Decimal Feet Converter

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Convert between feet-and-inches (with fractions) and decimal feet instantly.

Decimal places?Number of decimal places in the result. Use 4 for surveying, 2 for general construction.
Fraction precision?Smallest fraction to round to: 1/16 for construction, 1/32 for woodworking, 1/64 for precision work.
Examples:
Examples:
ft
in
ft

Shortcuts: S to swap · C to copy · Esc to clear

Enter a measurement above to see the conversion — for example, 6 ft 8 in equals 6.6667 ft.
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Decimal feet are widely used in land surveying, civil engineering, and construction estimating. A length is recorded as a whole number of feet plus a decimal fraction — for example, 12.75 ft — instead of feet, inches, and fractional inches. This converter bridges both systems in either direction, so field measurements move cleanly into spreadsheet or CAD software, and plan dimensions translate back into tape-measure readings without manual arithmetic. Enter a value and the result updates as you type, alongside total inches and metric equivalents. Use the swap button to reverse a conversion in one click, and open the reference table for a printable inch-to-decimal-foot lookup.

About This Tool

This tool converts between feet-and-inches (with fractional inch support) and decimal feet. It handles both directions: enter feet and inches to get decimal feet, or enter decimal feet to get feet and inches with fractions. Built for construction professionals, surveyors, and engineers who regularly work with both measurement formats.

How to Use

  1. Choose conversion direction: Ft+In → Decimal or Decimal → Ft+In
  2. Enter your measurement and select fraction/precision settings
  3. View results in decimal feet, feet-inches, and metric units

How to Use

  1. Choose conversion direction: Ft+In → Decimal or Decimal → Ft+In
  2. Enter your measurement and select fraction/precision settings
  3. View results in decimal feet, feet-inches, and metric units

Methodology

The conversion uses a simple division: decimal feet = whole feet + (inches ÷ 12). This is based on the international standard that defines 1 foot as exactly 12 inches and 1 foot as exactly 0.3048 meters. For the reverse conversion, the whole number part gives the feet, and the decimal remainder multiplied by 12 gives the inches. Fractional inches are calculated by rounding to the nearest fraction at your chosen precision (1/16, 1/32, or 1/64) and then reducing to the simplest form using the greatest common divisor.

Sources: NIST SP 811 Appendix B.8 · NIST Unit Conversion

Understanding Your Results

The primary result shows your measurement in the target format. In feet-to-decimal mode, the result is the decimal feet value (e.g., 5.2708 ft). In decimal-to-feet mode, the result shows feet and inches with the fractional part at your chosen precision. Additional outputs include total inches, meters, centimeters, and millimeters so you can use whichever unit your project requires. Metric values use the exact international conversion factor (1 ft = 0.3048 m).

Sources

Practical Examples

Example 1: A door frame measures 6 ft 8 1/2 in. Enter feet: 6, inches: 8, fraction: 1/2. Result: 6.7083 decimal feet (at 4 decimal places), which equals 80.50 total inches or 2.0447 meters. Example 2: A survey plat shows a lot dimension of 125.73 decimal feet. Switch to Decimal → Ft+In mode. Enter 125.73. Result: 125 ft 8 3/4 in (at 1/16 precision), which equals 1508.76 total inches or 38.3225 meters.

Measurement Tips

• Use 4 decimal places for surveying work and 2 for general construction estimates. • When reading a tape measure, count the smallest marks to determine the fraction — most standard tapes show 1/16" marks. Use the fraction dropdown to match your tape's precision. • If your inches exceed 11, the tool automatically rolls over to the next foot. No need to pre-convert. • Use the reference table to double-check field measurements before entering data into CAD or estimating software. • Remember that decimal feet and decimal inches are different. This tool converts to decimal feet (e.g., 6 inches = 0.5 feet), not decimal inches.

All calculations are performed locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert feet and inches to decimal feet?
Divide the inches by 12 and add the result to the whole feet. For example, 5 feet 3 inches = 5 + (3 ÷ 12) = 5.25 decimal feet. For fractional inches like 5 ft 3 1/4 in, first convert the fraction to a decimal (3.25 inches), then divide by 12: 5 + (3.25 ÷ 12) = 5.2708 decimal feet.
How do I convert decimal feet back to feet and inches?
Take the whole number as feet. Multiply the decimal part by 12 to get inches. For example, 5.2708 ft: the whole part is 5 feet, and 0.2708 × 12 = 3.25 inches, which is 3 1/4 inches. So 5.2708 ft = 5 ft 3 1/4 in. This tool does this conversion automatically and shows the result in your chosen fraction precision (1/16, 1/32, or 1/64).
What fraction precision options are available?
The converter supports three fraction precision levels: 1/16 inch (standard for most construction work), 1/32 inch (used in fine woodworking and machining), and 1/64 inch (used in precision metalwork and surveying). The fraction output is automatically reduced to its simplest form — for example, 8/16 is shown as 1/2.
How accurate is the conversion?
The conversion is mathematically exact. It uses the international standard where 1 foot equals exactly 12 inches, and 1 foot equals exactly 0.3048 meters — a definition established by international agreement in 1959 and maintained by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). You can choose between 2 and 6 decimal places for the output.
What input formats does the inches field accept?
You can enter inches as a whole number (3), a decimal (3.25), or use the fraction dropdown to add a fractional part (1/16 through 15/16). The inches field accepts values from 0 to any number — if you enter 13 or more inches, the converter automatically adds the extra feet. For example, 2 ft 15 in becomes 3 ft 3 in.
Who uses decimal feet?
Decimal feet are widely used in surveying, civil engineering, and construction estimating. Surveyors use decimal feet because GPS and total station equipment outputs in decimal format. Civil engineers and estimators prefer decimal feet for calculations because decimals are easier to add, subtract, and multiply than fractions. Construction plans often show dimensions in feet-and-inches for field workers, while the same measurements appear in decimal feet on survey plats.
What is the reference table for?
The quick reference table shows the decimal feet equivalent for every inch from 0 to 11, at each standard fraction (1/16 through 15/16). It is the same type of chart commonly printed on rulers, tape measures, and posted in construction offices. You can use it to quickly look up a conversion without entering values, or to verify your calculator results. The table updates when you change the decimal precision setting.
Is my data private?
Yes. All conversions run entirely in your browser. No measurement data is sent to any server. Your precision preferences are saved locally on your device so they persist between visits, but this data never leaves your browser.