Convert feet to fathoms

1 ft=0.1667ftm

Use the converter below to change any feet value into fathoms instantly — with formula, conversion table, and real-world examples.

You have

Equals

0.16667

Conversion formula

Forward

fathoms = feet × 0.1667

Reverse

feet = fathoms × 6

Example: 10 ft × 0.1667 = 1.66667 ftm.

About both units

From

Foot

The foot equals 30.48 centimeters exactly and is one of the oldest length units in human history. It is the international aviation standard for altitude — commercial airliners cruise at 35,000 feet. In the US, building dimensions, human height and elevation are all expressed in feet. 1 foot = 12 inches.

Real-world: Airliners cruise at 35,000 ft (10.7 km). Mount Everest is 29,032 ft (8,849 m). A standard US ceiling is 8 ft (2.44 m).

Read full foot reference →

Fathom

ftm

The fathom equals exactly 6 feet or 1.8288 meters. It is the traditional marine unit for water depth, used on older nautical charts and in recreational sailing. Modern charts mark depths in metres, but fathoms still appear in maritime literature and older US charts.

Real-world: A "mark twain" reading — made famous by the Mississippi riverboats — meant 2 fathoms (3.66 m) of water, the minimum safe depth.

Read full fathom reference →

Foot to Fathom conversion table

Common feet to fathoms values for quick reference.

Foot (ft)	Fathom (ftm)
1 ft	0.1667 ftm
5 ft	0.8333 ftm
10 ft	1.66667 ftm
25 ft	4.16667 ftm
50 ft	8.33333 ftm
100 ft	16.6667 ftm
250 ft	41.6667 ftm
500 ft	83.3333 ftm
1,000 ft	166.667 ftm
5,000 ft	833.333 ftm

Tips & common mistakes

Quick tips

1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48 cm exactly. Knowing feet gives you inches instantly.
For a quick metric estimate, multiply feet by 0.3 — 10 ft ≈ 3 m.
Pilots and air-traffic control use feet globally, even over metric countries.

Avoid these

Writing "6.2 ft" to mean "6 feet 2 inches" — the decimal form is 6.167 ft, not 6.2.
Confusing feet (length) with square feet (area) in US real-estate listings.
Using 0.3 instead of 0.3048 on structural drawings — errors accumulate on multi-storey buildings.

Frequently asked questions

How many fathoms in a foot?

One foot equals 0.1667 fathoms.

How do I convert feet to fathoms?

Multiply the foot value by 0.1667 to get the equivalent in fathoms.

What is 100 feet in fathoms?

100 feet equals 16.6667 fathoms.

Is a foot bigger than a fathom?

No. 1 foot equals 0.1667 fathoms, so one foot is smaller.

How to convert feet to fathoms without a calculator?

Multiply by 0.17 for a quick estimate; use a calculator for precise results.

Related length conversions

📊 See full comparison matrix →

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