Yards show up in sports fields, golf distances, fabric counters, carpet and landscaping, while plans and tape measures usually work in feet. One yard is exactly three feet, so the conversion is easy — the trouble is fractional yards. A pattern that calls for 5/8 yard, or a golf rangefinder reading 162 yards, takes a moment to translate. This converter gives feet, feet and inches, inches and meters together, and lists the common fabric cuts.
How to use the yards to feet converter
- Enter the length in Yards (yd). Decimals work for fractions: 0.625 is 5/8 yard.
- Read the answer in feet. When the result is not a whole number of feet, the feet-and-inches row shows it the way a tape measure would.
- Use the reference table for whole yard values and the fabric table for cuts from 1/8 yard to 2 yards.
Yards to feet formula
The yard was standardized internationally in 1959 at exactly 0.9144 meters, which made the foot exactly 0.3048 m. Both relationships above are therefore exact.
Worked example
A football field measures 100 yards from goal line to goal line.
Feet: 100 × 3 = 300 ft.
Inches: 100 × 36 = 3,600 in.
Meters: 100 × 0.9144 = 91.44 m.
With both 10-yard end zones the full field is 120 yd = 360 ft.
A sewing case: a pattern calls for 3/8 yard of interfacing. 0.375 × 36 = 13.5 inches, or 1.125 feet. If the fabric store cuts in 1/8-yard steps, each step is 4.5 inches.
Fabric and ribbon cuts
| Cut | Inches | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 yd | 4.5 | 0.375 |
| 1/4 yd | 9 | 0.75 |
| 1/3 yd | 12 | 1 |
| 1/2 yd | 18 | 1.5 |
| 2/3 yd | 24 | 2 |
| 3/4 yd | 27 | 2.25 |
| 1 yd | 36 | 3 |
Fabric widths are quoted separately, usually 44–45 or 54–60 inches; the yardage is the length cut off the bolt.
Yards in sports
- American football: 100-yard field, 10 yards for a first down (30 feet).
- Golf: course and club distances are in yards in the US and UK. A 150-yard approach is 450 feet, or 137 meters.
- Track and swimming: older imperial tracks were 440 yards (1,320 ft) per lap, slightly longer than today’s 400-meter track; many US pools are 25 yards (75 ft) long.
Watch the dimensions
Linear yards, square yards and cubic yards convert differently:
| Unit | In feet |
|---|---|
| 1 yard | 3 ft |
| 1 square yard | 9 ft² |
| 1 cubic yard | 27 ft³ |
Carpet is often priced per square yard and bulk materials per cubic yard, so check which one a quote uses. For bulk volumes, use the cubic yards calculator or cubic yards to cubic feet.
To keep going down to inches, use feet to inches; for metric lengths, feet to meters or the full length converter.
Frequently asked questions
How many feet are in a yard?
Exactly 3 feet, which is 36 inches. The international yard is defined as 0.9144 meters, three times the 0.3048-meter foot.
How many feet is 100 yards?
300 feet. An American football field is 100 yards between the goal lines, so 300 feet, or 360 feet including both 10-yard end zones.
How many inches are in a quarter yard of fabric?
Nine inches. A full yard is 36 inches, and 36 ÷ 4 = 9. A fat quarter is also a quarter yard of fabric, but cut as about 18 by 22 inches instead of a 9-inch strip across the bolt.
Are cubic yards converted the same way?
No. A cubic yard is 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 cubic feet, so divide cubic feet by 27, not 3. Concrete, mulch and gravel are sold by the cubic yard.