What is the standard ceiling height in the UK in feet?

The standard UK ceiling height is 2.4 metres, which is approximately 7 feet 10.5 inches (7'10½"). Older Victorian and Edwardian properties often have ceiling heights of 2.7m to 3m (roughly 9 to 10 feet). New build regulations typically require a minimum of 2.1m (6'11") in habitable rooms.

How do I convert metres to feet and inches accurately?

Multiply metres by 3.28084 to get feet. The decimal part of the feet value needs converting to inches — multiply the decimal by 12. For example, 1.83m × 3.28084 = 6.003 feet = 6 feet 0 inches (exactly 6 foot). Our converter handles this automatically and shows the result in feet and inches.

Why do UK builders use both metric and imperial?

The UK construction industry officially switched to metric in the 1970s, but imperial measurements persist in many areas. Timber is often sold in imperial sizes (e.g., 2×4), plasterboard comes in 8×4 foot sheets (2400×1200mm), and many tradespeople still think in feet and inches. Plans and building regulations use metric, creating a need for constant conversion.

How many square feet in a square metre?

One square metre equals 10.764 square feet. To convert m² to ft², multiply by 10.764. To go the other way (ft² to m²), divide by 10.764 or multiply by 0.0929. This is useful when comparing UK and US floor area measurements.

What are the most common building measurements I need to know?

Key UK building measurements: standard ceiling height 2.4m (7'10½"), standard door height 2.04m (6'8"), standard door width 762mm (2'6"), fence panel height 1.83m (6'0"), stud wall centres 400mm or 600mm, staircase headroom minimum 2.0m (6'7").

TradeCalcs

Metres to Feet Converter — m, cm, mm, ft, inches

Convert between metric and imperial measurements. Includes metres to feet, m² to ft², and m³ to ft³ with a quick reference table for common UK building dimensions.

Conversion Type

Metres

How We Calculate This

This converter uses standard conversion factors to translate between metric and imperial measurements. The conversion factors are exact mathematical constants.

Conversion factors

Linear: 1 metre = 3.28084 feet = 39.3701 inches
Area: 1 m² = 10.7639 ft²
Volume: 1 m³ = 35.3147 ft³

Feet and inches display

When converting to feet and inches, we display the result in the traditional UK format (e.g., 7'10½"). The fractional inches are shown to the nearest quarter inch, which is the standard precision used in UK building work.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.