Height Converter: Complete Guide to Converting cm, Feet & Inches
Our free height converter instantly converts between the two dominant measurement systems: the metric system (centimeters and meters) used by 195+ countries, and the imperial system (feet and inches) used primarily in the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other countries. Whether you need to fill in a passport application, interpret a medical record, compare athletic stats, or simply understand a friend's height — this height converter tool handles all directions simultaneously.
How to Convert cm to Feet and Inches
The most searched variant is the height converter to cm question in reverse — converting centimeters back into feet and inches. Here is the exact step-by-step formula:
- Divide the height in cm by 2.54 to get total inches. Example: 175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.898 in.
- Divide total inches by 12 to get feet (integer part). Example: ⌊68.898 ÷ 12⌋ = 5 ft.
- The remainder is the inches value. Example: 68.898 − 60 = 8.9 in.
- Result: 175 cm = 5 ft 8.9 in (commonly written 5′9″).
How to Convert Feet and Inches to cm
To use this as a height converter from feet to centimeters:
- Multiply feet by 12 to get total inches. Example: 5 × 12 = 60.
- Add the remaining inches. Example: 60 + 9 = 69 total in.
- Multiply by 2.54. Example: 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm.
This same process works as a height converter cm to feet and inches or a height converter from feet to centimeters — just run it in either direction. Our tool performs all five unit conversions simultaneously the moment you type.
Common Height Conversions — Quick Reference Table
| ft & in | cm | m |
|---|---|---|
| 4′10″ | 147.3 cm | 1.473 m |
| 5′0″ | 152.4 cm | 1.524 m |
| 5′2″ | 157.5 cm | 1.575 m |
| 5′4″ | 162.6 cm | 1.626 m |
| 5′5″ | 165.1 cm | 1.651 m (avg US woman) |
| 5′6″ | 167.6 cm | 1.676 m |
| 5′7″ | 170.2 cm | 1.702 m |
| 5′8″ | 172.7 cm | 1.727 m |
| 5′9″ | 175.3 cm | 1.753 m |
| 5′10″ | 177.8 cm | 1.778 m (avg US man) |
| 5′11″ | 180.3 cm | 1.803 m |
| 6′0″ | 182.9 cm | 1.829 m |
| 6′2″ | 188.0 cm | 1.880 m |
| 6′4″ | 193.0 cm | 1.930 m |
| 6′6″ | 198.1 cm | 1.981 m |
Metric vs. Imperial: Why Two Systems?
The metric system (cm, m) is the official measurement standard for 195 of approximately 200 countries worldwide. The imperial system (feet, inches) persists primarily in the United States — and informally in the United Kingdom, where formal documents now use metric but conversational height and weight remain imperial. This is why a height conversion chart or height converter table remains one of the most-searched converter tools on the internet, particularly for medical forms, sports data, international travel, and visa applications.
Height Converter for Passport Applications
Most government passport and visa applications now request height in metric units. EU, UK, Australian, and Canadian passport forms request height in centimeters. US passports request height in feet and inches. Some common passport-critical conversions:
- 5′5″ → 165 cm
- 5′7″ → 170 cm
- 5′10″ → 178 cm
- 6′0″ → 183 cm
- 6′2″ → 188 cm
Height Conversion Formulas at a Glance
Our converter supports five units: centimeters (cm), meters (m), feet (ft), inches (in), and yards (yd). Select any unit from the "Convert from unit" bar and the tool calculates all four other values simultaneously.
- cm to feet: cm ÷ 30.48
- cm to inches: cm ÷ 2.54
- cm to yards: cm ÷ 91.44
- cm to meters: cm ÷ 100
- feet to cm: feet × 30.48
- inches to cm: inches × 2.54
- yards to cm: yards × 91.44
- meters to feet: m × 3.28084
- feet to meters: feet × 0.3048
Yards in Height — When Is This Unit Used?
While yards are rarely used for human height in everyday conversation, they appear in specific professional contexts: athletic field measurements, certain US legal documents, and historical records from the 18th and 19th centuries when yard-based measurements were more common. One yard equals exactly 3 feet, 36 inches, or 91.44 cm. A person who is 6 feet tall is exactly 2 yards tall. Our converter includes yards so this tool covers every imperial length unit in one place, eliminating the need to visit a separate converter for unusual unit combinations.
Frequently Asked Questions — Height Conversions
How tall is 170 cm in feet and inches?
170 cm = 5 feet 6.93 inches, commonly rounded to 5′7″. In meters: 1.70 m. Calculation: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 in → 5 ft 6.93 in.
How tall is 175 cm in feet?
175 cm = 5 feet 8.9 inches (written 5′9″). In meters: 1.75 m. This is slightly below the average male height in the US (177 cm / 5′10″).
How tall is 180 cm in feet?
180 cm = 5 feet 10.87 inches, typically written as 5′11″. In meters: 1.80 m. 180 cm is above average height for men in most countries worldwide.
What is 5′10″ in cm?
5 feet 10 inches = 177.8 cm (1.778 m). Calculation: (5 × 12 + 10) × 2.54 = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm. This is the average height for adult men in the United States.
What is 5′7″ in cm?
5 feet 7 inches = 170.18 cm (1.702 m). Calculation: (5 × 12 + 7) × 2.54 = 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm.
What is 6 feet in cm?
6 feet = exactly 182.88 cm (1.829 m). Calculation: 6 × 12 = 72 inches × 2.54 = 182.88 cm. 6 feet is above average height for men in every country worldwide.
How many cm is 5 foot 5?
5′5″ = 165.1 cm (1.651 m). This is close to the average height for women in the United States (163.8 cm) and many Western countries.
How tall is 160 cm in feet?
160 cm = 5 feet 2.99 inches, commonly rounded to 5′3″. In meters: 1.60 m. This is approximately the average height for women in Japan, Mexico, and many parts of Asia and Latin America.
What is 5 foot 11 in cm?
5 feet 11 inches = 180.34 cm (1.803 m). Calculation: (5 × 12 + 11) × 2.54 = 71 × 2.54 = 180.34 cm.
What is the average height of a man worldwide?
The global average height for adult men is approximately 171 cm (5′7″). The tallest averages are in the Netherlands and Montenegro (~183 cm / 6′0″); the shortest are in Guatemala and the Philippines (~163 cm / 5′4″).
What is the average height of a woman worldwide?
The global average height for adult women is approximately 160 cm (5′3″). The tallest averages are in Latvia and the Netherlands (~170 cm / 5′7″). The shortest are in Guatemala and the Philippines (~150 cm / 4′11″).
How do I convert meters to feet and inches?
Multiply meters × 100 to get cm, then divide by 2.54 for total inches. Split into feet (÷12, integer) and remaining inches. Example: 1.80 m → 180 cm → 70.87 in → 5′10.87″. Our converter does this automatically for you.
Is 175 cm tall for a man?
175 cm (5′9″) is slightly below average in Northern Europe (avg ~180 cm) but at or above average for men in most of Asia, Latin America, and Africa. In the US, the average is 177 cm, so 175 cm is just under the national average.
How does height notation differ between the US and Europe?
In the US and UK, informal height is written as 5′11″ (feet + inches). In Europe and most of the world, height is expressed as 180 cm or 1.80 m. UK medical and official documents now use metric, though conversational height still defaults to imperial in everyday speech.
How do I convert height for a US visa or passport form?
US passport and DS-160 visa forms require height in feet and inches. If you only know your height in cm, use the converter above and enter the resulting feet+inches values. For example: 173 cm = 5 ft 8 in → enter "5 ft 8 in" on the form.