Convert Meters to Feet
Convert meters (m) to feet (ft) instantly, with the exact formula, worked examples, and the real-world situations where you'll actually need it.
- Millimeter (mm)1,000
- Centimeter (cm)100
- Meter (m)1
- Kilometer (km)0.001
- Inch (in)39.37008
- Foot (ft)3.28084
- Yard (yd)1.093613
- Mile (mi)0.000621
- Ja/Chuk (자)3.30033
- Chi/Chon (치)33.0033
🔒 Unit conversions are computed in your browser.
The formula: meters × 3.2808
Converting meters to feet takes a single multiplication: feet = meters × 3.2808. The factor comes from the definition that one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters, so its reciprocal is 3.28084... For example, 2 meters equals 2 × 3.2808 = 6.5616 feet. To go the other way, divide by 3.2808 or multiply by 0.3048, so 5 feet is 5 × 0.3048 = 1.524 meters. Memorize that one factor and you can convert any length in either direction without a chart.
Working through real numbers
Let's use everyday figures. A height of 1.75 m works out to 1.75 × 3.2808 = 5.74 ft. Watch out here: 5.74 ft is not 5 ft 9 in — you multiply the 0.74 by 12 to get 5 ft 8.9 in. A 2.4 m ceiling is about 7.87 ft, and a 50 m Olympic pool is 164.04 ft. A basketball rim sits at exactly 10 ft, which is 3.05 m. For long distances the tiny gap between 3.2808 and 3.28084 adds up, so keep extra decimals when precision matters — 1,000 m is 3,280.8 ft.
Where you'll use it, and what to watch
You'll reach for this conversion mostly in US-unit contexts. Overseas real-estate listings quote ceiling heights and lot sizes in feet, and hiking elevation, aircraft altitude, and scuba depth are almost always in feet too — the US drone ceiling of 400 ft is roughly 120 m. Two things to remember: first, don't confuse decimal feet with feet-and-inches (0.5 ft is 6 inches, not 5). Second, the US survey foot differs from the international foot by about two parts per million — irrelevant for daily use, but it matters in surveying and geodesy, where it was officially retired in 2023.
Frequently asked questions
Exactly how many feet is one meter?
One meter is about 3.2808 feet, or 3.28084 feet more precisely. That number is simply the reciprocal of the foot's definition, since one foot is exactly 0.3048 meters. Rounding to 3.28 is fine for everyday conversions, but add decimals for long distances or precise engineering work.
How do I write 5.74 feet as feet and inches?
Multiply the decimal part by 12 to get inches. For 5.74 ft, keep the whole 5 ft and calculate 0.74 × 12 = 8.9, giving 5 ft 8.9 in. A common mistake is reading 5.74 ft as 5 ft 9 in or 5 ft 7.4 in — the decimal is a fraction of a foot, not a count of inches.
Why do different calculators give slightly different results?
It's almost always rounding. Using 3.28 versus 3.2808 or 3.28084 changes the trailing digits. On top of that, the US has a separate 'survey foot' that differs from the international foot by about two parts per million, so geodetic or land-survey figures can disagree very slightly.