Convert Meter to Foot
Conversion Formula
ft = m × 3.28084To convert Meter to Foot, use the formula above. This is the standard conversion factor used worldwide.
Conversion Table
| Meter (m) | Foot (ft) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.280840 |
| 10 | 32.808400 |
| 100 | 328.084000 |
| 1000 | 3280.840000 |
Why convert Meter to Foot
Aviation altitude is reported in feet almost everywhere, even in countries that use meters for everything else, so pilots and travelers checking a foreign chart convert cruising or terrain altitudes given in meters back to the feet aviation actually uses. Property listings, mountain heights, and pool dimensions from outside the US are also usually given in meters and need a feet equivalent to mean anything to a US reader.
Where the number comes from
A foot is defined as exactly 0.3048 meters, part of the same 1959 international agreement that fixed the inch. The conversion is exact: multiply meters by 3.28084, or divide by 0.3048, with no rounding built into the relationship itself, only in how many decimal places you keep.
Quick reference
| 1 m | 3.2808 ft | |
| 1 ft | 0.3048 m | exact |
| 1.83 m | 6 ft | a common doorway height reference |
| 10 m | 32.81 ft | about a 3 story building |
| 1,000 m | 3,280.8 ft | a common foreign altitude reading |
| 8,848 m | 29,032 ft | height of Mount Everest |
Common mistakes
- The most common mistake is confusing feet with meters: a 300 meter building and a 300 foot building differ by a factor of three, and a slipped unit label makes for a wildly wrong headline figure.
- People also forget that a foreign altitude in meters needs converting before comparing it to a US chart in feet, since mixing units mid-calculation on a flight plan is a real and dangerous error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is aviation altitude in feet even in metric countries?
Early international aviation standardized altitude reporting in feet through ICAO, and that convention stuck globally regardless of a country's usual measurement system. A handful of countries, including Russia and China, use meters instead, which is why charts near their airspace sometimes show both.
How many feet is a meter, roughly?
Just over 3.28 ft. For quick mental math, multiplying meters by 3.3 overstates the true figure by well under 1 percent.
Is a meter longer than a yard?
Yes. A meter (3.28 ft) is about 10 percent longer than a yard (3 ft), a difference that becomes noticeable over a distance like a football field.
How do I convert meters per second to a feet-based speed unit?
Convert the meter component first, then apply the same time unit: 1 m/s equals 3.2808 ft/s. That is a distinct calculation from converting to mph, which needs a separate factor for the time unit too.