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The conversion of 1 foot to centimeters equals 30.48 cm. This means that when you measure one foot, it is exactly 30.48 centimeters long. This conversion factor is used to change measurements from the imperial system to the metric system accurately.
1 foot equals 30.48 centimeters because there are 12 inches in a foot and each inch is 2.54 centimeters. So, multiplying 12 inches by 2.54 gives the total centimeters in a foot, which is 12 × 2.54 = 30.48 cm.
Conversion Result
1 foot is equal to 30.48 centimeters.
This conversion is based on the fact that 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters, and there are 12 inches in a foot, so multiplying these gives the total centimeters in a foot.
Conversion Tool
Result in cm:
Conversion Formula
The formula to convert feet to centimeters is multiplying the length in feet by 30.48. This works because 1 foot equals 12 inches, and each inch equals 2.54 centimeters. So, the calculation is: feet × 12 inches/foot × 2.54 cm/inch, which simplifies to feet × 30.48 cm.
For example, to convert 2 feet to cm: 2 × 30.48 = 60.96 cm. This step-by-step multiplication ensures accurate conversion based on the known equivalences between units.
Conversion Example
- Convert 3 feet to cm:
- Step 1: Start with 3 feet.
- Step 2: Multiply 3 by 30.48 (since 1 foot = 30.48 cm).
- Step 3: 3 × 30.48 = 91.44 cm.
- Result: 3 feet is 91.44 centimeters.
- Convert 0.5 feet to cm:
- Step 1: Start with 0.5 feet.
- Step 2: Multiply 0.5 by 30.48.
- Step 3: 0.5 × 30.48 = 15.24 cm.
- Result: 0.5 feet equals 15.24 centimeters.
- Convert 5.5 feet to cm:
- Step 1: Start with 5.5 feet.
- Step 2: Multiply 5.5 by 30.48.
- Step 3: 5.5 × 30.48 = 167.64 cm.
- Result: 5.5 feet is 167.64 centimeters.
Conversion Chart
| Feet | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|
| -24.0 | -731.52 |
| -22.0 | -669.60 |
| -20.0 | -609.60 |
| -18.0 | -549.60 |
| -16.0 | -489.60 |
| -14.0 | -429.60 |
| -12.0 | -369.60 |
| -10.0 | -309.60 |
| -8.0 | -249.60 |
| -6.0 | -189.60 |
| -4.0 | -129.60 |
| -2.0 | -69.60 |
| 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 2.0 | 60.96 |
| 4.0 | 121.92 |
| 6.0 | 182.88 |
| 8.0 | 243.84 |
| 10.0 | 304.80 |
| 12.0 | 365.76 |
| 14.0 | 426.72 |
| 16.0 | 487.68 |
| 18.0 | 548.64 |
| 20.0 | 609.60 |
| 22.0 | 670.56 |
| 24.0 | 731.52 |
| 26.0 | 792.48 |
Use this chart to quickly find the equivalent centimeters for various feet measurements. Values are precise, and the chart covers from -24 to 26 feet for quick reference.
Related Conversion Questions
- How many centimeters are in 1.5 feet?
- What is the length in cm of 1 foot and 6 inches combined?
- How do I convert 1 foot to centimeters without a calculator?
- What is the equivalent in centimeters of 0.75 feet?
- Can I use a quick method to convert 1 foot to cm for measurements in construction?
- How many centimeters are in 1 feet 3 inches?
- What is the conversion factor for feet to centimeters for 1 foot?
Conversion Definitions
Feet
The foot (plural: feet) is a unit of length in the imperial system, mainly used in the US, UK, and other countries. It is equal to 12 inches, and measures height, distance, or length in various contexts like construction and design.
Centimeter
The centimeter (cm) is a metric unit of length equal to one-hundredth of a meter. It is a common measurement for small distances, objects, and dimensions, widely used worldwide for everyday measurements, especially in science and engineering.
Conversion FAQs
Why is the foot defined as 12 inches?
The foot’s division into 12 inches originates from ancient measurement systems, where 12 was a convenient number for divisions. This subdivision made it easier to divide lengths into fractions, facilitating practical measurement and trade.
How precise is the 30.48 cm per foot conversion?
This conversion is exact because it is based on the defined length of an inch in the metric system. Since 1 inch equals 2.54 cm exactly, multiplying by 12 yields the precise foot-to-centimeter conversion of 30.48 cm.
Can I convert feet to cm using a calculator?
Yes, you multiply the number of feet by 30.48 to get centimeters directly. For example, for 4.5 feet: 4.5 × 30.48 = 137.16 cm. This is a straightforward calculation, ideal for quick conversions without manual math.
