Length · Unit Converter

Convert US Survey Foot to Centimeter

Convert us survey feet to centimeters instantly. 1 us survey foot = 30.4800609601 centimeter — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Centimeter to US Survey 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

US Survey Foot

What is a us survey foot?

The US Survey Foot is a legacy unit of length defined as exactly 1200/3937 meters (approximately 0.3048006 m). It differs from the modern international foot by about 2 parts per million.

Origin of the us survey foot

Established in the United States by the Mendenhall Order of 1893, which defined the foot in terms of the meter as 1200/3937 m. The US continued using this value for surveying even after the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement standardized the international foot at exactly 0.3048 m.

Where it is used

Used in US land surveying, geodetic measurements, state plane coordinate systems, and legal land descriptions. The US Survey Foot was officially deprecated by NIST and NOAA effective December 31, 2022, with the international foot becoming the sole US standard. Legacy data and recorded land surveys still reference it.

When and where it was developed

Mendenhall Order of 1893 defined the foot as 1200/3937 m; persisted in US surveying after 1959; officially deprecated by NIST/NOAA as of December 31, 2022.

Metric / SI

Centimeter

What is a centimeter?

A centimeter is a metric unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter (1/100 m). It is one of the most commonly used SI sub-units in daily life, especially for measuring small objects, body dimensions, paper sizes, and short distances.

Origin of the centimeter

The centimeter emerged from the French metric system established by the French Academy of Sciences in 1793. The metric system introduced decimal-based prefixes (milli-, centi-, deci-, deca-, hecto-, kilo-) to create proportional sub-units of the meter.

Where it is used

Centimeters are the standard unit for everyday measurement in nearly every country outside the United States. They are used for body height, clothing sizes, rainfall, paper formats (A4 is 21 × 29.7 cm), screen dimensions, and most consumer product specifications.

When and where it was developed

Developed in France during the late 18th century as part of the metric system designed by the French Academy of Sciences. Formally adopted in France in 1795 and ratified internationally through the Metre Convention signed in Paris in 1875.

US Survey Foot to Centimeter conversion formula

Note: this conversion uses a generally accepted modern value. Historical and regional definitions of this unit varied across times and places.

The relationship between us survey feet and centimeters:

1 sft = 30.4800609601 cm
1 cm = 0.0328083333 sft

To convert us survey feet to centimeters, multiply the value in us survey feet by 30.4800609601. To reverse, multiply centimeters by 0.0328083333.

How to use this converter

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

Step-by-step: convert us survey feet to centimeters

  1. Write down the value in us survey feet (sft).
  2. Multiply that value by the factor 30.4800609601.
  3. The product is the equivalent value in centimeters (cm).
  4. To reverse, multiply the centimeter value by 0.0328083333.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Convert 1 sft to cm:
1 × 30.4800609601 = 30.4800609601 cm

Example 2 — Convert 100 sft to cm:
100 × 30.4800609601 = 3048.0060960122 cm

Real-world example — Pet and accessory dimensions

A 3-us survey foot dog leash equals a tidy round value in centimeters. Pet-supply shopping frequently mixes the two units across product specifications.

3 sft × 30.4800609601 = 91.4401828804 cm

Real-world example — Fabric and tailoring

One us survey foot of fabric converts to a value in centimeters commonly used for seam allowances. Garment patterns frequently switch between the two units on a single instruction sheet.

1 sft × 30.4800609601 = 30.4800609601 cm

Real-world example — Body height conversion (reverse direction)

You measure 1.75 us survey feet tall and need to fill in a gym membership form or medical record that asks for height in centimeters. This is the most-used everyday length conversion in metric-using countries.

1.75 sft × 30.4800609601 = 53.3401066802 cm

US Survey Foot to Centimeter conversion table

Standard reference values for converting us survey feet to centimeters:

US Survey Foot [sft]Centimeter [cm]
0.010.3048006096
0.13.048006096
130.4800609601
260.9601219202
391.4401828804
4121.9202438405
5152.4003048006
10304.8006096012
20609.6012192024
30914.4018288037
401219.2024384049
501524.0030480061
1003048.0060960122
50015240.030480061
100030480.0609601219

Frequently asked questions

How many centimeters is 1 us survey foot?
1 us survey foot equals 30.4800609601 centimeter.
How do I convert us survey feet to centimeters?
Multiply the value in us survey feet by 30.4800609601 to get centimeters.
How do I convert centimeters back to us survey feet?
Multiply the value in centimeters by 0.0328083333, or use the Centimeter to US Survey Foot converter.
How many centimeters is 100 us survey feet?
100 us survey feet equals 3048.0060960122 centimeters, because 100 × 30.4800609601 = 3048.0060960122.

Convert US Survey Foot to other length units

Show all US Survey Foot conversions

Sources & references

Conversion factor (1 sft = 30.4800609601 cm) verified against the following authoritative sources:

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