Understanding Feet to Centimeters Conversion
Converting feet (ft) to centimeters (cm) is a common operation when working with measurements from
different systems. The foot is a unit of length in the imperial system, primarily used
in the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other English-speaking countries. The centimeter
is part of the metric system, used in most countries worldwide.
What is a Foot?
The foot is an Anglo-Saxon unit of measurement that historically corresponds to the length of a human foot.
Today, its value is standardized:
- 1 foot = 30.48 centimeters exactly
- 1 foot = 12 inches
- 3 feet = 1 yard
This unit is commonly used to measure human height in English-speaking countries, as well as in aviation
(aircraft altitude) and American real estate.
What is a Centimeter?
The centimeter is a unit of length in the International System (SI). It represents one hundredth of a meter:
- 1 meter = 100 centimeters
- 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
- 1 centimeter = 0.01 meter
Feet to Centimeters Conversion Formula
To convert a value from feet to centimeters, simply multiply by 30.48:
Centimeters = Feet × 30.48
Feet to Centimeters Conversion Table
| Feet (ft) |
Centimeters (cm) |
| 1 foot |
30.48 cm |
| 2 feet |
60.96 cm |
| 3 feet |
91.44 cm |
| 4 feet |
121.92 cm |
| 5 feet |
152.4 cm |
| 5.5 feet |
167.64 cm |
| 6 feet |
182.88 cm |
| 6.5 feet |
198.12 cm |
| 7 feet |
213.36 cm |
| 10 feet |
304.8 cm |
Practical Conversion Examples
- Human height: A person measuring 5 feet 9 inches (5'9") is approximately 175 cm tall
- Standard ceiling: An 8-foot ceiling corresponds to 243.84 cm (about 2.44 m)
- Swimming pool: A 4-foot deep pool is 121.92 cm
Common Uses for Feet/Centimeters Conversion
This conversion is particularly useful in the following areas:
- Health and medicine: Converting American patient heights
- Real estate: Understanding dimensions of American properties
- Sports: Converting athlete statistics (basketball, American football)
- Travel: Understanding height indications in English-speaking countries
- DIY and construction: Using American plans or materials