The standard feet abbreviation is ft, and it works for one foot or many: 1 ft, 8 ft, 300 ft. There is no plural form, so "fts" is never correct. When space is tight, a single prime mark (′) or an apostrophe also stands for feet, as in a height of 5′ 10″.
The foot is a unit of length in the US customary system, equal to 12 inches or exactly 0.3048 meters. You will see its abbreviation on room plans, ladders, road signs, height charts and real estate listings. Here is how to write it so it reads cleanly in each setting.
Quick facts
Abbreviation
ft (same for foot and feet)Symbol
′ (prime), often typed as an apostrophePeriod
Usually none; ft. is also seenPlural
No plural form: 10 ft, not 10 ftsEquals
12 inches, one third of a yard, 0.3048 metersSquare feet
sq ft or ft²Not to be confused with
Ft. for Fort, ft. for featuring
What does ft stand for?
The letters ft are the first and last consonants of foot. The same short form covers the plural, feet, because measurement abbreviations in English do not change for number. You write 1 ft and 12 ft the same way.
When you read it out loud, say the full word: "a six ft fence" is read as "a six foot fence," and "the room is 14 ft wide" is read as "fourteen feet wide." Nobody says "eff tee." For more measurement short forms, see the common abbreviations section.
Writing the feet abbreviation with or without a period
Both ft and ft. appear in American writing. Modern technical and scientific style drops the period, and most product labels and plans do the same. Some general style guides still add one, partly so the short form is not mistaken for a word. Choose one style and use it throughout a document.
- Plans, specs, labels: ft, no period.
- Newspaper or school writing: often spelled out, "6 feet," or written ft. if a short form is needed.
- Tables and charts: ft, often in the column heading only, such as "Length (ft)."
Put one space after the number: 25 ft, not 25ft.
Using the foot symbol for height
The prime mark (′) is the symbol for feet and the double prime (″) is the symbol for inches. Most keyboards lack these marks, so people type a plain apostrophe for feet and a plain double quote for inches, which readers accept in casual writing.
Driver's license or sports roster: "Height: 5′ 10″." Read it as "five feet ten inches," or simply "five ten." A tall player might be listed as 6′ 2″.
Symbols are handy in charts and forms, but in a sentence the words or the letters read better: "She is 5 ft 6 in tall" or "She is five feet six inches tall." The abbreviation for inches page covers the in and ″ marks in more detail.
Square feet, cubic feet and other combinations
| Measure | Written as | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Square feet | sq ft, ft² | "1,850 sq ft home" |
| Cubic feet | cu ft, ft³ | "A 20 cu ft fridge" |
| Feet per second | ft/s, fps | "Water moving at 3 ft/s" |
| Cubic feet per minute | CFM | "A 300 CFM range hood" |
| Foot pound | ft-lb, ft·lb | "Tighten to 80 ft-lb" |
Real estate listings rely on square feet more than any other combination. See the abbreviation for square feet page for how sq ft is written on listings and floor plans.
How feet compare with other length units
- 1 foot = 12 inches
- 3 feet = 1 yard, written yd (see the yards abbreviation)
- 5,280 feet = 1 mile, written mi (see the miles abbreviation)
- 1 foot = 30.48 centimeters, or 0.3048 meters
On a ladder label: "Max reach 12 ft." The ladder lets an average adult reach about 12 feet off the ground, not climb 12 feet up.
Other things ft. can mean
The letters are short enough to have a few other jobs, so context matters.
- Ft. with a capital F often means Fort in place names, as in Ft. Lauderdale or Ft. Worth.
- ft. in a music credit means featuring, as in a track listed as one artist ft. another. The abbreviation for featuring page explains that use.
- FT in capitals can mean full time on a job ad or a sports score.
If a number sits right before the letters, ft is almost always feet.
Questions people ask
What is the abbreviation for feet?
It is ft, with or without a period. The same abbreviation is used for one foot and for several feet.
What does ft stand for?
Ft stands for foot or feet, the unit of length equal to 12 inches. In place names, Ft. can also stand for Fort.
Is it ft or fts for plural?
Always ft. Unit abbreviations never add an s. Write 10 ft, never 10 fts.
What is the symbol for feet?
The symbol is the prime mark, ′, as in 6′. In everyday typing an apostrophe is used instead and is widely understood.
How do you write 5 feet 9 inches?
You can write 5 ft 9 in, 5′ 9″, or 5'9" with keyboard marks. In a sentence, spelling it out as five feet nine inches is also fine.