Spike's How To
Convert Feet/Inches/Fractions to Decimal Format
Lot's of numbers to deal with, and no, not very useful for picking lottery numbers. But if you understand the basic concepts it does take the gamble out of converting these numbers and you are sure to be a winner.
| Inch | Decimal Value of a Foot |
| 1 inch | 0.0833 |
| 2 inches | 0.167 |
| 3 inches | 0.25 |
| 4 inches | 0.333 |
| 5 inches | 0.417 |
| 6 inches | 0.5 |
| 7 inches | 0.583 |
| 8 inches | 0.667 |
| 9 inches | 0.75 |
| 10 inches | 0.833 |
| 11 inches | 0.917 |
| 12 inches | 1 |
| Fraction | Decimal Value of an Inch |
| 1/16 | 0.0625 |
| 1/8 | 0.125 |
| 3/16 | 0.1875 |
| 1/4 | 0.25 |
| 5/16 | 0.3125 |
| 3/8 | 0.375 |
| 7/16 | 0.4375 |
| 1/2 | 0.5 |
| 9.16 | 0.5625 |
| 5/8 | 0.625 |
| 11/16 | 0.6875 |
| 3/4 | 0.75 |
| 13/16 | 0.8125 |
| 7/8 | 0.875 |
| 15/16 | 0.9375 |
Example
Converting 7'- 4 3/4" to a decimal value.
- If you are like me, I would say the 7' stays a 7' for now.
- I look at the charts 4" = 0.333 3/4" = 0.75
- 0.333 + 0.75 = 1.083" + 7" = 8.083
- and I would write the whole thing as 8.083 in decimal format.
Of course you can't add a decimal value of a foot to a decimal value of an inch without converting the fraction's decimal inch value to a decimal foot value.
Let's try again:
Converting 7'- 4 3/4" to a decimal value.
- 7' stays a 7' for now.
- 4" = 0.333 (convert to decimal foot value: 4 ÷ 12)
- 3/4" = 0.75 (convert fraction to decimal by dividing numerator by denominator 3 ÷ 4 )
- 0.75 = 0.0625 (converting to decimal foot value by dividing 0.75 by 12)
- 0.333 + 0.0625 = 0.3955 + 7'= 7.3955
Write 7'- 4 3/4" in decimal value = 7.3955
| 1/16 | 0.0625 | 0.005208 |
| 1/8 | 0.125 | 0.01042 |
| 3/16 | 0.1875 | 0.015625 |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 0.020883 |
| 5/16 | 0.3125 | 0.026004 |
| 3/8 | 0.375 | 0.03125 |
| 7/16 | 0.4375 | 0.036458 |
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 0.041666 |
| 9.16 | 0.5625 | 0.046875 |
| 5/8 | 0.625 | 0.05208 |
| 11/16 | 0.6875 | 0.057291 |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 0.0625 |
| 13/16 | 0.8125 | 0.0677 |
| 7/8 | 0.875 | 0.072916 |
| 15/16 | 0.9375 | 0.078125 |
| 1 inch | 12/12 | 1 | 0.0833 |
| 2 inches | 24/12 | 2 | 0.167 |
| 3 inches | 36/12 | 3 | 0.25 |
| 4 inches | 48/12 | 4 | 0.333 |
| 5 inches | 60/12 | 5 | 0.417 |
| 6 inches | 72/12 | 6 | 0.5 |
| 7 inches | 84/12 | 7 | 0.583 |
| 8 inches | 96/12 | 8 | 0.667 |
| 9 inches | 108/12 | 9 | 0.75 |
| 10 inches | 120/12 | 10 | 0.833 |
| 11 inches | 132/12 | 11 | 0.917 |
| 12 inches | 144/12 | 12 | 1 |
Converting inches to decimal
Divide the number of inches by 12
Example:
2" ÷ 12 = 0.16667
5" ÷ 12 = 0.41667
Converting inches plus fraction to decimal
Change the inch into a fraction using the same denominator as the fraction, add the fraction to this amount and divide numerator by the denominator.
2 1/4"
8/4 + 1/4= 9/4"
9/4 = 2.25"
3 11/16"
48/16 + 11/16= 59/16"
59/16 = 3.6875"
Check out our
Calculator for converting Feet/Inches/Fractions to Decimal Format