Height Converter
Convert your height between centimetres and feet and inches. Type in either side.
About this tool
Uses the exact definition 1 inch = 2.54 cm, so 1 foot = 30.48 cm. Inches are rounded to one decimal place, and 12 inches roll over into the next foot.
Forms, sizing charts and medical records do not always use the same units: a visa form may want centimetres while a friend asks for feet and inches. This converter works both ways. Type your height in centimetres to see feet and inches, or type feet and inches to see centimetres, along with the height in metres and total inches.
How to use the Height Converter
- Type your height in centimetres, for example 175.
- Read the feet and inches that fill in next to it.
- Or type feet and inches instead, and the centimetres update.
- Use the metres or total inches if a form asks for those.
Converting 175 cm
175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 inches. 68.9 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 8.9 inches left over, so 175 cm is 5 ft 8.9 in, which most people round to 5 ft 9 in. Going the other way, 6 ft 0 in is 72 inches × 2.54 = 182.88 cm.
Why 2.54 is exact
Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so a foot (12 inches) is exactly 30.48 cm. Converting a height is therefore just multiplication and division: centimetres ÷ 2.54 gives inches, and dividing by 12 gives feet with the remainder in inches. Any rounding happens only when the result is displayed.
Frequently asked questions
How many cm is 5 feet?
152.4 cm. Every foot is 30.48 cm, so 5 × 30.48 = 152.4.
How tall is 170 cm in feet?
About 5 ft 6.9 in, which is usually rounded to 5 ft 7 in.
Is 6 feet 180 cm?
Not quite: 6 ft is 182.88 cm, and 180 cm is about 5 ft 10.9 in.
Why do my inches show a decimal?
Heights rarely land on a whole inch. The converter keeps one decimal place so you can round the way the form asks.