Decimeter to Foot Converter

decimeter to foot – How to convert dm to ft

The decimeter and the foot both measure everyday lengths — just from different systems. While the decimeter comes from the metric world, the foot belongs to the imperial system, commonly used in the U.S. and U.K. If you’re working between metric specs and traditional measurements, converting decimeters to feet lets you move easily between blueprints, furniture dimensions, and everyday conversions.

Let’s walk through how this works, and how to calculate it quickly.

What is a decimeter (dm)?

A decimeter is a metric unit of length equal to:

1 decimeter = 0.1 meter = 10 centimeters

Though not as commonly used as centimeters or meters, the decimeter can be a handy middle-ground unit — especially in engineering, education, and sports measurements.

Examples of where decimeters appear:

• Swimming pool depth regulations

• Some car part dimensions

• Science and classroom measuring tools

Its name comes from the Latin decimus, meaning "tenth" — because it’s one-tenth of a meter.

What is a foot (ft)?

The foot is an imperial unit of length, still widely used in everyday life in the U.S., and in certain sectors globally. It’s defined as:

1 foot = 12 inches = 0.3048 meters

You’ll see feet used in:

• Building measurements and construction

• Height descriptions (like “5 ft 9 in”)

• Real estate and property layout

• Aviation (e.g., altitude in feet)

Because the foot is tied to inches and yards, converting from metric to feet makes it easier to apply values in those contexts.

How to convert decimeters to feet

To go from decimeters to feet, use the conversion factor:

1 dm = 0.328084 ft

So the formula is:

feet = decimeters × 0.328084

Example conversion

Let’s convert 6 decimeters to feet:

feet = 6 × 0.328084
feet = 1.9685

So, 6 decimeters equals approximately 1.97 feet.

To convert instantly, try our Length Converter, or explore more categories in our Conversion tools section.

Did you know?

• The Olympic swimming pool is 2 meters deep — or 20 decimeters, which equals roughly 6.56 feet.

• Many school rulers in Europe are marked in decimeters, especially for younger students learning base-10 units.

• A standard kitchen countertop height is around 9 decimeters — about 2.95 feet.

• Some sports fields and event layouts in international competitions use decimeters for small adjustments and markings.

• Aircraft cabin interior specs are often in feet, while international manufacturers may originally design them in decimeters or meters.

Where these units meet in real life

Architects, interior designers, and product engineers often bounce between metric and imperial specs — especially when a project crosses borders. A designer in France might sketch a cabinet that’s 8.5 decimeters tall, but a contractor in the U.S. will want to know that’s about 2.79 feet.

Even in consumer products like TVs, screen sizes are labeled in inches or feet, while the packaging dimensions (in Europe or Asia) are often in decimeters or centimeters. The same happens in sports, manufacturing, and trade — and that’s where quick, precise conversions come into play.

From metric to feet — no guesswork needed

To convert decimeters to feet:

feet = decimeters × 0.328084

It’s a simple conversion, but one that makes it much easier to work with measurements across two of the world’s most common systems. Whether you’re renovating a room, comparing furniture specs, or translating blueprints, this conversion keeps things clear and consistent.

Want to skip the manual math? Use our Length Converter or explore more accurate tools with the full Conversion tools set.