How to Convert Feet to Inches

The foot is a type of imperial unit with a length equal to exactly 12 inches.

Convert Feet to Inches

Use this conversion calculator to convert feet to inches.

Length
=
Formulamultiply the length value by 12

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Converting a Foot Measurement

  1. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 1
    1
    Write the number of feet. Converting feet to inches is quite simple. First, write out the number of feet you're dealing with. Label this number "feet" or "ft."[1]
    • It's helpful to follow along with a real-world example to see how feet are converted to inches. Let's say that you want to know how long the wall of your room is in inches. If the wall is eight feet long, start by writing this measurement down, like this:
    • 8 feet
  2. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 2
    2
    Multiply the number of feet by 12. Next, multiply your number of feet by 12. Since there are 12 inches in every foot, this will give you your original foot measurement in inches.[2]
    • In the example problem, you would continue by writing a "× 12" after the foot measurement, then multiplying to find the answer, like this:
    • 8 feet × 12 = 96
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  3. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 3
    3
    Label your answer in inches. Don't forget to give your answer the label "inches" or "in." to specify that it is in inches. If you don't, your answer may be confusing to someone who reads it (and, if you're doing this for schoolwork, you may lose points.)[3]
    • In the example problem, label your answer like this:
    • 8 feet × 12 = 96 inches
  4. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 4
    4
    To get inches back to feet, divide by twelve. If you ever want to get your inch measurement back into feet, just do the reverse of the multiplication you did to get it in inches: in other words, divide it by 12. Don't forget to re-label your answer in feet.[4]
    • To convert your answer in the example problem back into feet, divide it by 12 like this:
    • 96 inches ÷ 12 = 8 feet
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Converting a Foot-and-Inches Measurement

  1. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 5
    1
    Write the number of feet. Measurements aren't always given in just feet. Sometimes, especially for certain types of measurements like heights, measurements are given in feet and inches (like, for example, "100 feet, six inches.) In this case, start by writing just the number of feet — leave the inches out for now.
    • As another example problem, let's say that you are five feet, three inches tall and that you want to figure out exactly how tall you are in just inches. Start by writing just the number of feet, like this:
    • 5 feet
  2. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 6
    2
    Multiply the number of feet by 12. This part is exactly the same as when dealing with just feet. Simply multiply by 12 and label your answer in inches.[5]
    • In the example problem, multiply like this:
    • 5 feet × 12 = 60 inches
  3. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 7
    3
    Add the remaining inches. Now, add the leftover inches from the beginning to the answer you just got. This gives you your final answer in inches. Don't forget the label.[6]
    • In the example problem, finish finding your height in inches like this:
    • 5 feet × 12 = 60 inches + 3 inches = 63 inches
  4. Image titled Convert Feet to Inches Step 8
    4
    Divide by 12 and use the remainder to get back to feet and inches. If you want to get back to the same type of feet-and-inches measurement as we had before, there is a little more work to do this time. To do this, divide by 12, then find the remainder. The answer for dividing by 12 is the number of feet and the remainder is the number of inches (for example, 4 R5 would be four feet, five inches.)[7]
    • A remainder is just the number "left over" when two numbers don't divide evenly. For example, four goes into 12 exactly three times, but five doesn't fit into twelve perfectly — it goes in twice to make 10, then it only fits in partly the third time. 5 × 2 = 10, which is two less than twelve, so we say that we have a remainder of two (or R2). In other words, five goes into twelve twice, then we need to add an "extra" two to get to twelve.
    • In the example problem, get back into feet and inches like this:
    • 63 inches / 12 = 5 R3 → 5 feet 3 inches
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How do I subtract feet and inches?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The easiest way is to convert expressions of feet and inches to expressions of inches, then subtract. The answer may be left in inches or re-converted to feet and inches if desired.
  • Question
    How do I convert feet to yards?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Divide feet by 3.
  • Question
    How do I convert from cm to inches?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    1 cm = 0.39 inch, so multiply centimeters by 0.39 to find equivalent inches.
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References

  1. ↑ http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000058.htm
  2. ↑ https://www.aaamath.com/mul_ftin.htm
  3. ↑ http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000058.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.aaamath.com/div_ftin.htm
  5. ↑ http://www.aaamath.com/div_ftin.htm
  6. ↑ https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=19173&section=5.1
  7. ↑ https://www.open.edu/openlearn/ocw/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=19173&section=5.1

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 187,054 times.
21 votes - 67%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: November 15, 2022
Views: 187,054
Categories: Conversion Aids
Article SummaryX

To convert feet to inches, multiply the number of feet by 12, since there are 12 inches in a foot. If you have a measurement in feet and inches, add the number of inches to the answer after multiplying the number of feet by 12. For example, if you need to convert 5 feet 3 inches into inches, multiply 5 by 12 to get 60. Then, add the 3 extra inches to get the final answer of 63 inches.

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