Unit Converter
Convert between units of length, weight, temperature, volume, area, speed, time, and digital storage. Supports both metric and imperial systems.
Converted Value
3.28084
1 m = 3.28084 ft
Formula
1 m = 3.28084 ft
How the Unit Converter Works
This converter uses precise conversion factors to transform values between units within the same measurement category. Select a category, enter your value, choose source and target units, and get an instant result.
Common Conversion Factors
Length: 1 in = 2.54 cm · 1 ft = 0.3048 m · 1 mi = 1.609 km
Weight: 1 lb = 0.4536 kg · 1 oz = 28.35 g · 1 stone = 6.35 kg
Volume: 1 gal = 3.785 L · 1 fl oz = 29.57 mL · 1 cup = 236.6 mL
Temperature: °F = °C × 9/5 + 32 · K = °C + 273.15
Example: Length Conversion
- Convert 5 miles to kilometers: 5 × 1.609 = 8.045 km
- Convert 180 cm to feet: 180 ÷ 30.48 = 5.906 ft (5'11")
Supported Categories
| Category | Units |
|---|---|
| Length | mm, cm, m, km, in, ft, yd, mi |
| Weight | mg, g, kg, oz, lb, stone, ton |
| Temperature | °C, °F, K |
| Volume | mL, L, fl oz, cup, pt, qt, gal |
| Area | cm², m², km², in², ft², acre, ha |
| Speed | m/s, km/h, mph, knot |
| Storage | B, KB, MB, GB, TB, PB |
How to Interpret Results
Unit conversion gives you mathematically exact equivalents — but practical precision depends on context. Converting 1 mile to 1.60934 km is exact, but for running you'd say "about 1.6 km." Similarly, body weight in kg converted to pounds doesn't need more than one decimal place for everyday use. Match your precision to your purpose.
Practical Use Cases
- Converting recipe measurements between metric and imperial (grams to cups, Celsius to Fahrenheit for oven temperatures)
- Translating international clothing and shoe sizes
- Converting speed limits when driving abroad (km/h vs mph)
- Data storage calculations for tech work (GB to TB, bits to bytes)
- International shipping weight and dimension conversions
- Scientific unit conversions for lab work and research papers
Worked Example: Cooking Temperature Conversion
Recipe says bake at 180°C but your oven shows Fahrenheit:
- Formula: °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32
- = (180 × 1.8) + 32 = 324 + 32 = 356°F (round to 350°F on your dial)
- Reverse: 400°F = (400-32) × 5/9 = 204°C (round to 200°C)
Common Mistakes
- Confusing fluid ounces (volume) with ounces (weight) — they're different measurements
- Mixing up nautical miles (1.852 km) with statute miles (1.609 km) for aviation/maritime
- Forgetting that US and UK gallons are different sizes (US = 3.785L, UK = 4.546L)
- Using weight when mass is meant (your "weight" is technically mass; weight varies by gravity)
- Not accounting for temperature differences between Celsius and Fahrenheit being non-linear at the degree level
- Confusing bits and bytes in data (1 byte = 8 bits; ISP speeds in Mbps, storage in GB)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert between metric and imperial units?
Use standard conversion factors. Common ones: 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 mile = 1.609 km, 1 pound = 0.4536 kg, 1 gallon = 3.785 liters, 1 foot = 0.3048 meters. This calculator handles all these conversions automatically — just select the category, enter a value, and choose your target unit.
How do temperature conversions work?
Temperature uses formulas, not simple ratios. Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = C × 9/5 + 32. Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = (F - 32) × 5/9. Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273.15. Key reference points: water freezes at 0°C/32°F, boils at 100°C/212°F. Body temperature is 37°C/98.6°F.
What unit categories does this converter support?
This converter supports: Length (mm to miles), Weight/Mass (mg to tons), Temperature (°C, °F, K), Volume (mL to gallons), Area (cm² to acres), Speed (m/s to mph), Time (seconds to years), and Digital Storage (bytes to TB). Each category includes both metric and imperial units.
What is the difference between metric and imperial systems?
The metric system (SI) is based on powers of 10 — making conversions simple (1 km = 1,000 m). The imperial system uses inconsistent relationships (1 mile = 5,280 feet, 1 pound = 16 ounces). Most countries use metric; the US, Liberia, and Myanmar primarily use imperial. Science and medicine use metric globally.
How do I convert digital storage units?
Digital storage follows powers of 1,024 (binary): 1 KB = 1,024 bytes, 1 MB = 1,024 KB, 1 GB = 1,024 MB, 1 TB = 1,024 GB. Note: storage manufacturers often use powers of 1,000 (decimal), which is why a "1 TB" drive shows as ~931 GB in your operating system.
Why do some conversions seem imprecise?
Many conversion factors are irrational or very long decimals (e.g., 1 inch = exactly 25.4 mm, but 1 mile = 1.609344 km). This calculator uses high-precision factors and rounds to a sensible number of decimal places. For scientific work, results are accurate to at least 6 significant figures.
How do I convert speed units?
Common speed conversions: 1 m/s = 3.6 km/h = 2.237 mph. 1 km/h = 0.2778 m/s = 0.6214 mph. 1 mph = 1.609 km/h = 0.4470 m/s. Quick mental math: km/h to mph, divide by 1.6. Mph to km/h, multiply by 1.6.