We measure length all the time, whether we’re working on a construction project, doing a little DIY around the house, or just trying to figure out if that new couch will fit in the living room. Inches and feet are two of the most common units we use.
So, how do you turn inches into feet? This article will give you a simple guide to converting inches to feet. We’ll cover what inches and feet are, give you the formula for converting between them, show you some examples, and even provide a handy conversion table. Let’s figure out how many feet are in 111 inches!
Let’s define inches and feet
Before we dive into the conversion, let’s clarify what we mean by “inch” and “foot.”
What exactly is an inch?
An inch is a unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems of measurement. For the sake of precision, it’s defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters.
Historically, the inch has been measured in a few different ways, sometimes based on the length of barleycorns or even parts of the human body.
The inch is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. You’ll sometimes see it in Japan when people are talking about electronic parts.
And what’s a foot?
A foot is another unit of length in the imperial and U.S. customary systems, and it’s defined as exactly 0.3048 meters.
Like the inch, the foot has some interesting history. The length of a foot has varied over time and from place to place.
How to convert inches to feet
The basic relationship between these two units is that 1 foot equals 12 inches. So, to convert inches into feet, you’ll use the following formula:
Feet = Inches ÷ 12
In other words, you’ll divide the number of inches by 12. The answer you get is the equivalent length in feet.
For example, let’s say you want to convert 24 inches to feet. You would divide 24 by 12:
24 inches / 12 inches/foot = 2 feet
Step-by-step guide: Converting inches to feet
Converting from inches to feet is a simple calculation, but it’s helpful to know the steps.
Converting whole inches to feet
To convert inches to feet, you divide the number of inches by 12, since there are 12 inches in a foot. The formula looks like this:
[number of inches] ÷ 12 inches/foot = [number of feet]
For example, to convert 72 inches to feet, you’d divide 72 inches by 12 inches/foot. The answer is 6 feet, since 72 ÷ 12 = 6.
Converting inches to a mixed measurement (feet and inches)
Sometimes, you’ll want to convert inches to a mixed measurement, which includes both feet and inches. In this case, you’ll use long division to divide the number of inches by 12. The quotient is the number of feet, and the remainder is the number of inches.
Let’s convert 32 inches to feet and inches. When you divide 32 inches by 12 inches/foot, you get 2 with a remainder of 8. That means that 32 inches equals 2 feet and 8 inches, or 2′ 8″.
Converting Feet and Inches to Decimal Feet
Sometimes, you need to express measurements in decimal feet, especially when doing calculations or using certain software. Here’s how to convert feet and inches into decimal feet:
- Multiply the number of feet by 12 (since there are 12 inches in a foot).
- Add the result to the number of inches. This gives you the total number of inches.
- Divide the total number of inches by 12.
Let’s look at an example: Convert 2 feet 8 inches to decimal feet.
- (2 feet 12 inches/foot) = 24 inches
- 24 inches + 8 inches = 32 inches
- 32 inches / 12 inches/foot = 2.67 feet (approximately)
So, 2′ 8″ is equal to about 2.67 decimal feet.
Inch to Foot Conversion Table
Need a quick conversion? Refer to this handy table:
| Inches | Feet |
|---|---|
| 1 inch | 0.0833 feet |
| 6 inches | 0.5 feet |
| 12 inches | 1 foot |
| 24 inches | 2 feet |
| 36 inches | 3 feet |
In Closing
In this article, we defined inches and feet and showed you the formula to convert inches to feet. We also gave you a handy conversion chart and examples of how to convert 111 inches to feet.
Knowing how to convert inches to feet is helpful in many practical situations, especially if you work in construction, interior design, or another trade that uses both units of measurement.