Convert Long Reed (long reed) to Foot (ft) instantly.
About these units
Long Reed (long reed)
The long reed is a traditional unit of length used in Egypt and other ancient cultures, roughly equivalent to 2 cubits. It was employed in surveying, architecture, and the measurement of agricultural fields. The unit's length made it suitable for laying out longer distances with relatively few measurements, especially in river valley contexts where precision at large scales was important for irrigation and crop management. Historical records show the long reed in use for temple construction, pyramidal measurements, and land division, illustrating the practical integration of human-based units into early engineering practices.
Foot (ft)
A foot, equal to 12 inches, has been used for thousands of years and likely originated from the length of a human foot. Though early definitions varied, the modern standard foot—established internationally in 1959—provides a stable and consistent reference. The foot remains the foundation of architectural and construction measurements in the United States, influencing everything from lumber dimensions to ceiling heights and room layouts. Because the foot is intuitively relatable to human scale, people often estimate heights, furniture sizes, and walking distances in feet. In aviation, altitude is universally measured in feet worldwide, even in countries that otherwise use metric units—an unusual but deeply embedded global convention. The foot's persistence shows how cultural inertia can remain strong even when a unit predates modern scientific measurement.