How to Convert Your Height: Feet, Inches, Centimeters, and Meters
How Height Is Measured Around the World
Height is not expressed the same way everywhere. In the United States, people usually give height in feet and inches, such as 5 feet 10 inches. In most other countries, height is given in centimeters, and sometimes in meters (for example, 1.78 m). Knowing which system you are dealing with helps you fill out forms correctly and communicate clearly when traveling or working across borders.
If you are in the US, you will see feet and inches on driver's licenses, medical forms, and in everyday conversation. In the UK, metric is official but feet and inches are still common for personal height. In Europe, Asia, and most of the rest of the world, centimeters or meters are the norm. When in doubt, check the form or website for the unit they expect.
The Conversion Formulas
You can convert height with simple math. The fixed numbers you need are: one foot equals 30.48 centimeters, and one inch equals 2.54 centimeters. These values are exact for the international definition used in most applications.
Feet to Centimeters
To convert feet to centimeters, multiply the number of feet by 30.48. For example, 6 feet is 6 times 30.48, which equals 182.88 cm.
Inches to Centimeters
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the number of inches by 2.54. For example, 4 inches is 4 times 2.54, which equals 10.16 cm.
Feet and Inches to Centimeters (Combined)
For a height given in feet and inches, convert each part and add them. Formula: (feet times 30.48) plus (inches times 2.54) equals height in cm. So 5 feet 7 inches is (5 times 30.48) plus (7 times 2.54), which is 152.4 plus 17.78, or 170.18 cm.
Common Height Conversion Chart
Use this table for quick lookup. Heights are rounded to one decimal place for centimeters and two for meters.
| Feet and Inches | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | 147.3 cm | 1.47 m |
| 4'11" | 149.9 cm | 1.50 m |
| 5'0" | 152.4 cm | 1.52 m |
| 5'1" | 154.9 cm | 1.55 m |
| 5'2" | 157.5 cm | 1.57 m |
| 5'3" | 160.0 cm | 1.60 m |
| 5'4" | 162.6 cm | 1.63 m |
| 5'5" | 165.1 cm | 1.65 m |
| 5'6" | 167.6 cm | 1.68 m |
| 5'7" | 170.2 cm | 1.70 m |
| 5'8" | 172.7 cm | 1.73 m |
| 5'9" | 175.3 cm | 1.75 m |
| 5'10" | 177.8 cm | 1.78 m |
| 5'11" | 180.3 cm | 1.80 m |
| 6'0" | 182.9 cm | 1.83 m |
| 6'1" | 185.4 cm | 1.85 m |
| 6'2" | 188.0 cm | 1.88 m |
| 6'3" | 190.5 cm | 1.91 m |
| 6'4" | 193.0 cm | 1.93 m |
| 6'5" | 195.6 cm | 1.96 m |
| 6'6" | 198.1 cm | 1.98 m |
Converting in the Other Direction
To go from centimeters to feet and inches: divide the height in cm by 2.54 to get total inches. Then divide total inches by 12 to get feet; the remainder is the extra inches. For example, 180 cm divided by 2.54 is about 70.87 inches. That is 5 full feet (60 inches) plus 10.87 inches, so 5 feet 10.87 inches, often rounded to 5'11".
Height in Different Contexts
Height shows up in many places, and the preferred unit depends on the context. In medical and clinical settings, centimeters or meters are often used for consistency and for dosing or equipment. In aviation, cabin crew and some forms may use centimeters. In sports, especially internationally, height is usually in centimeters or meters. For passports and official documents, follow the form: many ask for height in centimeters even for US citizens. When you know the context, you can convert once and use the right number.
For a rough idea without a calculator: one foot is about 30 cm, and one inch is about 2.5 cm. So 5 feet is about 150 cm, and each extra inch adds about 2.5 cm. For the reverse, 30 cm is about one foot, so 180 cm is about 6 feet (actually a bit less, around 5'11"). These approximations are fine for quick estimates but use the exact formulas or a converter when accuracy matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cm is 5 foot 7?
5 foot 7 inches equals 170.18 cm. Multiply 5 by 30.48 (152.4) and add 7 times 2.54 (17.78).
How do I convert my height to meters?
First convert to centimeters, then divide by 100. For example, 5'10" is 177.8 cm, which is 1.778 meters.
Why does the US use feet and inches for height?
The US inherited the imperial system from Britain and never fully transitioned to metric. Feet and inches remain the cultural standard for describing human height in everyday conversation.
What is average height in feet and cm?
The global average adult male height is about 5'7" (170 cm) and female height is about 5'3" (161 cm), though this varies significantly by country.
How tall is 180 cm in feet?
180 cm equals 5 feet 10.87 inches, which is commonly rounded to 5'11".