How many inches are in a foot?
There are 12 inches in a foot. In metric units, one foot equals exactly 30.48 centimeters, and one inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters.
The foot and inch come from old measurements based on the human body. The foot was originally about the length of a person's foot, while the inch was linked to the width of a thumb. In many old systems, a foot was divided into 12 parts, a number easily divided by 2, 3, 4 and 6, which made everyday calculations easier.
These units were not always the same from place to place. In 1959, the United States, the United Kingdom and other countries agreed on the international yard and pound, which fixed the inch at exactly 2.54 centimeters and the foot at 30.48 centimeters.
Where feet and inches are used
The United States uses feet and inches for most everyday measurements, such as people's height and room sizes. In the United Kingdom, people often state their height in feet and inches even though the metric system is official. Aviation worldwide measures altitude in feet.
Did You Know?
There are 3 feet, or 36 inches, in a yard. American football fields are measured in yards, with 100 yards between the goal lines.