Convert survey foot to centimeter with precision.
1 sft x 30.48006 = 30.48006 cm
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If you’ve ever dealt with land surveys in the United States, you’ve probably stumbled across the term “survey foot.” Unlike the international foot you use every day, this unit has a quirky backstory and a tiny-but-critical difference in length. Converting survey feet to centimeters isn’t just about multiplying by 30.48—it requires a precise factor of 30.48006. Let’s unpack why this matters and how to ace the conversion every time.
Unit definitions
What is a survey foot (sft)?
- Description: A U.S. customary unit used primarily in historical land surveys.
- Symbol: sft
- Common uses: Boundary measurements, topographic maps, and legacy survey data.
- Definition: 1 survey foot = 1200/3937 meters (≈0.3048006096 m).
What is a centimeter (cm)?
- Description: A metric unit of length equal to one-hundredth of a meter.
- Symbol: cm
- Common uses: Everyday measurements, engineering, and medical fields.
- Definition: 1 cm = 0.01 meters.
Conversion formula
To convert survey feet to centimeters:
Centimeters = Survey feet × 30.48006
The extra 0.00006 cm might seem trivial, but it adds up over large distances. Imagine measuring a state border—those fractions matter!
Example calculations
- Converting 5 survey feet to centimeters:
5 sft × 30.48006 = 152.4003 cm - Converting 12.5 survey feet to centimeters:
12.5 sft × 30.48006 = 381.00075 cm
Conversion tables
Survey feet to centimeters
| Survey feet (sft) | Centimeters (cm) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30.48006 |
| 2 | 60.96012 |
| 3 | 91.44018 |
| 4 | 121.92024 |
| 5 | 152.40030 |
| 10 | 304.80060 |
| 20 | 609.60120 |
| 50 | 1,524.00300 |
Centimeters to survey feet
| Centimeters (cm) | Survey feet (sft) |
|---|---|
| 30.48006 | 1 |
| 60.96012 | 2 |
| 91.44018 | 3 |
| 121.92024 | 4 |
| 152.40030 | 5 |
| 304.80060 | 10 |
| 609.60120 | 20 |
| 1,524.00300 | 50 |
Historical background
Here’s where things get interesting. Before 1959, the U.S. and other English-speaking countries used slightly different definitions of the foot. The U.S. survey foot was tied to the Mendenhall Order of 1893, which based the foot on the meter. But in 1959, the international foot (exactly 0.3048 meters) became the standard. The survey foot was kept alive for older land records to avoid reissuing millions of property deeds. Fun fact: Teh phase-out began in 1986 but wasn’t finalized until 2023—talk about a slow goodbye!
Interesting facts
- A hair’s difference: Over one mile, the survey foot and international foot differ by about 3.2 millimeters. That’s roughly the width of a pencil lead.
- State exceptions: As of 2023, 12 U.S. states still reference the survey foot in legislation for land transactions.
- Global oddity: Outside the U.S., the survey foot is virtually unknown . Most countries switched fully to metric or use the international foot.
- GPS vs. reality: Modern GPS systems use meters, requiring double conversions when working with survey-foot-based maps.
- NIST’s stance: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) advises against using the survey foot for new projects.
FAQ
The survey foot was used in U.S. land surveys before 1959. It’s based on a slightly different meter definition than the international foot.
1 survey foot equals exactly 1200/3937 meters (≈0.3048006 m), while 1 international foot is 0.3048 meters. The difference is 2 parts per million.
The U.S. phased it out in 2023, but older land records and some state laws still reference survey feet for consistency.
Always consult local regulations first. While our tool is precise, legal surveys may require certified methods.
Centimeters provide a convenient metric unit for detailed measurements in engineering and construction.