How it works
Height is given in centimetres in most of the world and in feet and inches in the US and UK. Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so the conversion is exact; only the rounding of the inches changes.
inches = cm ÷ 2.54 · feet = whole part of inches ÷ 12 · remaining inches = inches − feet × 12 cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54Worked examples. 175 cm ÷ 2.54 = 68.90 inches = 5 ft 8.9 in (5.7415 ft). Going back, 5 ft 9 in = 69 in × 2.54 = 175.26 cm. 180 cm is 5 ft 10.9 in, and 6 ft is 182.88 cm.
Height chart
| cm | ft / in | cm | ft / in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 4′ 11.1″ | 175 | 5′ 8.9″ |
| 155 | 5′ 1.0″ | 180 | 5′ 10.9″ |
| 160 | 5′ 3.0″ | 185 | 6′ 0.8″ |
| 165 | 5′ 5.0″ | 190 | 6′ 2.8″ |
| 170 | 5′ 6.9″ | 200 | 6′ 6.7″ |
Decimal feet are not feet and inches
5.7 ft is not 5 ft 7 in. The decimal part is a fraction of a foot: 0.7 × 12 = 8.4 inches, so 5.7 ft = 5 ft 8.4 in. Forms and passports want feet and inches; spreadsheets and engineering often use decimal feet. The calculator shows both.
Tips for measuring height
- Stand barefoot with heels, back and head against a wall, looking straight ahead.
- Measure in the morning — people are up to 1–2 cm taller after sleeping.
- Round to the nearest half inch or whole centimetre for official forms.
Converting other lengths? Use cm to inches or feet to meters. With your height in cm, check your healthy weight range with the ideal weight calculator.