Convert Foot (ft) (ft) to Centimeter (cm) (cm)
Category: Length
1 ft = 30.48 cm
High-precision rounding: 6 decimals
How to convert foot (ft) to centimeter (cm)
We convert by pivoting through the SI base unit for Length and applying exact factors where applicable.
Share this conversion: /convert/foot-to-centimeter/1
Quick conversion table
Handy values for Foot (ft) → Centimeter (cm). Click a value to open that exact result.
Conversion formula
Linear unit conversions use standardized factors; many are exact by definition (e.g., 1 in = 25.4 mm, 1 ft = 0.3048 m).
Common mistakes
- Confusing international foot (0.3048 m) with legacy ‘US survey foot’ in old datasets.
- Rounding mid-calculation; keep precision to the end.
Unit facts
- Foot (ft): The foot is exactly 0.3048 meters (1959). Common in construction, aviation (runway lengths), and everyday use in US/UK.
- Centimeter (cm): A centimeter is 1/100 of a meter; used in drawings, clothing sizes, and everyday measurements.
About Length
Length measures distance or size. In SI it derives from the meter, defined via the speed of light, which ensures exact, reproducible conversions. Typical applications include construction, mapping, manufacturing tolerances, and navigation; legacy units like inches and feet remain common in trade and building plans.
About Foot (ft)
Foot (ft)
Equals 12 inches; exactly 0.3048 m. Common for human height, room dimensions, and altitude in aviation (with feet for flight levels).
History: Standardized as the ‘international foot’ in 1959; the legacy US survey foot persisted for geodesy until its retirement in 2023 in favor of the international definition.
About Centimeter (cm)
Centimeter (cm)
Equals 1/100 of a meter. Ubiquitous in everyday measuring, crafts, medical records (height), and technical drawings. Offers a good balance between precision and readability.
History: Part of the decimal ladder of the metric system introduced after the French Revolution. Its popularity grew with mass education and standardized rulers.