feet to yards calculator
A feet to yards calculator divides feet by 3, since one yard is exactly 3 ft, and multiplies by 0.3048 for meters. 30 feet is 10 yards, or 9.14 meters.
Feet to yards: divide by 3
This feet to yards calculator divides your measurement in feet by 3, because one yard is exactly 3 feet, and shows the result to three decimals. It also multiplies feet by 0.3048 to give meters. Enter 30 feet, the default, and you get 10.000 yards and 9.14 meters.
Most tape measures read in feet and inches. Many supply catalogs, sports fields, and fabric counters work in yards. This conversion bridges them.
Why 3 is the number
The US customary system builds up in fixed steps: 12 inches make a foot, and 3 feet make a yard. So a yard is also 36 inches. Since 1959, the yard has been defined as exactly 0.9144 meters, which makes the foot exactly 0.3048 meters.
Because the steps are exact, the conversion never loses accuracy. Any rounding you see is only in how many decimals are shown.
Worked examples
- The default: 30 feet
- Yards: 30 ÷ 3 = 10.000 yd
- Meters: 30 × 0.3048 = 9.14 m
- A garden edging run of 100 feet
- Yards: 100 ÷ 3 = 33.333 yd
- Meters: 100 × 0.3048 = 30.48 m
If edging is sold in 20 ft rolls, you need 100 ÷ 20 = 5 rolls. If it is sold by the yard, ask for 34 yards to cover the fraction.
- Fabric for a 12 foot window treatment
- Yards: 12 ÷ 3 = 4.000 yd
- Meters: 12 × 0.3048 = 3.66 m
Feet to yards conversion table
| Feet | Yards | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.333 | 0.30 |
| 3 | 1.000 | 0.91 |
| 10 | 3.333 | 3.05 |
| 30 | 10.000 | 9.14 |
| 100 | 33.333 | 30.48 |
| 264 | 88.000 | 80.47 |
| 1,000 | 333.333 | 304.80 |
| 5,280 (1 mile) | 1,760.000 | 1,609.34 |
Converting in your head
You rarely need a calculator for this one if the number is friendly.
- Multiples of 3 convert cleanly: 9 ft is 3 yd, 21 ft is 7 yd, 60 ft is 20 yd.
- Everything else leaves a remainder of 1 or 2 feet. 22 ft is 7 yards with 1 foot left over, or 7.333 yd. 23 ft is 7 yards and 2 feet, or 7.667 yd.
- For a rough figure, divide by 3 using the nearest multiple, then add a third or two thirds of a yard for the leftover feet.
For meters, a quick check is that 10 feet is a little over 3 meters (3.05 m). Multiply your feet by 0.3 for a near-enough figure, then use the calculator for the exact value.
Where you’ll meet yards
| Use | Unit | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric, ribbon, upholstery | Linear yards | Add extra for pattern matching |
| Sports fields | Yards | A football field is 100 yards between goal lines, or 300 feet |
| Carpet and padding | Square yards | Use the square feet to square yards calculator |
| Topsoil, mulch, concrete | Cubic yards | Volume, not length; divide cubic feet by 27 |
| Fencing and edging | Feet or rolls | Check whether the price is per foot or per yard |
How to measure in feet first
- Straight runs: hook the tape at one end and read the other. Write feet and inches, then turn inches into decimal feet by dividing by 12. Six inches is 0.5 ft.
- Curves: lay a garden hose along the curve, mark it, straighten it out, and measure the hose.
- Long distances: a measuring wheel reads directly in feet and is quicker than a tape over a long fence line.
- Several pieces: add all the feet first, then convert once. The linear feet calculator helps total many lengths.
Common mistakes
- Leaving inches in the feet box. 10 feet 6 inches is 10.5 feet, not 10.6. Divide the inches by 12.
- Using this for area or volume. Square feet divide by 9 and cubic feet divide by 27.
- Rounding too early. Convert the total, not each piece. Rounding ten short pieces up to whole yards can add several yards you don’t need.
- Assuming a “yard” of material is a cubic yard. At a landscape yard, “a yard of mulch” means a cubic yard. At a fabric store, “a yard” is a length.
To go the other way, use the yards to feet calculator. For smaller units, see the feet to inches calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many yards are in a foot?
One foot is 1/3 of a yard, or 0.333 yards. Three feet make exactly one yard. To convert any length in feet to yards, divide by 3: 30 feet ÷ 3 = 10 yards, and 100 feet ÷ 3 = 33.333 yards.
Is a linear yard the same as a square yard or cubic yard?
No. A linear yard is a length of 3 feet. A square yard is an area 3 ft by 3 ft, which is 9 square feet. A cubic yard is a volume 3 × 3 × 3 ft, which is 27 cubic feet. This calculator converts length only; dividing square feet by 3 or cubic feet by 3 gives a wrong answer.
What if my measurement doesn't divide evenly by 3?
You get a decimal. 10 feet is 3.333 yards, and 3 yards plus 1 foot is the same thing. For material sold in whole yards, round up: 10 feet of fabric needs 4 yards if the shop only cuts whole yards, or 3-1/3 yards where they cut to a third.
How accurate is the meters conversion?
It is exact. The foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 meters since 1959, so 30 feet is 9.144 meters, shown as 9.14. A yard is exactly 0.9144 meters.
How do I convert yards back to feet?
Multiply by 3. 10 yards × 3 = 30 feet, and 1.5 yards × 3 = 4.5 feet. The yards to feet calculator does it for you and also shows inches and meters.
Estimates only. Verify quantities with your supplier before purchasing.