Convert feet to mm
Please provide values below to convert feet [ft] to millimeter [mm], or vice versa.
Foot
Definition: A foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since 1959, the foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 meters. There are 12 inches in one foot and 3 feet in one yard.
History/origin: The foot as a unit of measurement has origins dating back to ancient civilizations. The term is derived from the human foot, and its actual length has varied throughout history and across different cultures. Ancient Greece and Rome used the foot as a basic unit, though the exact length varied. The Roman foot was roughly 11.65 modern inches.
In the Middle Ages, the foot was increasingly standardized by rulers who specified its length. By 1959, the international yard and pound agreement defined the foot as exactly 0.3048 meters, which is the current standard used worldwide for the imperial foot.
Current use: The foot is primarily used in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom and Canada for many everyday measurements. It is commonly used for measuring height, shorter distances, and in construction and real estate for room dimensions and property sizes.
Millimeter
Definition: A millimeter (symbol: mm) is a unit of length in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as one thousandth (1/1000) of a meter, the SI base unit of length.
History/origin: The millimeter is derived from the meter, which was first defined during the French Revolution in the late 18th century. The prefix "milli-" comes from the Latin word "mille," meaning "one thousand." The metric system, including the millimeter, was developed to create a decimal-based, universally consistent system of measurement that could be used worldwide.
The meter itself was originally defined as one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator along a meridian passing through Paris. Over time, the definition has been refined for greater precision. The millimeter, as a subdivision of the meter, has followed this evolution.
Current use: The millimeter is widely used throughout the world for many applications requiring precise measurements. It is commonly used in engineering, manufacturing, and scientific research. In everyday life, millimeters are used for measuring small objects, components, rainfall, and in medical applications. The millimeter is particularly useful in fields where high precision is needed, such as machining, optics, and electronics.