Feet to Meters Converter

Convert between feet and meters instantly. Supports feet + inches input for heights. Includes reference table, building heights, and sports field dimensions.

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Conversion Formulas
Meters = Feet × 0.3048   |   Feet = Meters × 3.28084   |   1 foot = exactly 0.3048 m

Feet → Meters

Meters → Feet

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Feet to Meters Conversion Table

FeetMetersFeetMetersFeetMeters
10.305103.04810030.48
20.610154.57220060.96
30.914206.096500152.40
3.2811.000257.6201,000304.80
51.524309.1445,280 (1 mi)1,609.34
61.8295015.2410,0003,048.00

Real-World Height and Distance References

ReferenceFeetMetersContext
Average US Man5'9"1.75 mCDC NHANES 2023
Average US Woman5'4"1.63 mCDC NHANES 2023
NBA Basketball Hoop10'3.05 mStandard height
Football Field (length)360' (incl. end zones)109.7 mNFL/NCAA
Soccer Field (length)330–360'100–110 mFIFA
Olympic Pool164'50 mFINA standard
Statue of Liberty305'93 mPedestal to torch
Niagara Falls167'51 mHorseshoe Falls
Cruise Altitude35,000'10,668 mCommercial aviation
Mt. Everest29,032'8,849 mHighest peak

Understanding Feet and Meters

The foot (ft) is an imperial unit defined as exactly 0.3048 meters since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959. The meter (m) is the SI base unit of length, currently defined by fixing the speed of light at exactly 299,792,458 m/s — meaning a meter is the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

The US, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that haven't officially adopted the metric system. However, in practice, US science, medicine, military, and international trade all use meters. Aviation worldwide uses feet for altitude (even in metric countries) as an international standard set by ICAO, while maritime navigation uses nautical miles and fathoms (1 fathom = 6 feet = 1.8288 m).

Mental Math Shortcut

Feet to meters: Divide by 3, then subtract 3% of the result. Example: 100 ft → 100/3 = 33.3, minus 3% (1.0) = 32.3 m (actual: 30.48 — this shortcut is approximate). A simpler rule: multiply by 0.3 for a quick estimate, then add ~2% for accuracy.

Meters to feet: Multiply by 3, then add 10%. Example: 10 m → 10 × 3 = 30, plus 10% (3) = 33 ft (actual: 32.8 ft). Close enough for quick estimates.

For more precise length conversions at smaller scales, use our cm to Inches converter. For area calculations using these measurements, see the Area Calculator and Square Footage Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many meters is 1 foot?
1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters. This is an exact defined relationship, not an approximation. For quick math, 1 foot ≈ 0.3 meters (with 1.6% error).
How many feet is 1 meter?
1 meter equals approximately 3.28084 feet, or 3 feet 3.37 inches. For quick estimation, 1 meter is about 3 feet 3 inches, or roughly 10% longer than a yard (3 feet).
How do I convert 5'10" to meters?
First convert to total inches: 5 feet × 12 + 10 inches = 70 inches. Then multiply by 0.0254 (inches to meters): 70 × 0.0254 = 1.778 meters. Or use the feet+inches input on this converter.
Why does aviation use feet instead of meters?
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standardized on feet for altitude in the 1940s because most early aviation development occurred in the US and UK. Changing would require rewriting thousands of procedures, recalibrating instruments, and retraining pilots worldwide — the safety risks of transition outweigh the benefits.
How many feet in a mile?
There are exactly 5,280 feet in a mile. A mile equals 1,609.344 meters or 1.609344 kilometers. The number 5,280 comes from the furlong (660 feet × 8 furlongs = 1 mile), a medieval English measurement unit.

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