Convert inches to feet
Please provide values below to convert inch [in] to foot [ft], or vice versa.
Inch
Definition: An inch (symbol: in) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. An inch is defined to be equivalent to exactly 25.4 millimeters. There are 12 inches in a foot and 36 inches in a yard.
History/origin: The term "inch" was derived from the Latin unit "uncia" which equated to "one-twelfth" of a Roman foot. This relationship of 1/12 of a foot has been maintained through history and is still used today.
There have been various standards for the inch throughout history. One early definition was based on barleycorns, where an inch equaled the length of three grains of dry, round barley placed end-to-end. Another traditional definition related the inch to the width of a human thumb. The modern standardized inch was officially defined in 1959 as exactly 25.4 millimeters.
Current use: The inch remains a primary unit of length measurement in the United States and is commonly used in the United Kingdom and Canada alongside metric units. It's frequently used for measuring display screens, pipes, lumber dimensions, and many consumer products. In technical documentation and engineering contexts in the US, measurements are often specified in decimal inches rather than using fractions.
Foot
Definition: A foot (symbol: ft) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. One foot contains 12 inches, and three feet make up one yard. By modern definition, one foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters.
History/origin: The foot as a unit of measurement dates back to ancient civilizations. As its name suggests, it was originally based on the length of a human foot. The standard varied across different regions and time periods, with the ancient Roman foot (pes) being around 11.6 modern inches.
The foot unit was standardized over time, with various kings and rulers setting their own standards. The current international definition of the foot was established in 1959 when it was precisely defined in terms of the meter as exactly 0.3048 meters, a standard now used worldwide for the international foot.
Current use: The foot is primarily used in the United States for many everyday measurements, including height of people, dimensions of buildings and rooms, and land measurements. It's also still commonly used in the United Kingdom for certain applications such as altitude/elevation, and in aviation worldwide for measuring altitude. In construction, architecture, and real estate, the foot remains a standard unit for dimensions and area measurements in several countries.