Convert Meter to Fathom
Convert meters to fathoms instantly. 1 meter = 0.5468066492 fathom — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Fathom to Meter converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
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
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 to Fathom conversion formula
The relationship between meters and fathoms:
To convert meters to fathoms, multiply the value in meters by 0.5468066492. To reverse, multiply fathoms by 1.8288.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in fathoms updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Fathom to Meter converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert meters to fathoms
- Write down the value in meters (m).
- Multiply that value by the factor 0.5468066492.
- The product is the equivalent value in fathoms (ftm).
- To reverse, multiply the fathom value by 1.8288.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 m to ftm:
1 × 0.5468066492 = 0.5468066492 ftm
Example 2 — Convert 100 m to ftm:
100 × 0.5468066492 = 54.6806649169 ftm
Real-world example — Continental shelf depth
A 50-m water depth (typical continental shelf) equals 27.34 fathoms. Marine geologists converting modern bathymetric data (in m) into legacy chart units (in fathoms) do this conversion for any historical comparison.
50 m × 0.5468066492 = 27.3403324584 ftm
Real-world example — One-fathom equivalent
10 fathoms equals 18.288 m. Recreational divers trained in metric depth-marking convert nautical-chart fathom soundings to meters whenever they plan a dive that crosses chart-system boundaries.
18.288 m × 0.5468066492 = 10 ftm
Real-world example — Standard scuba-diving depth limit
A 30-m recreational diving limit equals 16.4 fathoms. Maritime archaeologists comparing modern dive logs (in m) to legacy charts (in fathoms) convert m to ftm constantly.
30 m × 0.5468066492 = 16.4041994751 ftm
Meter to Fathom conversion table
Standard reference values for converting meters to fathoms:
| Meter [m] | Fathom [ftm] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 0.0054680665 |
| 0.1 | 0.0546806649 |
| 1 | 0.5468066492 |
| 2 | 1.0936132983 |
| 3 | 1.6404199475 |
| 4 | 2.1872265967 |
| 5 | 2.7340332458 |
| 10 | 5.4680664917 |
| 20 | 10.9361329834 |
| 30 | 16.4041994751 |
| 40 | 21.8722659668 |
| 50 | 27.3403324584 |
| 100 | 54.6806649169 |
| 500 | 273.4033245844 |
| 1000 | 546.8066491689 |
Frequently asked questions
How many fathoms is 1 meter?
How do I convert meters to fathoms?
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How many fathoms is 100 meters?
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Metric / SI (17 units)
Imperial / US Customary (27 units)
Nautical (1 units)
Astronomical (9 units)
Atomic / Physics (6 units)
Typographic (3 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 m = 0.5468066492 ftm) 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.