There are several tools on the internet to do the conversion from meters to feet, but many teachers want their students to know the process. It is also a good idea to understand the process itself, as you are less likely to make mistakes. If you need to convert square meters (m2) or cubic meters (m3), you will need to convert to the corresponding measurement in square feet or cubic feet. Fortunately, these conversions aren't difficult at all once you figure out how to do it.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Converting Meters to Feet
Step 1. Remember that 1 meter equals 3.28 feet
One meter is a measure of length, equivalent to 3.28 feet. You can check this using a tape measure and 1 foot (12 inch) rulers. Spread the tape measure on the floor and place the rulers one behind the other next to it. Three rulers (3 feet) will be almost as long as the tape measure. If you add a fourth ruler, you'll be able to measure the missing distance: 0.28 feet, which equates to a little over 3 inches.
If you need to be super precise, you can use this conversion: 1 meter = 3,28084 feet. Since this measurement is extremely close to 3.28 feet, you will almost always use the shorter number to make the calculation easier
Step 2. Multiply any measurement in meters by 3.28 to convert it to feet
Since 1 meter = 3.28 feet, you can convert any measurement in meters to feet by multiplying it by 3.28. If you are unsure how to do this, review how to multiply decimal numbers. Here are some examples. If you want, you can try these multiplications and see if you get the correct result:
- 1 meter x 3, 28 = 3, 28 feet
- 5 meters x 3, 28 = 16.4 feet
- 2, 7 meters x 3, 28 = 8, 856 ft
Step 3. Convert the answer to include inches (optional)
In most math problems, you will need the answer obtained in the last step. But if you want to know the length of something, an answer like "8,856 feet" may not make much sense to you. Take all the numbers after the comma and multiply them by 12 to turn that measurement into inches (this works because 1 foot = 12 inches). It is a similar conversion to the one used to go from meters to feet. Here are some examples:
- 3.28 feet = 3 feet + 0.88 feet. Since 0.88 feet x 12 = 3.36, then 3.28 feet = 3 feet and 3.66 inches
- 16.4 feet = 16 feet + 0.4 feet. Since 0.4 feet x 12 = 4.8, then 16.4 feet = 16 feet and 4.8 inches
- 8,856 feet = 8 feet + 0,856 feet. Since 0, 856 feet x 12 = 10, 272, then 8, 856 feet = 10 feet 10, 272 inches
Method 2 of 3: Converting Square Meters to Square Feet
Step 1. Understand what square meters are
The square meters, often denoted by the symbol m2, are an area measure. The area is used to measure two-dimensional surfaces, such as the floor of a room or a sports field. A square meter is a portion of the surface corresponding to a square with sides one meter long. You can convert area related measurements ALONE in other area measurements, NEVER in length measurements. With this method, you will convert the square meters (m2) in square feet (ft2).
A square foot is a portion of surface equal to a square with sides one foot long
Step 2. Understand why you need to use square feet
Converting from square meters to square feet works. It's like saying, "I know 4 of these big squares cover this floor. How many small squares will it take?" You can't convert to length units (like feet), as that would be like asking "How much tape measure would I need to cover the floor?" No matter how long it is, it cannot cover the floor.
Step 3. Multiply the square meters by 10.8 to get the square feet
One square meter contains 10.8 square feet. This means that you can multiply any measurement in m2 times 10, 8 to get the equivalent in ft2.
If you need to be super precise, multiply by 10, 764
Method 3 of 3: Convert Cubic Meters to Cubic Feet
Step 1. Understand what cubic meters are
A cubic meter is denoted by m3. It is a unit of volume, which measures three-dimensional space. You can use cubic meters to measure the amount of air in a room or water in an aquarium. A cubic meter corresponds to the volume of a cube with a length, height and width equal to one meter.
Similarly, one cubic foot (ft3) corresponds to a cube with a length, height and width equal to one foot.
Step 2. Multiply cubic meters by 35.3 to get cubic feet
One cubic meter holds 35.3 cubic feet. You noticed that the conversion number is greater than that used previously for m2 or for the meters? This is because you are multiplying the difference three times when using three-dimensional measurements. The cubic meter is 3.28 times longer than the cubic foot, but it is also 3.28 times wider and 3.28 times higher. 3, 28 x 3, 28 x 3, 28 = 35, 3. So the cubic meter is 35.3 times the volume of the cubic foot.
For greater accuracy, multiply by 35, 315
Advice
- If you want to convert square feet to square inches, multiply by 144. A square foot is 12 times longer and 12 times wider than a square inch, so 12 x 12 = 144 times larger.
- If you want to convert cubic feet to cubic inches, multiply by 1728 (12 x 12 x 12).
