Convert Feet to Inches

Unit	Value
Inches [in]

Understanding Feet and Inches

When measuring length or distance, two very common units in the imperial and U.S. customary systems are the foot (ft) and the inch (in). These units are closely related and are fundamental to everyday measurements in certain parts of the world.

What is a Foot (ft)?

The foot is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. Its name suggests its origin from the length of a human foot, though its exact measure has varied historically.

Origin: The foot has ancient roots and has been used across many cultures.
Definition: Since 1959, the international foot has been precisely defined as 0.3048 meters. Importantly for this conversion, one foot is exactly equal to 12 inches.
Common Uses: Feet are predominantly used in the United States for measurements like human height, room dimensions, building heights, and altitudes in aviation.

What is an Inch (in)?

The inch is also a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems. Historically, the inch has had various definitions, but it is now internationally standardized in terms of the metric system.

Origin: The term "inch" comes from the Latin "uncia" meaning one-twelfth, referring to a twelfth part of a Roman foot.
Definition: Since 1959, the international inch has been precisely defined as 2.54 centimeters (or 0.0254 meters).
Common Uses: Inches are widely used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for measuring smaller lengths, such as screen sizes, tire diameters, and fabric dimensions.

Why Convert Between Feet and Inches?

Converting between feet and inches is a very common task in everyday life, particularly in countries that use the imperial system. It's often necessary when measuring dimensions of objects, furniture, or rooms, and then expressing them in a more convenient or standardized unit. For example, a measurement taken in feet might need to be converted to inches for precise crafting or vice versa for larger architectural plans.

Feet to Inches Conversion Table

Feet [ft]	Inches [in] (approx.)
1 ft	12 in
2 ft	24 in
3 ft	36 in
5 ft	60 in
10 ft	120 in
20 ft	240 in
50 ft	600 in
100 ft	1200 in

How to Convert Feet to Inches

Converting a measurement from feet (ft) to inches (in) is simple because 1 foot is precisely defined as 12 inches.

To convert any value in feet to inches, you simply multiply your feet value by 12.

Here's the simple formula:
Inches = Feet × 12

Let's look at an example:
Suppose you have a measurement of 5 feet and you want to know what that is in inches.
Using the formula:
5 ft × 12 = 60 in
So, 5 feet is exactly equal to 60 inches.

If you need to convert from inches back to feet, remember that 1 inch is approximately 1/12 feet. So, you would divide your inch value by 12.