0.3048
1 ft = 0.3048 m exactly
1 m = 3.28084 ft
1 ft = 12 inches
Worked example
1.80 m to feet:
1.80 ÷ 0.3048 = 5.906 feet
That is 5 feet 10.9 inches (0.906 × 12).
Explanation
Aviation measures altitude in feet
Almost the whole world uses feet for flight levels, even in metric countries. The reason is historical and practical: aeronautics standardised on the imperial system and changing it now would be an enormous safety risk. China, Russia and a few neighbouring countries use metres, which is exactly why navigation charts mark the transition.
Reference heights
Everest is 8,849 metres or 29,032 feet. A commercial airliner's cruising altitude is around 11,000 metres, about 36,000 feet. A residential floor has about 2.7 metres of clear height, a little under nine feet.
Feet and inches together
Height in English-speaking countries is given in feet and inches: five feet ten, written 5′10″, is 1.78 metres. The decimal from the conversion must be multiplied by twelve to get the inches: 0.83 feet is almost ten inches.
Square metres and square feet
In American property everything is in square feet. A square foot is 0.0929 square metres, so a thousand-square-foot apartment is about 93 square metres. Dividing by ten gives a decent quick approximation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn the decimal into inches?
Multiply the decimal part by 12: 5.906 feet is 5 feet and 0.906 × 12 = 10.9 inches.
Why does aviation use feet?
By long-standing international convention. Flight levels are expressed in hundreds of feet almost everywhere.
How many square metres is a thousand square feet?
About 92.9 square metres. Dividing square feet by ten gives a quick estimate with under eight per cent error.
Why does aviation not use metres?
Historical standardisation. Changing altitude references worldwide now would carry a considerable safety risk.
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