diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
index e3dc8aa6d0..d9c3c4259b 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/unit.py
@@ -574,10 +574,9 @@ def format_length(
         if imperial_unit == "foot":
             feet = int(value)
             inches = (value - feet) * 12
-
         elif imperial_unit == "inch":
-            inches = value * 12
-
+            inches = value % 12
+            feet = int(round((value - inches) / 12))
 
         # Round to the nearest 1/N
         nearest = round(inches * precision)
@@ -587,22 +586,14 @@ def format_length(
 
         # If fraction is a whole number, format it accordingly
         if frac.denominator == 1:
-            if imperial_unit == "inch":
-                return f"{round(inches)}\""
-            if suppress_zero_inches:
-                if imperial_unit == "foot":
-                    return f"{round(value)}'"
-            elif not suppress_zero_inches:
-                if imperial_unit == "foot":
-                    return f"{round(value)}' - 0\"" 
-        if frac.numerator > frac.denominator and not frac.denominator == 0:
+            if suppress_zero_inches and frac.numerator == 0:
+                return f"{feet}'"
+            return f"{feet}' - {frac.numerator}\""
+        if frac.numerator > frac.denominator:
             remainder = frac.numerator % frac.denominator
             whole = int((frac.numerator - remainder) / frac.denominator)
-            if imperial_unit == "foot":
-                return f"{feet}' - {whole} {remainder}/{frac.denominator}\""
-            elif imperial_unit == "inch":
-                return f"{whole} {remainder}/{frac.denominator}\""
-
+            return f"{feet}' - {whole} {remainder}/{frac.denominator}\""
+        return f"{feet}' - {frac.numerator}/{frac.denominator}\""
     elif unit_system == "metric":
         rounded_val = round(value / precision) * precision
         return f"{rounded_val:.{decimal_places}f}"