Inches to Feet conversion

Why inches and feet go together

Inches and feet are the two everyday units of the imperial system, and they are locked to each other by a fixed ratio: 12 inches make one foot. Height, room dimensions, lumber, TV screens and pipe lengths are all quoted in one or the other, and very often in both at once ("5 feet 11 inches"). Being able to move between them quickly is a small skill that saves a lot of confusion.

How to convert inches to feet

Divide the number of inches by 12. The whole part of the result is the number of feet; the remainder is what is left over in inches. For example, 74 inches ÷ 12 = 6.17 feet, which is the same as 6 feet 2 inches (6 × 12 = 72, and 74 − 72 = 2).

If you only need a decimal number of feet — for a calculation, a spreadsheet or a material estimate — the division is all you need. If you need the familiar "feet and inches" form, keep the remainder as inches instead of turning it into a fraction of a foot.

Quick reference

• 12 inches = 1 foot
• 24 inches = 2 feet
• 36 inches = 3 feet (one yard)
• 48 inches = 4 feet
• 60 inches = 5 feet
• 72 inches = 6 feet
• 100 inches = 8.33 feet (8 ft 4 in)

Where the conversion shows up

Height. Medical charts and many sports rosters list height in inches, while people describe it in feet and inches. A 70-inch person is 5 ft 10 in.

Furniture and appliances. Product pages often give width, depth and height in inches; the room you are trying to fit them into is usually measured in feet. Convert both to the same unit before comparing.

Fabric, rope and timber. Materials are sold by the foot or by the yard, but cut lists are written in inches. Dividing by 12 tells you how much to buy.

A common mistake

Do not treat the decimal part of a foot as inches. 5.5 feet is 5 feet 6 inches, not 5 feet 5 inches, because 0.5 of a foot is half of 12 inches. When in doubt, convert everything to inches first, do the arithmetic, and convert back at the end.