Convert Fathom to Foot
Convert fathoms to feet instantly. 1 fathom = 6 foot — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Foot to Fathom converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Fathom
A fathom is an Imperial unit of length equal to 6 feet or exactly 1.8288 meters. It is used almost exclusively for measuring water depth in maritime contexts.
The fathom derives from the Old English word fæthm, meaning "the embracing arms" — the distance between the fingertips of a person's outstretched arms. Standardized at 6 feet in English maritime tradition.
Fathoms are used in nautical depth charts, scuba diving, oceanography, and maritime literature. Despite metrication efforts, fathoms remain common in English-language nautical charts and recreational diving.
Old English origin (predating 1066); standardized at 6 feet by English maritime tradition; fixed at 1.8288 m exactly via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fathom to Foot conversion formula
The relationship between fathoms and feet:
To convert fathoms to feet, multiply the value in fathoms by 6. To reverse, multiply feet by 0.1666666667.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in feet updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Foot to Fathom converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert fathoms to feet
- Write down the value in fathoms (ftm).
- Multiply that value by the factor 6.
- The product is the equivalent value in feet (ft).
- To reverse, multiply the foot value by 0.1666666667.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ftm to ft:
1 × 6 = 6 ft
Example 2 — Convert 100 ftm to ft:
100 × 6 = 600 ft
Real-world example — Maritime depth conversion
A 10-fathom sounding depth converts cleanly into feet. Recreational divers and sailors translate between the two units whenever they read legacy charts against modern depth-sounder displays.
10 ftm × 6 = 60 ft
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 ftm × 6 = 6 ft
Real-world example — Adult height conversion
A 1.8-fathom-tall person measures a value in feet that converts the height to the unit favoured by American forms, schools, or driver's licences. This is daily routine for anyone living between metric and imperial systems.
1.8 ftm × 6 = 10.8 ft
Fathom to Foot conversion table
Standard reference values for converting fathoms to feet:
| Fathom [ftm] | Foot [ft] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.06 |
| 0.1 | 0.6 |
| 1 | 6 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 18 |
| 4 | 24 |
| 5 | 30 |
| 10 | 60 |
| 20 | 120 |
| 30 | 180 |
| 40 | 240 |
| 50 | 300 |
| 100 | 600 |
| 500 | 3000 |
| 1000 | 6000 |
Frequently asked questions
How many feet is 1 fathom?
How do I convert fathoms to feet?
How do I convert feet back to fathoms?
How many feet is 100 fathoms?
Popular length unit conversions
Convert Fathom to other length units
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Metric / SI (7 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 ftm = 6 ft) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.