Feet to Centimeters Converter

How to Convert Feet to Centimeters

To convert feet to centimeters, multiply the number of feet by 30.48.

Worked Examples

• 1 foot = 1 × 30.48 = 30.48 cm
• 5 feet = 5 × 30.48 = 152.4 cm
• 12 feet = 12 × 30.48 = 365.76 cm
• 36 feet = 36 × 30.48 = 1097.28 cm

Why Convert Feet to Centimeters?

• Converting a US-style height (5'10", 6'2") into the centimeters used on international passports, visas, and ID documents
• Translating room or ceiling heights from US floor plans into metric dimensions for a contractor abroad
• Reading US TV or furniture heights and translating to centimeters to check fit in a metric room
• Converting US-spec play equipment, ladders, or shelving sizes to centimeters for international procurement

Feet to Centimeters Conversion Table

What Is a Foot?

A foot is a unit of length equal to exactly 0.3048 meters (12 inches), defined in 1959 by international agreement.

The foot is one of the oldest units still in everyday use, with roots in ancient Greek, Roman, and medieval European measurement systems — each using a foot of slightly different length. The modern international foot was fixed at 0.3048 meters in 1959, while the US Survey foot persisted for geodetic work until being phased out at the end of 2022.

In everyday use: Feet are widely used to express human height, room dimensions, and ceiling heights in the United States and United Kingdom. The unit is standard in aviation for altitude (flight level 350 = 35,000 feet) and remains common in real estate listings, construction drawings, and outdoor distance estimates.

The foot symbol is ft.

What Is a Centimeter?

A centimeter is a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth (1/100) of a meter, widely used for everyday measurements worldwide.

The centimeter was introduced with the metric system after the French Revolution as part of a decimal-based effort to unify trade and science. Although not an SI base unit (the meter is), the centimeter became the practical workhorse for human-scale measurements once the metric system spread across Europe, Asia, and Latin America during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In everyday use: Centimeters are the default unit for measuring body dimensions (height, waist, chest), clothing sizes in most of the world, school stationery, and the height of children at pediatric checkups. Rulers in the metric world are usually graduated in centimeters with millimeter subdivisions.

The centimeter symbol is cm.

Precision and Accuracy

1 foot = 30.48 centimeters exactly. The factor is derived from the 1959 definition of the foot (0.3048 m) and is precise to the digit.

For most everyday purposes — recipes, room sizing, shopping — four decimal places of precision are more than enough. Engineering and scientific work may require additional digits or scientific notation for very small or very large results.

Common Feet to Centimeters Conversions