# There are 2 different versions of the foot (12 inches) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897 "2019-12-15T16:48:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/1 "2019-12-15T16:48:54Z")
but soon the US will use the version everyone else does which probably doesn’t matter since almost everyone else uses the metric system [https://www.wral.com/us-finally-giving-boot-to-official-foot-measurement/18832708/](https://www.wral.com/us-finally-giving-boot-to-official-foot-measurement/18832708/) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/2 "2019-12-15T18:47:38Z")
Would be nice if that article mentioned what a U.S. Survey Foot is: [12.12 inches.](https://www.nist.gov/pml/us-surveyfoot/frequently-asked-questions-faqs) ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/3 "2019-12-15T18:52:44Z")
Right? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/4 "2019-12-15T19:20:33Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Would be nice if that article mentioned what a U.S. Survey Foot is: [12.12 inches.](https://www.nist.gov/pml/us-surveyfoot/frequently-asked-questions-faqs) That’s not what that article says. It says that 5280 survey feet is longer than 5280 standard feet by 0.12 inches. A survey foot is about 1.000002 standard feet (if I’ve gotten it right) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/5 "2019-12-15T19:25:51Z")
The article in the OP does give the definition of the survey foot: 1200 meters divided by 3937. Which is, as Andy L says, 1.000002 international feet, or 12.000024 inches. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/6 "2019-12-15T19:30:51Z")
Historically, there were [loads](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Inch_converter.jpg) of different feet; there was no universal standard and they were not necessarily reproducibly defined. So no big surprise that some people are still using different ones, especially if they have to deal with historical survey documents that predate the metric system. (Or just a bit outdated; reminds me of the time I mixed up a British and an American screw) ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/7 "2019-12-16T04:46:39Z")
While we’re at it, note that there are two versions of “mile”: The statute mile of 5280 feet, and the nautical mile of approx. 6076.1155 feet. The nautical mile is much easier to work with, in particular for quick mental calculations where it can be rounded to 6000 feet. Example: A certain model of glider can glide 36 feet for every foot of altitude it loses. How many miles can it glide for every 1000 feet of altitude it loses (vertical distances being conveniently measured in increments of 1000 feet)? Calculations like this can be done easily mentally, as long as we’re using nautical miles and “approximate” (but close) answers are good enough. That would be hard to do with statute miles. Six nautical miles. So, you’re at 5000 feet above ground level and you suddenly realize you’re 20 miles from the nearest airport. You need to be at 1000 feet when you arrive at the airport in order to fly a proper landing pattern. Assuming calm air (both horizontally and vertically), can you make it back? Yes. But assuming calm air it typically a bit over-optimistic, so in reality you might be sweating a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/8 "2019-12-16T05:20:38Z")
As I recall, it didn’t matter until WWII. As part of the whole international war effort, the British and the Americans tried to harmonize measurements, but realized that the American inch was just different to the British inch. Rather than try to convert while in the middle of a war, they just recognised the difference and allowed for it. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/9 "2019-12-16T05:57:55Z")
The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that’s the way I likes it! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/10 "2019-12-16T14:51:22Z")
The city of Philadelphia uses it’s own foot for surveying too, the [Philadelphia District Measure](https://www.pobonline.com/articles/86637-city-of-philadelphia-regulators). It generally adds 3 inches to every 100 ft. When my dad was a surveyor, they had to check the deeds to see if they specified standard feet or PDM feet, and use the appropriate tape measure. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/11 "2019-12-16T14:59:29Z")
I remember in the early 70s the push to make the US go metric. We had a few road signs that added km along with miles to the next town. I guess if it hasn’t happened by now not sure it will ever happen. BTW I know there are many US scientists who use the metric system. I mean use by the general public. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/12 "2019-12-16T15:08:02Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > (Or just a bit outdated; reminds me of the time I mixed up a British and an American screw) “Lie back and think of… _damn, which side of the Atlantic am I on again?_” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/13 "2019-12-16T15:08:19Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I remember in the early 70s the push to make the US go metric. We had a few road signs that added km along with miles to the next town. I guess if it hasn’t happened by now not sure it will ever happen. BTW I know there are many US scientists who use the metric system. I mean use by the general public. Every scientist uses metric. You can’t publish if you’ve used anything else. And BTW, the electricity coming into your house? That you’re paying for by the kilowatt-hour? That’s metric - 1 Watt = 1 kg⋅m[sup]2[/sup]⋅s[sup]−3[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/14 "2019-12-16T15:12:23Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Would be nice if that article mentioned what a U.S. Survey Foot is: [12.12 inches.](https://www.nist.gov/pml/us-surveyfoot/frequently-asked-questions-faqs) > [@Andy\_L](#): > > That’s not what that article says. It says that 5280 survey feet is longer than 5280 standard feet by 0.12 inches. A survey foot is about 1.000002 standard feet (if I’ve gotten it right) Now I see where I went wrong; I was looking at the NIST’s difference for a mile. Still would have been nice if the article mentioned the measurement in inches rather than requiring the readers to work it out for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/15 "2019-12-16T16:02:10Z")
They can take my feet when they pry them from my cold, dead hands! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/16 "2019-12-16T16:33:17Z")
> [@K364](#): > > The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that’s the way I likes it! Which hogshead? May not matter because any of them would mean your car only gets about 0.02 mpg. My car gets about 242,000 rods per barrel. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/17 "2019-12-16T17:34:38Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I mean use by the general public. I believe it’s now hard to impossible to buy a vehicle - whether made in the US or elsewhere - that uses non-metric fasteners. Certainly every serious US mechanic now has metric tools (which he probably uses far more often than his Imperial set). ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/18 "2019-12-16T17:57:38Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Which hogshead? May not matter because any of them would mean your car only gets about 0.02 mpg. My car gets about 242,000 rods per barrel. Well, my car gets about 15,000 inverse square inches. (Distance per volume = area[sup]-1[/sup].) ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/19 "2019-12-16T18:59:38Z")
I have a difference between my left foot and my right foot! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897/20 "2019-12-16T21:57:06Z")
Ford, GM and Chrysler are all metric now for bolts and nuts? I had not heard that. For a long time any decent socket set has both US and metric sockets . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/there-are-2-different-versions-of-the-foot-12-inches/844897.md?page=2)