What is the US survey foot exactly?

The US survey foot is a unit of length historically used in US land surveying, defined exactly as 1200/3937 meters, approximately 0.3048006096 meters.

What does mil or thou measure?

A mil, also called a thou, is a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch, commonly used to specify small thicknesses, clearances, and tolerances in manufacturing.

Why convert foot (US survey) to mil?

Converting from foot (US survey) to mil helps translate large-scale land measurements into smaller units needed for detailed engineering, manufacturing, and quality control.

Convert Foot (US survey) to Mil (mil, thou) Length Units

Convert length measurements from foot (US survey) to mil (mil, thou) easily with this online unit converter. Useful for land surveying, engineering, and manufacturing.

Foot (US survey) [ft]

Mil [mil, thou]

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Foot (US survey) [ft] to Mil [mil, thou] Conversion Table

Foot (US survey) [ft]	Mil [mil, thou]

Custom Unit Conversion Table Generator – Instant Printable Conversion Tables

Start Value

Enter the starting number (positive decimal or integer ≥ 0). Example: 0.1, 1, 5.

End Value

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Interval

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Foot (US survey) [ft] to Mil [mil, thou] Conversion Table
Foot (US survey) [ft]	Mil [mil, thou]

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What Is This Tool?

This converter allows you to convert length values from foot (US survey), a historical surveying unit, to mil (also known as thou), a small unit commonly used in engineering and manufacturing for precise thickness measurements.

How to Use This Tool?

Enter the length value measured in foot (US survey).
Choose the units: from foot (US survey) to mil (mil, thou).
Click the convert button to get the equivalent length in mil.
Review the converted value for use in manufacturing, engineering, or surveying contexts.

Key Features

Converts length from foot (US survey) to mil (thou) accurately based on defined conversion rates.
Supports translating large-scale surveying units into fine engineering tolerances.
Browser-based and easy to use for quick length unit translation.
Includes examples for typical length conversions.
Useful across multiple industries such as land surveying, electronics, and automotive coatings.

Examples

2 foot (US survey) converts to 24000.048 mil (thou).
0.5 foot (US survey) converts to 6000.012 mil (thou).

Common Use Cases

Defining property boundaries and cadastral surveys in the United States.
Converting legacy land surveying measurements into smaller units for manufacturing precision.
Specifying paint and coating thickness in automotive and industrial applications.
Determining PCB trace widths and spacing in electronics.
Describing film thickness, wire diameters, or shim tolerances in mechanical fabrication.

Tips & Best Practices

Ensure that the foot measurement is based on the US survey foot for accurate conversion.
Use the converted mil values primarily in precision engineering and manufacturing contexts.
Be aware of the difference between US survey foot and international foot to avoid minor discrepancies.
Cross-check converted values when applying to large-scale measurements for easier interpretation.

Limitations

The US survey foot is a historical unit and may differ slightly from the international foot used today.
Mil units are very small, so converting large foot-based measurements results in very large numbers that can be difficult to interpret.
This unit conversion is best suited for bridging legacy surveying data with precise industrial requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the US survey foot exactly?: The US survey foot is a unit of length historically used in US land surveying, defined exactly as 1200/3937 meters, approximately 0.3048006096 meters.
What does mil or thou measure?: A mil, also called a thou, is a unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch, commonly used to specify small thicknesses, clearances, and tolerances in manufacturing.
Why convert foot (US survey) to mil?: Converting from foot (US survey) to mil helps translate large-scale land measurements into smaller units needed for detailed engineering, manufacturing, and quality control.

Key Terminology

Foot (US survey): A unit of length historically used in US land surveying, exactly defined as 1200/3937 meters.
Mil (thou): A small unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch, commonly used to specify precise thickness and tolerances.
Conversion rate: The factor used to convert one unit to another; for foot (US survey) to mil, it is 1 foot = 12000.024000048 mil.

Quick Knowledge Check

What is a mil also known as?

A meter

A thou

A foot

What is the US survey foot mainly used for?

Electronics manufacturing

Land surveying and mapping

Automotive paint thickness

What is a typical use case for converting foot (US survey) to mil?

Measuring large scale distances for aviation

Specifying PCB drill sizes and electronics tolerances

Cooking measurements

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