Feet and Inches Converter
Convert between feet + inches, centimeters, meters, and millimeters. Includes height comparison chart, famous heights reference, and feet-to-cm lookup table.
Feet to Inches Converter
Convert feet to inches and back with fractional inch display (⅛, 1/16, 1/32). Includes ruler visualization, combined feet + inches output, and conversion reference table.
Key fact: 1 foot = exactly 12 inches. No rounding, no approximation.
Presets
Inches⧉
60.00
1 ft = 12 in
Feet (decimal)⧉
5.00
Decimal feet
Feet + Inches⧉
5′ 0″
Combined display
Fractional Inches⧉
60
Switch to fraction mode
Centimeters⧉
152.40
1 in = 2.54 cm
Meters⧉
1.52
1 ft = 0.3048 m
Millimeters⧉
1,524.00
1 in = 25.4 mm
Yards⧉
1.67
1 yd = 3 ft
Ruler Visual (scale)
Ruler visual available for values up to 4 ft. Current: 5.00 ft
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Feet to Inches Converter
One foot equals exactly 12 inches — one of the most fundamental conversions in the US customary measurement system. Carpenters, crafters, builders, tailors, and anyone measuring in the imperial system needs this conversion daily. The reverse — inches to feet — is equally important for converting tape-measure readings to floor-plan dimensions.
The page goes beyond simple multiplication by offering fractional inch display in ⅛, 1/16, or 1/32-inch precision, matching real-world tape measure markings. It also outputs centimeters, meters, millimeters, and yards, and provides a visual ruler representation for measurements up to 4 feet.
Whether you are converting decimal feet from a survey to inches for construction, converting an inch measurement from a sewing pattern to feet for material ordering, or just need a quick reference table showing feet-to-inches equivalents, the page keeps every output format and reference together for field, workshop, and home-improvement tasks, including routine estimating, quoting, and cut-list preparation.
When This Page Helps
The 12-inches-per-foot conversion is simple, but decimal values and fractions still create avoidable mistakes. Keeping fractional inches, metric output, and the ruler visual together helps project teams, suppliers, estimators, and workshop documentation stay aligned around the same measurement.
How to Use the Inputs
- Choose feet → inches or inches → feet.
- Enter the value or select a preset.
- Choose fraction display mode (decimal, ⅛, 1/16, 1/32).
- Adjust decimal precision.
- Read inches, decimal feet, combined feet+inches, fractional inches, cm, m, mm, and yards.
- View the ruler visualization for small measurements.
- Expand the conversion reference table.
Formula used
Inches = Feet × 12
Feet = Inches ÷ 12
1 inch = 2.54 cm (exact)Example Calculation
Result: 69 inches / 5′ 9″
5.75 × 12 = 69 inches. The remainder is 0.75 × 12 = 9 inches, giving 5′ 9″. In metric: 175.26 cm.
Tips & Best Practices
- To convert decimal feet to inches: multiply the decimal part by 12. E.g., 3.25 ft → 0.25 × 12 = 3 inches → 3′ 3″.
- Tape measures show fractions of inches. Use the 1/16 or 1/32 mode to match your tape.
- For construction: 4′ × 8′ plywood = 48″ × 96″. Remember this for cutting calculations.
- Stud spacing is 16″ on center (1.33 ft). Three 16″ spaces = 4 feet exactly.
- Quick check: 5 ft = 60 in, 6 ft = 72 in. Use these anchors and adjust from there.
- Lumber lengths are sold in 2-foot increments: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 ft.
Feet and Inches in Construction
US construction plans are typically dimensioned in feet and inches (e.g., 12′-6″ for twelve feet six inches). Builders convert these to decimal feet for calculations or to total inches for measuring and cutting. Understanding the 12-inch foot and fractional inches is essential for reading blueprints, cutting materials, and laying out structures.
Fractional Inches
US tape measures divide each inch into 16 or 32 equal parts. The markings decrease in length: ½″ (longest), ¼″, ⅛″, 1/16″ (shortest). Woodworkers often work to 1/16″ precision, while machinists may need 1/32″ or finer. This calculator's fraction mode rounds to the nearest ⅛, 1/16, or 1/32 inch, matching real tape-measure resolution.
Decimal Feet in Surveying
Land surveyors use decimal feet (e.g., 123.456 ft) rather than feet-and-inches to avoid fraction arithmetic errors. To convert a survey distance to construction measurements: multiply the decimal by 12, then express as feet-and-inches. This converter does it automatically.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
Exactly 12 inches. This is the definition of a foot in the imperial system.
5 feet exactly. 60 ÷ 12 = 5.
The whole part is 5 feet. The decimal 0.5 × 12 = 6 inches. So 5.5 ft = 5′ 6″.
6 feet exactly. 72 ÷ 12 = 6. This is the height of a standard 6-foot person.
The number 12 was chosen because it is highly divisible (by 2, 3, 4, and 6), making fractions simpler. This dates back to ancient Babylonian and Roman measurement systems.
The longest mark after an inch is ½. Next longest are ¼ and ¾. Then ⅛, and smallest are 1/16. This converter can display your measurement in any of these fractions.
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Foot to Centimeter Converter
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