Length · Unit Converter

Convert Foot to Astronomical Unit

Convert feet to astronomical units instantly. 1 foot = 2.037462e-12 astronomical unit — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Astronomical Unit to Foot converter for the reverse conversion.

Written by Sunith Babu L, Ph.D., Lead Engineer Reviewed by Girish V Kulkarni Ph.D.
Length category 2 min read Published Last reviewed Updated

Units explained

Imperial / US Customary

Foot

What is a foot?

A foot is an Imperial and US customary unit of length equal to 12 inches or exactly 0.3048 meters. It is the most commonly used unit of length in everyday measurement in the United States.

Origin of the foot

The foot's origin is literally the length of a human foot, used as a measurement standard since antiquity. The English foot was standardized at various points in history; the modern international foot (0.3048 m exactly) was fixed by the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.

Where it is used

Feet are used in the US for body height, building dimensions, room sizes, road sign clearances, aviation altitude (feet above sea level), and most everyday distance estimation. The UK uses feet informally for height despite officially being metric.

When and where it was developed

Used since antiquity; standardized to 0.3048 m exactly by the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959. Aviation worldwide uses feet for altitude despite metric adoption elsewhere.

Astronomical

Astronomical Unit

What is a astronomical unit?

The astronomical unit (AU) is a unit of length equal to exactly 149,597,870,700 meters, approximately the average distance from Earth to the Sun. It is the fundamental unit for distance within the solar system.

Origin of the astronomical unit

The AU was originally defined as the semi-major axis of Earth's orbit. In 2012, IAU Resolution B2 redefined the AU as exactly 149,597,870,700 meters, severing its dependence on the actual fluctuating Earth–Sun distance.

Where it is used

AUs are used to express distances within the solar system (Mars: 1.5 AU, Pluto: ~40 AU at perihelion), exoplanet orbital radii, and other planetary-scale distances. Standard in planetary science and astronomy.

When and where it was developed

Original definition tied to Earth's orbit (Newton, 17th century); fixed at exactly 149,597,870,700 m by IAU Resolution B2 in 2012.

Foot to Astronomical Unit conversion formula

The relationship between feet and astronomical units:

1 ft = 2.037462e-12 AU
1 AU = 4.908067e+11 ft

To convert feet to astronomical units, multiply the value in feet by 2.037462e-12. To reverse, multiply astronomical units by 4.908067e+11.

How to use this converter

Type a value into the calculator. The result in astronomical units updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Astronomical Unit to Foot converter for the reverse direction.

Step-by-step: convert feet to astronomical units

  1. Write down the value in feet (ft).
  2. Multiply that value by the factor 2.037462e-12.
  3. The product is the equivalent value in astronomical units (AU).
  4. To reverse, multiply the astronomical unit value by 4.908067e+11.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Convert 1 ft to AU:
1 × 2.037462e-12 = 2.037462e-12 AU

Example 2 — Convert 100 ft to AU:
100 × 2.037462e-12 = 2.037462e-10 AU

Real-world example — Fabric purchase length

Two feet of fabric equals a value in astronomical units essential for tailors and textile buyers sourcing material from international suppliers that quote in different units.

2 ft × 2.037462e-12 = 4.074924e-12 AU

Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion

A 10-foot sounding depth converts cleanly into astronomical units. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.

10 ft × 2.037462e-12 = 2.037462e-11 AU

Real-world example — Reference scenario in case of fallback

Conversion between human-scale length units is the everyday workflow of architecture, athletics, and apparel design — three of the most common contexts that span metric and imperial systems.

1 ft × 2.037462e-12 = 2.037462e-12 AU

Foot to Astronomical Unit conversion table

Standard reference values for converting feet to astronomical units:

Foot [ft]Astronomical Unit [AU]
0.012.037462e-14
0.12.037462e-13
12.037462e-12
24.074924e-12
36.112386e-12
48.149849e-12
51.018731e-11
102.037462e-11
204.074924e-11
306.112386e-11
408.149849e-11
501.018731e-10
1002.037462e-10
5001.018731e-9
10002.037462e-9

Frequently asked questions

How many astronomical units is 1 foot?
1 foot equals 2.037462e-12 astronomical unit.
How do I convert feet to astronomical units?
Multiply the value in feet by 2.037462e-12 to get astronomical units.
How do I convert astronomical units back to feet?
Multiply the value in astronomical units by 4.908067e+11, or use the Astronomical Unit to Foot converter.
How many astronomical units is 100 feet?
100 feet equals 2.037462e-10 astronomical units, because 100 × 2.037462e-12 = 2.037462e-10.

Convert Foot to other length units

Show all Foot conversions
Metric / SI (18 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Astronomical (9 units)
Atomic / Physics (6 units)
Typographic (3 units)

Sources & references

Conversion factor (1 ft = 2.037462e-12 AU) verified against the following authoritative sources:

Results are provided for general reference. Verify critical measurements against an authoritative standard.