Feet to Metres Conversion Guide: ft to m Calculator
Converting between feet and metres is essential in the UK where we use both imperial and metric systems. Whether you're measuring your height, room dimensions, or garden space, this guide makes feet to metres conversion simple.
Convert Instantly
Use our free Feet to CM Converter for quick calculations.
The Conversion Formula
Metres to Feet: feet = metres × 3.28084
1 foot = 0.3048 metres (exactly)
1 metre = 3.28084 feet (approximately)
Try Our Free Feet to Metres Calculator
Get instant results with our Feet to Metres Calculator. Also check our CM to Inches Converter and Length Converter.
Common Feet to Metres Conversions
| Feet | Metres | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 0.305 m | Basic unit |
| 2 ft | 0.610 m | Table height |
| 3 ft | 0.914 m | Worktop height |
| 4 ft | 1.219 m | Child's height |
| 5 ft | 1.524 m | Short adult |
| 6 ft | 1.829 m | Tall adult |
| 7 ft | 2.134 m | Door height |
| 8 ft | 2.438 m | Ceiling height |
| 9 ft | 2.743 m | High ceiling |
| 10 ft | 3.048 m | Room dimension |
Height Conversion Chart
Human heights are commonly expressed in feet and inches. Here's a conversion chart for typical heights:
| Feet & Inches | Metres | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | 1.52 m | 152 cm |
| 5'2" | 1.57 m | 157 cm |
| 5'4" | 1.63 m | 163 cm |
| 5'6" | 1.68 m | 168 cm |
| 5'8" | 1.73 m | 173 cm |
| 5'10" | 1.78 m | 178 cm |
| 6'0" | 1.83 m | 183 cm |
| 6'2" | 1.88 m | 188 cm |
| 6'4" | 1.93 m | 193 cm |
| 6'6" | 1.98 m | 198 cm |
Converting Feet and Inches to Metres
When you have both feet and inches, follow these steps:
Example: Convert 5 feet 10 inches to metres
Method 1: Convert separately
- Feet to metres: 5 × 0.3048 = 1.524 m
- Inches to metres: 10 × 0.0254 = 0.254 m
- Total: 1.524 + 0.254 = 1.778 m
Method 2: Total inches first
- Total inches: (5 × 12) + 10 = 70 inches
- To metres: 70 × 0.0254 = 1.778 m
Room Dimensions: Feet to Metres
UK estate agents often mix imperial and metric measurements. Here are common room sizes:
| Imperial | Metric | Room Type |
|---|---|---|
| 8 × 8 ft | 2.4 × 2.4 m | Small bedroom |
| 10 × 10 ft | 3.0 × 3.0 m | Single bedroom |
| 12 × 10 ft | 3.7 × 3.0 m | Double bedroom |
| 14 × 12 ft | 4.3 × 3.7 m | Master bedroom |
| 15 × 12 ft | 4.6 × 3.7 m | Living room |
| 18 × 12 ft | 5.5 × 3.7 m | Large living room |
| 10 × 8 ft | 3.0 × 2.4 m | Kitchen |
| 6 × 8 ft | 1.8 × 2.4 m | Bathroom |
Quick Mental Conversion Tricks
Approximate Conversions
- 3 feet ≈ 1 metre (actually 0.914m, but close enough for estimates)
- 10 feet ≈ 3 metres (actually 3.048m)
- Divide feet by 3.3 for a quick metres estimate
Example: 20 feet ÷ 3.3 ≈ 6 metres (actual: 6.096m)
Inches to Metres Conversion
1 inch = 0.0254 metres = 2.54 centimetres
| Inches | Metres | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 0.0254 m | 2.54 cm |
| 6" | 0.1524 m | 15.24 cm |
| 12" (1 ft) | 0.3048 m | 30.48 cm |
| 24" (2 ft) | 0.6096 m | 60.96 cm |
| 36" (3 ft) | 0.9144 m | 91.44 cm |
Metres to Feet Conversion
Or: feet = metres ÷ 0.3048
| Metres | Feet (decimal) | Feet & Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 m | 3.28 ft | 3' 3.4" |
| 1.5 m | 4.92 ft | 4' 11.1" |
| 1.7 m | 5.58 ft | 5' 6.9" |
| 1.8 m | 5.91 ft | 5' 10.9" |
| 2 m | 6.56 ft | 6' 6.7" |
| 3 m | 9.84 ft | 9' 10.1" |
| 5 m | 16.40 ft | 16' 4.9" |
| 10 m | 32.81 ft | 32' 9.7" |
UK Uses for Feet and Metres
When Feet Are Used
- Human height: "I'm 5 foot 8"
- Altitude: Aircraft fly at 35,000 feet
- Property listings: Room dimensions often in feet
- DIY and construction: Timber lengths
- Swimming pools: Depth in feet
When Metres Are Used
- Athletics: 100m sprint, long jump
- Official documents: Height on passport
- Building regulations: Minimum room sizes
- Science and education: Standard SI unit
- Road distances: Marathon = 42.195 km
Square Feet to Square Metres
For area conversions (commonly used for property sizes):
Square metres to square feet: ft² = m² × 10.764
| Square Feet | Square Metres | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 9.29 m² | Small room |
| 200 sq ft | 18.58 m² | Large bedroom |
| 500 sq ft | 46.45 m² | Studio flat |
| 750 sq ft | 69.68 m² | 1-bed flat |
| 1,000 sq ft | 92.90 m² | 2-bed flat |
| 1,500 sq ft | 139.35 m² | 3-bed house |
| 2,000 sq ft | 185.81 m² | 4-bed house |
Historical Context
The foot was historically defined as the length of a man's foot, though it varied by region. In 1959, the international foot was defined as exactly 0.3048 metres, standardising the conversion worldwide.
The UK officially adopted the metric system in 1965 but still uses imperial measurements in many everyday contexts, leading to the need for frequent conversions.
Convert Height Measurements
Use our Feet to CM Converter for accurate conversions!
Conclusion
Key conversion facts to remember:
- 1 foot = 0.3048 metres (exactly)
- 1 metre = 3.281 feet (approximately)
- 3 feet ≈ 1 metre (for quick estimates)
- For feet and inches: convert each separately and add
- For areas: 1 sq ft = 0.0929 m²
Whether you're measuring height, room dimensions, or garden space, these conversions will help you work confidently with both systems.
Feet and Metres in Modern Britain: A Practical Guide
The feet-to-metres conversion is one of the most frequently needed calculations in the UK, where the two measurement systems coexist in everyday life. While the metric system is official for most purposes, feet and inches remain culturally dominant for measuring human height, room dimensions in property listings, and many construction and DIY contexts. The exact conversion factor is 1 foot = 0.3048 metres, which was internationally standardised in 1959.
In UK property listings, room dimensions are still frequently quoted in feet despite estate agents being required to provide metric measurements. A typical UK estate agent description might read "Living room: 14'6" x 11'3" (4.42m x 3.43m)." Understanding both systems helps when comparing properties, planning furniture layouts, or verifying that quoted dimensions match your expectations. The average UK new-build living room is approximately 17.1 square metres (184 square feet), which is notably smaller than the average in the 1970s.
For human height, the UK almost exclusively uses feet and inches in everyday conversation, even though medical records and official documents use centimetres. The average British man is 5 feet 9 inches (175.3 cm or 1.753 metres) and the average British woman is 5 feet 3 inches (161.6 cm or 1.616 metres). NHS growth charts for children use centimetres, and most UK passports list height in centimetres, yet most people would struggle to state their height in metric without converting from feet and inches first.
Construction and Building Regulations
UK building regulations use metric measurements exclusively. Key regulatory dimensions include: minimum ceiling height of 2.1 metres (6 feet 11 inches) for habitable rooms under building regulations, though 2.3-2.4 metres (7.5-7.9 feet) is standard for new builds; minimum door opening height of 2.0 metres (6 feet 7 inches); and maximum staircase rise of 220mm (8.66 inches) per step in a domestic setting. Despite these metric specifications, many builders still think and communicate in feet for practical site work, and building materials like plasterboard and timber are sold in sizes that correspond to historical imperial dimensions.
Garden measurements present another common conversion scenario. Fencing panels are typically sold in 6-foot (1.83m) lengths and heights, decking boards come in imperial-origin lengths (2.4m = approximately 8 feet, 3.6m = approximately 12 feet), and raised beds are often described in both systems. When ordering landscaping materials, understanding both units ensures you purchase the correct quantities and avoid expensive over-ordering or frustrating shortfalls.
Quick Conversion Methods
For a rough mental conversion from feet to metres, remember that 3 feet is approximately 1 metre (the exact figure is 0.9144m, so this gives about 91% accuracy). For more precision, multiply the number of feet by 0.3 and you will be within 1.6% of the exact answer. For feet and inches combined, convert the inches to a decimal fraction of a foot first (divide inches by 12), then multiply the total by 0.3048. For example, 5 feet 8 inches = 5.667 feet x 0.3048 = 1.727 metres.
When working with property dimensions, a useful benchmark is that a standard UK parking space is 2.4m x 4.8m (approximately 8 feet x 16 feet). A single garage is typically 3m x 6m (10 feet x 20 feet). Knowing these common reference points in both systems helps you quickly estimate whether a room or space will accommodate your needs without needing to calculate every conversion precisely.
Why do UK property listings still use feet?
Estate agents continue to use feet because most British house-hunters think about room sizes in imperial units and find feet more intuitive for visualising spaces. The Property Misdescriptions Act requires accurate measurements, and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 effectively require metric measurements to be available, but imperial can be shown alongside. Many online property portals allow users to switch between feet and metres, reflecting the ongoing dual usage in British culture.
How do I convert my height from feet and inches to metres?
Multiply your height in feet by 0.3048 and your inches by 0.0254, then add the results together. For example, 5 feet 10 inches: (5 x 0.3048) + (10 x 0.0254) = 1.524 + 0.254 = 1.778 metres, or approximately 1.78m. Common heights: 5'4" = 1.63m, 5'6" = 1.68m, 5'8" = 1.73m, 5'10" = 1.78m, 6'0" = 1.83m, 6'2" = 1.88m. Most fitness apps and medical systems accept both formats.
What is the most accurate way to measure a room in both feet and metres?
Use a laser distance measurer for the most accurate results; these are available for under £30 and measure to within 1-2mm accuracy over distances up to 30-50 metres. Most models can display in metres, feet-inches, or both. Measure each wall at floor level and again at approximately 1 metre height, as walls are not always perfectly straight. For irregularly shaped rooms, break them into rectangles and measure each section separately. Record all measurements in metres and let the device or a calculator handle the conversion to feet if needed.
Emma Thompson
Senior Content Editor
Emma is a senior content editor with a background in financial journalism. She specialises in making UK regulations and calculator tools understandable for consumers, working closely with qualified professionals to ensure accuracy.