Heights and lengths in the units you know
Heights are given in centimetres on forms, doctors' notes and clothing sizes in most of the world, and in feet and inches in the US and often the UK. Lengths have the same split: metres on one side, feet, yards and miles on the other. This converter moves between them in either direction.
Type a height in centimetres to get feet and inches, type feet and inches to get centimetres, or use the general mode to convert any length unit, from millimetres to nautical miles.
How to convert
- Choose cm to feet and inches, Feet and inches to cm, or Any length unit.
- Enter the measurement. Inches can have decimals, like 9.5.
- For any unit, pick what you are converting from and to.
- Read the answer, with the same length in other units underneath.
The conversion factors
1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly
1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48 cm
feet and inches: inches = cm ÷ 2.54, then whole feet = inches ÷ 12 with the rest as inches
1 yard = 0.9144 m; 1 mile = 1,609.344 mThese are exact by definition. Since 1959, the international inch has been fixed at exactly 2.54 centimetres, and the yard and mile follow from it, as set out in NIST Handbook 44. The only rounding is in the answer, to one decimal place of an inch for heights.
Worked example: 175 cm in feet
- 175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 inches
- 68.9 ÷ 12 = 5 whole feet, which uses 60 inches
- 68.9 − 60 = 8.9 inches left over
So 175 cm is 5 ft 8.9 in, a little under 5 ft 9. Going the other way, 5 ft 9 in is 69 inches, and 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm.
Height conversion chart
| Centimetres | Feet and inches | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11.1 in | 59.1 in |
| 155 cm | 5 ft 1.0 in | 61.0 in |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 3.0 in | 63.0 in |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 5.0 in | 65.0 in |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.9 in | 66.9 in |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.9 in | 68.9 in |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.9 in | 70.9 in |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.8 in | 72.8 in |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 2.8 in | 74.8 in |
Mistakes to avoid
- Writing 5.9 feet for 5 ft 9 in. 5.9 feet is 5 ft 10.8 in. Use feet and inches, or 5.75 feet.
- Rounding to the nearest foot or 10 cm too early. Small differences add up when you convert back.
- Converting area or volume with the length factor. A square foot is 0.0929 square metres, not 0.3048. For areas, use the area converter.
- Linear feet are just feet along a length, used for boards, fencing and trim. They convert like any other length.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cm to feet and inches?
Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12. The whole number is the feet and the remainder is the inches. For 170 cm: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.9 inches, which is 5 feet with 6.9 inches left over, so 5 ft 6.9 in. The converter does this as you type.
How do I convert feet to metres?
Multiply feet by 0.3048. So 10 feet is 3.048 metres, and 6 feet is 1.83 metres. To convert feet and inches, first turn everything into inches, multiply by 2.54 to get centimetres, and divide by 100 for metres. Choose Any length unit to convert between feet, metres and other units.
How many centimetres are in an inch?
Exactly 2.54. The international inch was fixed at 2.54 centimetres in 1959, so the conversion never changes. A foot is 30.48 centimetres and a yard is 91.44 centimetres. Those exact figures are what the converter uses, so the answers match official measuring standards and every conversion can be reversed without drifting.
What is 6 feet in centimetres?
6 feet is 72 inches, and 72 × 2.54 = 182.88 cm, so about 183 cm. Five feet is 152.4 cm and five and a half feet, 5 ft 6 in, is 167.64 cm. Choose Feet and inches to cm above for any height.
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