Convert Feet (ft) to Fathoms (ftm)
1 feet equals 0.166667 fathoms.
Foot to Fathom Converter
How to Convert Feet to Fathom
1 foot = 16 fathoms
Fathom = Feet × 16
Example: 1 ft × 16 = 16 ftm
Reverse Conversion
To convert fathoms back to feet:
- Remember, 1 fathom equals 6 feet.
- To convert 16 ftm to ft, multiply
16 x 6, resulting in1 ft.
Common Feet to Fathom Conversions
Feet to fathoms Conversion Table
Reference table with common feet to fathoms conversions. All values calculated with high precision.
Feet to Fathoms Table
0.001 to 5
Feet to Fathoms Table
10 to 1000000
Fathoms to Feet Table
1 to 100000
Definition of Fathom
- Definition
- Maritime unit equal to six feet, traditionally used for measuring water depth.
- Exact factor
- 1 fathom = 6 ft = 1.8288 m
- Sources
- NIST SP 811
About the Foot
Facts & Uses
- Foundation of US construction: room dimensions, ceiling heights, lumber lengths (2×4×8 ft); building codes specify clearances in feet.
- Aviation standard: altitude measured in feet globally (Flight Level 350 = 35,000 ft), regardless of country's measurement system.
- Surveying and real estate: property descriptions, lot dimensions, setback requirements; square footage for area calculations.
- Sports: American football (100-yard field with yard markers), basketball (10-ft rim), diving platforms.
Curiosities
- Ancient origin from human foot length; standardized to avoid measurement disputes in trade and law.
- Exact definition: 0.3048 meters (1959 international yard and pound agreement).
- Notation mixing: feet-inches (5'6") vs. decimal feet (5.5 ft) in different industries and applications.
- International aviation uses feet for altitude despite metric adoption elsewhere; ensures global air traffic safety.
Sources
About the Fathom
Facts & Uses
- Maritime depth: traditional water depth measurement for navigation, anchoring, and harbor charts.
- Nautical tradition: ship rigging measurements, rope lengths, and cable specifications in traditional sailing.
- Fishing industry: net depths, fishing line measurements, and commercial fishing equipment specifications.
- Historical surveying: land measurement in coastal areas, maritime boundaries, and underwater mapping.
Curiosities
- Origin: span of outstretched arms; "fathom" derives from Old English fæðm meaning "embrace".
- Modern definition: exactly 6 feet = 1.8288 meters; standardized for international navigation safety.
- Literary usage: "to fathom" meaning "to understand deeply" comes from measuring unknown depths.
- Largely replaced by meters in modern navigation, but persists in traditional sailing and historical contexts.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fathoms are in one feet?
One feet equals 16 fathoms. To convert, multiply the feet value by 16. For the reverse, divide the fathom value by 16 (or multiply by 6).
What is 100 feet in fathoms?
100 feet = 16.667 fathoms. This is one of the most commonly searched conversions for this pair.
How precise is the feet-to-fathom conversion?
The factor 16 is accurate to 6 significant figures, derived from international measurement standards. Our calculator uses full precision internally.
Looking for the reverse? Convert Fathom to Feet
Related Length, Height & Distance Converters
Explore other length, height & distance conversion tools:
Related in other categories:
- Sq Feet to Acres — Area = length² — square the conversion factor