Convert height or length from feet and inches to decimal feet.
Looking to convert feet and inches to decimal feet? You're in the right place. Whether you're working on architectural plans, DIY home improvement, or data entry, converting measurements like 5 feet 7 inches into a single decimal number is essential for accuracy and ease. In this guide, we’ll explain the formula, provide real-world examples, and include a quick reference chart to help you convert feet+inches to feet quickly and correctly.
In many countries, especially in the United States and the UK, people often write height or length measurements as a combination of feet and inches (e.g., 6'2", 5ft 9in). But in technical fields like engineering or when using spreadsheets, it’s helpful to convert this to a single decimal feet format.
Example: 5 feet 7 inches = 5.583 feet
To convert feet and inches to decimal feet, use the following formula:
Feet (decimal) = Feet + (Inches ÷ 12)
Why divide by 12? Because 1 foot = 12 inches, so dividing inches by 12 gives the fraction of a foot.
Convert 5 feet 9 inches to feet:
5 + (9 ÷ 12) = 5.75 feet
Convert 6 feet 3 inches to feet:
6 + (3 ÷ 12) = 6.25 feet
| Feet | Inches | Decimal Feet |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 5.000 |
| 5 | 1 | 5.083 |
| 5 | 2 | 5.167 |
| 5 | 3 | 5.250 |
| 5 | 4 | 5.333 |
| 5 | 5 | 5.417 |
| 5 | 6 | 5.500 |
| 5 | 7 | 5.583 |
| 5 | 8 | 5.667 |
| 5 | 9 | 5.750 |
| 5 | 10 | 5.833 |
| 5 | 11 | 5.917 |
Use our free Feet+Inches to Decimal Feet Converter. Just input the values in feet and inches separately, and the tool will calculate the result in decimal feet automatically.
This is especially useful for:
Blueprints may list room sizes in feet and inches. Converting to decimal feet allows for precise calculations when scaling or estimating material quantities.
Heights like 5’7” are common in medical records but need to be converted to decimal feet (or meters) in health apps or fitness software.
Software tools like AutoCAD or Microsoft Excel usually require measurements in decimal format. Converting 5’9” into 5.75 makes it compatible and precise.
Wall heights, piping, and flooring often need accurate decimal feet values to calculate materials, costs, and schedules.
If you have a decimal foot value (e.g., 5.75 ft), and want to convert it back to feet and inches:
5 + (6 ÷ 12) = 5.5 feet
6 + (2 ÷ 12) = 6.166 feet
5 + (10 ÷ 12) = 5.833 feet
Yes. Divide the inches by 12 and add the result to the feet.
0.5 × 12 = 6 inches
Converting feet and inches to feet is crucial for engineers, architects, builders, health professionals, and anyone working with precise measurements. Using the formula Feet + (Inches ÷ 12), you can easily perform this conversion manually or with a calculator. Our table, examples, and FAQs make it simple to master this essential skill.
Bookmark this page and use the calculator for quick conversions anytime you need to convert height, room size, or measurement data into decimal feet format.
Feet, symbolized as ft, are one of the most recognized and widely used units of length in the world, especially in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Despite the global adoption of the metric system, feet remain a vital measurement unit in construction, aviation, sports, and everyday life. This guide covers everything you need to know about feet as a unit—definition, conversions, history, applications, formulas, and real-world examples.
A foot (plural: feet) is a unit of length in the Imperial and U.S. customary measurement systems. One foot is equivalent to:
The symbol for foot is ft, and the abbreviation for inch is in. For example, a person may say they are "6 feet tall" or "6 ft."
The foot has ancient origins and was originally based on the average length of a human foot. Different civilizations had their own versions of the "foot" as a unit of measurement—Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all used it with slightly varying lengths.
Standardization came in 1959 when the United States and countries of the Commonwealth agreed on the international foot:
1 international foot = 0.3048 meters
Understanding how the foot relates to other units of length is essential, especially in engineering, construction, and international conversions.
Here are some useful formulas for converting feet into other units:
feet × 12 = inchesfeet × 30.48 = cmfeet × 0.3048 = metersfeet ÷ 3 = yardsFeet and meters are often compared, especially in international measurements. While meters are part of the metric system and used globally, feet are part of the Imperial system.
This makes feet shorter than a meter. For example, a 10-meter-long object would be about 32.8 feet.
In the United States and Canada, people commonly report height in feet and inches, such as "5 feet 10 inches" or "5'10".
Feet are frequently used in architectural blueprints, home layouts, and construction work. Room sizes, door heights, and pipe lengths are measured in feet.
In aviation, altitude is measured in feet. For example, a commercial plane might cruise at 35,000 feet above sea level.
Sports fields are often measured in feet—basketball courts, baseball diamonds, and football fields all use feet for measurement.
Square footage, used to measure the area of a home or office, is based on feet (square feet or ft²).
In math problems, feet are often used to calculate length, area, and volume:
Feet are measured using various tools depending on the precision needed:
There are 5,280 feet in one mile.
Yes, 6 feet is considered tall in most countries. It equals 72 inches or approximately 183 centimeters.
A square foot (ft²) is a unit of area equal to a square that is one foot on each side. It is commonly used to measure floor space.
Just multiply the number of feet by 12. For example, 5 feet = 5 × 12 = 60 inches.
Despite the rise of the metric system, feet remain a core measurement unit in digital applications, CAD designs, 3D modeling, and even e-commerce where product dimensions are listed in feet or inches for North American audiences.
| Feet | Inches | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | 12 in | 30.48 cm | 0.3048 m |
| 2 ft | 24 in | 60.96 cm | 0.6096 m |
| 3 ft | 36 in | 91.44 cm | 0.9144 m |
| 5 ft | 60 in | 152.4 cm | 1.524 m |
| 6 ft | 72 in | 182.88 cm | 1.8288 m |
| 10 ft | 120 in | 304.8 cm | 3.048 m |
The foot is a practical and historic unit of length that continues to be used in many parts of the world for daily life, professional fields, and industrial applications. Whether you're measuring height, designing a building, or booking a real estate property, feet offer a clear and consistent way to express length and distance.
Need quick and accurate conversions? Try our online Feet to Centimeters, Feet to Meters, or Feet to Inches calculator tools to simplify your measurements!