Convert yards to feet
Please provide values below to convert yards [yd] to feet [ft], or vice versa.
Yard
Definition: A yard (symbol: yd) is a unit of length in the imperial and US customary systems of measurement. Since 1959, the yard has been defined as exactly 0.9144 meters. There are 3 feet in a yard, which equals 36 inches.
History/origin: The origin of the yard as a unit of measurement dates back to early medieval England. The exact origin is uncertain, but several theories exist. One theory suggests that the yard was originally the length of a person's girdle or belt, while another theory states that it was the length from the tip of the nose to the end of the thumb of King Henry I of England.
Over time, various standards for the yard emerged. By the 13th century, the yard was defined by the iron standard yard of King Edward I. The modern standardized yard was established in 1959 when the United States and Commonwealth nations signed the international yard and pound agreement, defining the yard in terms of the meter.
Current use: The yard is commonly used in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada for certain applications. In the US, it is used in football and some other sports, fabric measurements, and occasionally in construction. In the UK, despite the official adoption of the metric system, yards are still used in road signs for shorter distances, in some sports such as cricket, and in measuring fabric.
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.