Convert Meter to Foot (m → ft)
The meter is the base SI unit of length, defined since 1983 by the speed of light in vacuum.
Meter to Foot Conversion Table
10 common values| Meter | Foot |
|---|---|
| 1 m | 3.28084 ft |
| 5 m | 16.404199 ft |
| 10 m | 32.808399 ft |
| 25 m | 82.020997 ft |
| 50 m | 164.04199 ft |
| 100 m | 328.08399 ft |
| 250 m | 820.20997 ft |
| 500 m | 1,640.4199 ft |
| 1,000 m | 3,280.8399 ft |
| 5,000 m | 16,404.199 ft |
How to Convert Meter to Foot Manually
Step by StepConverting meters to feet is straightforward: multiply by the conversion factor. Follow these three steps to do it by hand or in your head.
- 1Take your value in metersStart with the number of meters (m) you want to convert.
- 2Multiply by 3.28084The conversion factor from m to ft is 3.28084. Multiply your value by this number.
- 3Read the result in feetThe result is your value in feet (ft).
Formula
Multiply the value in meters by 3.28084. For the reverse direction, multiply by 0.3048.
ft = m × 3.28084m = ft × 0.3048Tips
Use these in everyday conversions- 1 metre ≈ 3.28 feet — multiply by 3.28 for a quick foot conversion.
- The height of an average adult is 1.6 to 1.8 metres — useful for sanity-checking lengths.
- For very small or very large quantities use prefixes: 1 km = 1000 m, 1 mm = 0.001 m.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these- Confusing square metres (area) with metres (length). A 20 m² room is not 20 m long.
- Using 3.3 instead of 3.2808 when converting to feet — the error grows on long distances.
- Writing "meter" when you mean "metre" in British English, or vice versa. Both are accepted but follow one convention per document.
About Meter and Foot
What is the Meter?
The meter is the base SI unit of length. Originally defined in 1793 as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole through Paris, it has been redefined several times for greater precision. Since 1983, the meter has been defined by the speed of light: the distance light travels in vacuum during 1/299,792,458 of a second. This definition links the meter to a fundamental physical constant, making it reproducible anywhere in the universe. The meter is the parent unit for all metric lengths — kilometers, centimeters, millimeters — and is used globally in science, engineering, construction, and sports. A standard door is about 2 meters tall, and the average adult walking pace covers roughly 1 meter per step.
- Room dimensions and building measurements in Europe
- Track-and-field events (100 m, 200 m, 400 m sprint)
- Scientific papers and engineering drawings worldwide
A standard door is about 2 metres tall. An Olympic swimming pool is exactly 50 metres long. The Eiffel Tower is 330 metres tall.
What is the Foot?
The foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters or 12 inches under the 1959 international agreement. The unit's name reflects its ancient origin as the length of an adult human foot, with measurements varying by region — from 250 mm to over 330 mm — until standardization. The foot is the dominant unit for human height in the United States and the United Kingdom (a person is described as '5 ft 10 in' rather than 178 cm), for building heights, and for aviation altitudes (worldwide aircraft fly at altitudes given in feet, even in metric countries). It remains the standard for residential floor counts, ceiling heights, and ladder ratings. The foot relates to the meter (1 ft ≈ 0.305 m), the yard (3 ft = 1 yd), and the mile (5,280 ft = 1 mi).
- Aircraft cruising altitude in international aviation
- US building heights, ceiling heights and room dimensions
- Mountain elevations on global maps (Everest = 29,032 ft)
Airliners cruise at 35,000 ft (10.7 km). Mount Everest is 29,032 ft (8,849 m). A standard US ceiling is 8 ft (2.44 m).