Feet To Inches Conversion

1 ft = 12 in

Want to convert from inches to feet instead?

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The Ratio Between Feet and Inches

Visualising the relationship between feet and inches makes it easier to convert between the two. Feet are used to establish the baseline ruler and the inches ruler is sized in relation to that baseline.

conversion scale showing the ratio between feet and the equivalent number of inches

How to convert feet to inches (ft to in)

The formula for converting feet to inches is: in = ft × 12. To calculate the foot value in inches first substitute the foot value into the preceding formula, and then perform the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 foot in inches we follow these steps:

in = ft × 12

in = 1 × 12

in = 12

In other words, 1 foot is equal to 12 inches.

Example Conversion

Let's take a look at an example. The step-by-step process to convert 4 feet to inches is:

Understand the conversion formula: in = ft × 12
Substitute the required value. In this case we substitute 4 for ft so the formula becomes: in = 4 × 12
Calculate the result using the provided values. In our example the result is: 4 × 12 = 48 in

In summary, 4 feet is equal to 48 inches.

Converting inches to feet

In order to convert the other way around i.e. inches to feet, you would use the following formula: ft = in ÷ 12. To convert inches to feet first substitute the inch value into the above formula, and then execute the calculation. If we wanted to calculate 1 inch in feet we follow these steps:

ft = in ÷ 12

ft = 1 ÷ 12

ft = 0.0833333333333333333333333333333

Or in other words, 1 inch is equal to 0.0833333333333333333333333333333 feet.

Conversion Unit Definitions

What is a Foot?

The foot (pl. feet), standard symbol: ft, is a unit of length in the British imperial and United States customary systems of measurement. The prime symbol, ′, is a customarily used alternative symbol. Since the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959, one foot is defined as 0.3048 meters exactly. In both customary and imperial units, one foot comprises 12 inches and one yard comprises three feet.

Historically the "foot" was a part of many local systems of units, including the Greek, Roman, Chinese, French, and English systems. It varied in length from country to country, from city to city, and sometimes from trade to trade. Its length was usually between 250 mm and 335 mm and was generally, but not always, subdivided into 12 inches or 16 digits.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that uses the international foot in preference to the meter in its commercial, engineering, and standards activities. The foot is legally recognized in the United Kingdom; road signs must use imperial units (however, distances on road signs are always marked in miles or yards, not feet), while its usage is widespread among the British public as a measurement of height.

Here are some more details about the foot:

Historical Context: The foot has been used as a unit of measurement for thousands of years and has roots in various ancient civilizations. It was originally based on the length of a human foot, but over time, standardized units were developed to ensure consistency.
Imperial and US Customary Systems: The foot is a fundamental unit in both the Imperial system and the United States Customary system. These systems of measurement are closely related and share many common units. The foot is divided into 12 inches and is further subdivided into smaller units such as the inch, half-inch, quarter-inch, etc.
Length Conversion: As mentioned earlier, one foot is equal to 12 inches or approximately 30.48 centimeters. Conversely, one inch is equal to 1/12th of a foot.
Symbol: The symbol for foot is a single prime ('). For example, a measurement of 5 feet would be written as 5'.
Usage: The foot is commonly used in various applications, including construction, architecture, interior design, surveying, and sports. It is often used to measure heights, distances, room dimensions, and other similar quantities.
Subdivisions: The foot can be divided into smaller units to measure finer lengths. Apart from the inch, mentioned earlier, there are also other subdivisions used in specific contexts. For example, in surveying, a foot can be divided into tenths or hundredths for precise measurements.
International Usage: While the metric system (based on the meter) is the predominant system of measurement used worldwide, the foot is still used in certain countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, especially in everyday contexts. However, it's worth noting that in scientific, technical, and international contexts, the meter is typically used for consistency and compatibility.

What is a Inch?

The inch (symbol: in or ″) is a unit of length in the British imperial and the United States customary systems of measurement. It is equal to 1/36 yard or 1/12 of a foot. Derived from the Roman uncia ("twelfth"), the word inch is also sometimes used to translate similar units in other measurement systems, usually understood as deriving from the width of the human thumb.

Standards for the exact length of an inch have varied in the past, but since the adoption of the international yard during the 1950s and 1960s the inch has been based on the metric system and defined as exactly 25.4 mm.

The inch is a commonly used customary unit of length in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. It is also used in Japan for electronic parts, especially display screens. In most of continental Europe, the inch is also used informally as a measure for display screens. For the United Kingdom, guidance on public sector use states that, since 1 October 1995, without time limit, the inch (along with the foot) is to be used as a primary unit for road signs and related measurements of distance (with the possible exception of clearance heights and widths) and may continue to be used as a secondary or supplementary indication following a metric measurement for other purposes.

Here are some additional details about the inch:

Origin: The inch has its roots in the ancient Roman measurement system. The word "inch" is derived from the Latin word "uncia," which means one-twelfth part.
Imperial and US Customary Systems: The inch is a fundamental unit in both the Imperial system and the United States Customary system. These systems of measurement are primarily used in the United States and other countries that have historical ties to the British Empire.
Length Conversion: As mentioned earlier, one inch is equal to exactly 1/12th of a foot. In the metric system, it is approximately equal to 2.54 centimeters. Conversely, one foot is equal to 12 inches.
Subdivisions: The inch can be further divided into smaller units to measure even finer lengths. Common subdivisions include:
- Half-inch (1/2 inch): Equal to 0.5 inches or approximately 1.27 centimeters.
- Quarter-inch (1/4 inch): Equal to 0.25 inches or approximately 0.635 centimeters.
- Eighth-inch (1/8 inch): Equal to 0.125 inches or approximately 0.318 centimeters.
- Sixteenth-inch (1/16 inch): Equal to 0.0625 inches or approximately 0.159 centimeters.
- Thirty-second inch (1/32 inch): Equal to 0.03125 inches or approximately 0.079 centimeters.
Common Uses: The inch is commonly used to measure various objects, particularly in fields like construction, engineering, manufacturing, and carpentry. It is often used to measure dimensions of building materials, tools, furniture, and other everyday items.
Symbol: The symbol for inch is a double prime ("). For example, a measurement of 5 inches would be written as 5".
International Usage: While the metric system (based on the meter) is widely adopted worldwide, the inch is still used in certain countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, it is worth noting that many industries and scientific disciplines have transitioned to using metric measurements for international consistency.