Conversion guide
Meters to feet: exact formula and reference table
This page converts lengths and heights from meters to feet while preserving the official international-foot relationship. Use the worked examples to verify a building, travel, or sports measurement without relying on a rough mental estimate.
Formulas in both directions
ft = m ÷ 0.3048m = ft × 0.3048The international foot is exactly 0.3048 m, so meters are converted by dividing by 0.3048. The familiar multiplier 3.280839895… is its decimal reciprocal.
Common conversion values
| meter (m) | foot (ft) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 m | 1.640419948 ft |
| 1 m | 3.280839895 ft |
| 2 m | 6.56167979 ft |
| 3 m | 9.842519685 ft |
| 5 m | 16.40419948 ft |
| 10 m | 32.80839895 ft |
| 20 m | 65.6167979 ft |
| 30 m | 98.42519685 ft |
| 50 m | 164.0419948 ft |
| 100 m | 328.0839895 ft |
| 250 m | 820.2099738 ft |
| 1,000 m | 3,280.839895 ft |
Worked real-world examples
Example 1
A room ceiling is 2.4 m high. Convert the height for a specification written in feet.
2.4 ÷ 0.3048 = 7.8740157482.4 m = 7.874015748 ftExample 2
A 100 m running straight must be compared with a field layout marked in feet.
100 ÷ 0.3048 = 328.0839895100 m = 328.0839895 ftWhat the units mean
meter (m)
The meter is the SI base unit of length. It is used worldwide for distance, height, engineering, and scientific measurement.
foot (ft)
The international foot is a customary unit equal to exactly 0.3048 meter. Twelve inches make one foot.
Where these units are used
Meters dominate global measurement. Feet are still widely used for personal height, aviation altitude, and construction or real estate in the United States; some UK property descriptions also retain feet.
Important distinctions
The result is in decimal feet, not feet-and-inches. For example, 6.5 ft means 6 ft 6 in, not 6 ft 5 in. This page uses the international foot, not the now-deprecated US survey foot.
Accuracy and rounding
For room dimensions, two or three decimal feet are usually sufficient. Surveying and engineering work should retain the project precision and avoid rounding before the final step.
Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in one meter?
One meter is approximately 3.280839895 feet, based on the exact definition 1 foot = 0.3048 meter.
Is 3.28 feet the same as 3 feet 28 inches?
No. The .28 is a fraction of a foot; multiply it by 12 to obtain inches.
Do you use the international foot or survey foot?
The converter uses the international foot. The US survey foot differs slightly and was deprecated for most US federal uses after 2022.
How do I convert feet back to meters?
Multiply the number of feet by exactly 0.3048.