When you need this conversion
Heights on passports and medical forms, building and room dimensions, running track distances, and mountain or flight altitudes. Most of the world gives these in meters; the US (and UK aviation) uses feet.
Quick reference
- 1 m = 3.28084 ft
- 1.5 m = 4.92126 ft
- 2 m = 6.56168 ft
- 10 m = 32.8084 ft
- 1,000 m = 3,280.84 ft
Meters to feet and inches
Multiply by 3.28084 for decimal feet. The whole number is feet; multiply the remainder by 12 for inches. For 1.8 m: 5.90551 ft, so 5 ft and 0.90551 × 12 = 10.87 in. Use cm to feet and inches for heights.
Common mistakes
Reading decimal feet as feet and inches. 5.9 ft is 5 ft 10.8 in, not 5 ft 9 in.
Multiplying by 3. It’s close but about 9% short, which is noticeable on anything over a few meters.
For the reverse, use feet to meters.