Convert meter to foot.

About this conversion

Meters-to-feet is the reverse conversion: multiply by 3.28084 (or divide by 0.3048). Common when reading building heights, ceiling specifications, or fitness/medical specs from metric sources.

Formula

ft = m × 3.28084

Real-world examples

Reference values

Tips & tricks

• Quick estimate: multiply by 3.3. 2 m ≈ 6.6 ft.
• A "metric mile" in racing is 1500 m (4920.7 ft) — close to but shorter than a statute mile (5280 ft).
• Athletic track standard is 400 m (1312.3 ft); a 100 m sprint covers 328.1 ft.

Origin & history

The meter was originally (1791) defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the equator to the North Pole through Paris. Since 1983, it's defined by the speed of light: the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.

What is a meter?

The meter is the SI base unit of length, defined by the distance light travels in vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. Room dimensions, building heights, athletic distances (100 m sprint), and most everyday distances.

What is a foot?

One foot equals exactly 12 inches or 0.3048 meters. Building heights, room dimensions in the US, aircraft altitudes, and lumber lengths.

What does m look like in everyday objects?

Concrete examples often help when a unit doesn't have an intuitive feel.

• 3 m — about the height of a residential ceiling.
• 10 m — about the height of a 3-story building.
• 50 m — about the length of an Olympic swimming pool.

How to convert meter to foot

To convert a value from meter (m) to foot (ft), apply the conversion factor shown in the formula above. The calculation is the same whether you do it by hand, in a spreadsheet, or with the live converter on this page.

Steps:

1. Take your input value in m.
2. Apply the formula see formula above.
3. The result is your value in ft.

For repeated calculations, save the formula in a spreadsheet or use the live converter at the top of this page — it handles the math automatically and displays the result as you type.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert m to ft?

Apply the formula m → ft shown above, or just type your value into the converter at the top of this page. The result updates instantly.

Which is bigger, m or ft?

This depends on the conversion ratio in the formula. If the factor multiplied by your value gives a larger number, then ft is the smaller unit (so it takes more of them to express the same quantity). If the result is smaller, then ft is the larger unit.

When would I use m versus ft?

Both units measure length, so the choice depends on context. Meter is typically used for engineering specs, construction, navigation, and everyday measurement; foot similarly. Most professional fields standardize on one or the other based on regional conventions or technical tradition.

How precise is this m to ft conversion?

The conversion factor shown is the internationally defined exact value (or the best-published approximation if the relationship is irrational, like degrees-to-radians). The live converter on this page uses double-precision floating-point math, accurate to about 15 significant digits — far beyond any practical engineering need.

Is the conversion ratio exact, or an approximation?

Most unit conversions between SI metric units, and between SI and US customary units, have been formally defined as exact values since the 1959 international yard-pound agreement and subsequent SI redefinitions. Exceptions are unit pairs that involve irrational numbers (radians, e.g.) or empirical conversions (like food calories, which depend on temperature). When in doubt, consult the formula at the top of this page.

Related conversions

See also