How to Convert Feet to Meters
To convert feet to meters, multiply the number of feet by 0.3048. The formula is meters = feet × 0.3048. The converter above handles any value instantly and works across other length units too. A quick estimate: one foot is just under a third of a meter, so three feet is close to (but a little under) one meter.
The Feet to Meters Formula
One foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, so the conversion is precise. Multiply feet by 0.3048 to get meters, or divide meters by 0.3048 to convert back. Because the factor is exact, it works equally well for a person’s height, a room measurement, or the elevation of a mountain.
Worked Examples
A height of 6 feet: 6 × 0.3048 = 1.83 m. A 10 foot ceiling: 3.05 m. A 100 foot building: 30.48 m. A 5’9″ person is 5.75 feet, which is about 1.75 m. These come up in construction, sports, travel, and any time a measurement given in feet needs to be expressed in metric units.
Common Feet to Meter Values
Quick reference: 1 ft = 0.30 m, 3 ft ≈ 0.91 m, 5 ft ≈ 1.52 m, 6 ft ≈ 1.83 m, and 10 ft ≈ 3.05 m. A 30 foot height is about 9.14 m. To convert a height like 5 feet 9 inches, first turn it fully into feet (5 + 9/12 = 5.75 ft), then multiply by 0.3048.
Why Convert Feet to Meters?
Feet are common in the US and UK for height, building dimensions, and elevation, while meters are the metric standard used almost everywhere else and throughout science and sport. Converting feet to meters lets you record a height on a metric form, follow international building plans, compare athletic measurements, or understand an elevation given in the other system. The exact 0.3048 factor keeps the result accurate for measurements large and small.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meters is 1 foot?
1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters.
How do I convert feet to meters?
Multiply the number of feet by 0.3048. For example, 6 ft × 0.3048 = 1.83 m.
How tall is 6 feet in meters?
6 feet is about 1.83 meters.
Converting Height
One of the most common reasons to convert feet to meters is height. Because height is usually given in feet and inches, first convert the inches to a fraction of a foot (divide by 12), then multiply the total by 0.3048. For example, 5 feet 9 inches is 5.75 feet, which is about 1.75 m. A 6 foot person is 1.83 m, and 6 feet 2 inches is about 1.88 m. This matters for passports, sports rosters, and medical forms that use metric.
Construction and Real Estate
Building plans, ceiling heights, and room dimensions move between feet and meters depending on the country and the trade. A standard 8 foot ceiling is 2.44 m, a 10 foot ceiling is 3.05 m, and a 12 foot room is 3.66 m wide. Converting accurately avoids costly mistakes when ordering materials or interpreting plans drawn in the other system.
Elevation and the Outdoors
Hikers and travelers also meet both units. A trail marked at 1,000 feet is about 305 m of elevation, and a 14,000 foot peak is roughly 4,267 m. Aviation reports altitude in feet almost everywhere, while maps in metric countries use meters, so converting helps you understand exactly how high you are going.
Feet, Meters, and Everyday Measurement
Feet and meters coexist in many fields, so converting between them is a routine skill. In sports, an American football field is 100 yards (about 91.4 m), a basketball hoop is 10 feet (3.05 m), and Olympic events are measured in meters. In aviation, altitude is reported in feet almost worldwide, while metric countries describe building heights and geography in meters. Even consumer products — TV mounting heights, furniture dimensions, and cable lengths — may list one unit or the other depending on where they were made.
The exact factor is simple to apply: multiply feet by 0.3048 for meters, or divide meters by 0.3048 to get feet. A few reference points make it intuitive: 3 feet is about 0.91 m (just under a meter), 10 feet is 3.05 m, 50 feet is 15.24 m, and 100 feet is 30.48 m. For heights that include inches, convert the whole figure to feet first — for instance 5 feet 6 inches is 5.5 feet, or about 1.68 m.
Because construction, real estate, and international forms increasingly expect metric, being able to convert quickly prevents ordering the wrong amount of material or misreading a plan. The tool above gives the precise value instantly, and it also converts between feet, meters, inches, centimeters, yards, and more.