How many fathoms is 1 foot?

One foot equals exactly 1/6 of a fathom (approximately 0.1667 fathoms). Six feet make one fathom.

How do I convert feet to fathoms?

Divide the foot value by 6. For example, 42 feet = 7 fathoms. For 50 feet: 50/6 = 8.33 fathoms.

Why is 1 fathom 6 feet?

The fathom was originally the span of a man's outstretched arms, which averages about 6 feet. This body-based measurement was standardized at exactly 6 feet centuries ago.

Feet to Fathoms (ft to ftm) Converter

1 ft = 0.1667 ftm

1 Foot equals 0.1667 Fathoms (1 ft = 0.1667 ftm). Convert Feet to Fathoms with formula, table, and examples.

One foot equals exactly 1/6 of a fathom, or approximately 0.1667 fathoms. Six feet make exactly one fathom. The foot is the everyday American unit; the fathom is the traditional maritime depth unit. Their 6:1 ratio derives from the fathom being defined as a man's arm span (about 6 feet).

How to Convert Feet to Fathoms

ftm = ft ÷ 6

Divide the value in Feet by 6

Take your value in Feet
Divide by 6
Read the result in Fathoms

Common Feet to Fathoms Conversions

Feet (ft)	Fathoms (ftm)	Status
0.5 ft	0.0833 ftm
1 ft	0.1667 ftm
2 ft	0.3333 ftm
3 ft	0.5 ftm
5 ft	0.8333 ftm
6 ft	1 ftm
10 ft	1.6667 ftm
12 ft	2 ftm
20 ft	3.3333 ftm
50 ft	8.3333 ftm
100 ft	16.6667 ftm
500 ft	83.3333 ftm
1,000 ft	166.6667 ftm
5,280 ft	880 ftm

Good to Know About Feet to Fathoms Conversion

The fathom (6 feet) and the foot (1 foot) are both body-based units: the fathom from arm span, the foot from foot length. The 6:1 ratio reflects human proportions: your arm span is roughly 6 times your foot length.

Feet to Fathoms: What You Need to Know

A 30-foot depth is 5 fathoms (Shakespeare's 'full fathom five'). A 100-foot depth is about 16.67 fathoms. A recreational dive limit of 130 feet is about 21.67 fathoms. Divers who learned depth in feet can convert to the fathom soundings shown on older nautical charts by dividing by 6.

What is a Foot? ft

An imperial unit of length equal to 12 inches or 0.3048 meters. Used in the US and UK for height, altitude, and construction.

Imperial Us-customary height altitude real estate

Learn more about Foot →

What is a Fathom? ftm

Exactly 6 feet (1.8288 m). Traditionally used to measure water depth in nautical contexts. Originally based on the span of outstretched arms.

Imperial water depth nautical marine charts

Learn more about Fathom →

Going the other way? Use our Fathoms to Feet converter.

Feet to Fathoms FAQ

One foot equals exactly 1/6 of a fathom (approximately 0.1667 fathoms). Six feet make one fathom.
Divide the foot value by 6. For example, 42 feet = 7 fathoms. For 50 feet: 50/6 = 8.33 fathoms.
The fathom was originally the span of a man's outstretched arms, which averages about 6 feet. This body-based measurement was standardized at exactly 6 feet centuries ago.

Non-Frequently Asked Questions About Feet to Fathoms

Questions nobody should ask - but someone did.

A fathom is 6 feet. If you are exactly 6 feet tall, you ARE one fathom. About 14.5% of American men are 6 feet or taller. So about one in seven American men is at least one fathom tall. The rest of us fall short of our nautical potential.
On the Mississippi, leadsmen called out depth: 'mark twain' meant 2 fathoms (12 feet) - safe water. It was shorter, punchier, and easier to hear over engine noise than 'two fathoms.' Samuel Clemens chose it as his pen name because it sounded authoritative. Branding matters.
Five feet 10 inches = 70 inches = 5.833 feet. A fathom is 6 feet. So you are 0.972 fathoms, or 97.2% of a fathom. You are almost exactly one fathom. Close enough for literature, too short for the NBA.