Figure

Measurements and units

Length conversions

Convert between mixed feet and inches, decimal values, fractions, and metric units.1

Converting a measurement changes its unit or displayed format while keeping the same length. A decimal foot is a portion of a foot, not a number of inches. Displayed fractions follow your fraction-precision setting.

To convert feet and inches to decimal feet, divide the inches by 12 and add the whole feet. For decimal feet in the other direction, multiply the part after the decimal point by 12 to get inches.

For example, 5 ft 7½ in is 5 + 7.5 ÷ 12 = 5.625 ft. The decimal describes a fraction of a foot; 5.625 ft does not mean 5 ft 0.625 in. An inch is exactly 25.4 millimeters, so metric conversion preserves the same physical length before display rounding.

Feet and inches to decimal feet

Enter a length with its units, then switch to decimal feet.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

1. Enter the length

  1. Length

    Press 5, then feet, then 7, then inches, then 1, then Fraction, then 2.

2. Convert to decimal feet

  1. Press feet.
  1. Example result5.625 feet

Switch back

Press Feet to remove units. Press it once more to restore feet and fractional inches.

  1. Select feet

    Press feet.

  2. Select feet

    Press feet.
  1. Example result5 feet 7 and 1/2 inches

Decimal feet to feet and inches

Enter decimal feet, then switch to feet and fractional inches.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

1. Enter decimal feet

  1. Decimal feet

    Press 17.32, then feet.

Read the fractional length

  1. Example result17 feet 3 and 13/16 inches

Fractional inches to decimal inches

Enter inches and their fraction, then switch to decimal inches.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

1. Enter the length

  1. Inches

    Press 8, then inches, then 1, then Fraction, then 8.

2. Convert

  1. Press inches.
  1. Example result8.125 inches

Decimal inches to fractional inches

Enter decimal inches, then switch to an inch fraction.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

1. Enter decimal inches

  1. Decimal inches

    Press 9.0625, then inches.

Read the fractional length

  1. Example result9 and 1/16 inches

Feet to meters and millimeters

Enter feet, then choose meters or millimeters.

Start a new calculation

Use 2nd if a unit is above its button.

  1. Start fresh

    Press Clear entry, then Clear entry.

  2. Press the keys

    Press Select length units.

1. Enter feet

  1. Feet

    Press 14, then feet.

2. Convert to meters

  1. Press meters.
  1. Example result4.267 meters

3. Convert to millimeters

  1. Press millimeters.
  1. Example result4267.2 millimeters

Entering millimeters

Choose mm directly. If it is above the button, press 2nd each time. Change the main units in Settings.

Display assumptions

  1. Fraction precision: 1/16″; Fraction format: Simplified; Meter decimal places: Fixed: 3. ↩

References

Keep the guide beside your calculation.

These examples are built into Figure. Open Help while you calculate, then return to the same guide and reading position.

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