Convert Fathom to Meter
Convert fathoms to meters instantly. 1 fathom = 1.8288 meter — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Meter 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.
Meter
The meter is the SI base unit of length. Since 2019, the meter has been defined by fixing the numerical value of the speed of light in vacuum to exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. Every other SI length unit derives from the meter.
The meter was originally defined in 1793 by the French Academy of Sciences as one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole along a meridian through Paris. It has been redefined multiple times — by physical prototype, then by atomic transitions, and finally in 2019 by fundamental physical constants.
The meter is the international standard for length in science, engineering, construction, athletics, and everyday measurement in metric countries. It underpins definitions of area (m²), volume (m³), and most derived SI units.
Established 1793 in France; ratified internationally via the Metre Convention 1875; redefined in 1960, 1983, and most recently 2019 when the SI redefinition fixed it to the speed of light.
Fathom to Meter conversion formula
The relationship between fathoms and meters:
To convert fathoms to meters, multiply the value in fathoms by 1.8288. To reverse, multiply meters by 0.5468066492.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in meters updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Meter to Fathom converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert fathoms to meters
- Write down the value in fathoms (ftm).
- Multiply that value by the factor 1.8288.
- The product is the equivalent value in meters (m).
- To reverse, multiply the meter value by 0.5468066492.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 ftm to m:
1 × 1.8288 = 1.8288 m
Example 2 — Convert 100 ftm to m:
100 × 1.8288 = 182.88 m
Real-world example — Legacy chart fathom soundings
A 10-fathom chart sounding equals 18.288 m. Recreational divers and marine pilots reading old nautical charts (in fathoms) convert depths to meters because every modern depth sounder displays in meters.
10 ftm × 1.8288 = 18.288 m
Real-world example — Single fathom to meter
1 fathom equals exactly 1.8288 m. The conversion is the bridge between legacy fathom-marked nautical charts and modern metric depth-sounder data on every dive boat.
1 ftm × 1.8288 = 1.8288 m
Real-world example — Deep-water sounding
A 100-fathom sounding equals 182.88 m — useful for marine archaeologists, who frequently encounter shipwreck-site descriptions in fathoms but record modern excavation depths in metres.
100 ftm × 1.8288 = 182.88 m
Fathom to Meter conversion table
Standard reference values for converting fathoms to meters:
| Fathom [ftm] | Meter [m] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.018288 |
| 0.1 | 0.18288 |
| 1 | 1.8288 |
| 2 | 3.6576 |
| 3 | 5.4864 |
| 4 | 7.3152 |
| 5 | 9.144 |
| 10 | 18.288 |
| 20 | 36.576 |
| 30 | 54.864 |
| 40 | 73.152 |
| 50 | 91.44 |
| 100 | 182.88 |
| 500 | 914.4 |
| 1000 | 1828.8 |
Frequently asked questions
How many meters is 1 fathom?
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How many meters is 100 fathoms?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (7 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 ftm = 1.8288 m) 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 Astronomical Union — System of Astronomical Constants
The IAU defines astronomical units including the AU (149597870700 m exactly) light-year and parsec used in astronomy and astrophysics.