Height is stated in feet and inches in the United States and the United Kingdom, and in centimetres or metres nearly everywhere else, so conversions come up constantly: filling in a form, reading a medical record, comparing a sports profile, or using a calculator that expects metric units. The conversion is exact because the inch is defined as precisely 2.54 centimetres. This converter handles feet and inches, centimetres and metres in either direction and shows the total in inches as well.
How to use the height converter
- Choose what you are converting from: feet and inches, centimetres, or metres.
- Enter the height. For feet and inches, put the whole feet in the first box and the inches, with decimals if you like, in the second.
- Read the result in centimetres, metres, total inches and feet-and-inches form.
Height conversion formulas
Total inches = centimetres ÷ 2.54
Feet = whole number of (total inches ÷ 12); remaining inches = total inches − feet × 12
Metres = centimetres ÷ 100
The international inch of exactly 25.4 millimetres was adopted by the United States, the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries in 1959 and is maintained by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST Handbook 44 and NIST Special Publication 811).
Worked examples
Feet and inches to centimetres: 5 ft 10 in.
- Total inches = 5 × 12 + 10 = 70
- Centimetres = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm (1.778 m)
Centimetres to feet and inches: 163 cm.
- Total inches = 163 ÷ 2.54 = 64.17 in
- Feet = 64.17 ÷ 12 = 5 whole feet, remainder 4.17 inches, so 5 ft 4.2 in.
Centimetres to feet and inches
| Centimetres | Metres | Total inches | Feet and inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 1.50 m | 59.1 in | 4′ 11.1″ |
| 155 cm | 1.55 m | 61.0 in | 5′ 1.0″ |
| 160 cm | 1.60 m | 63.0 in | 5′ 3.0″ |
| 165 cm | 1.65 m | 65.0 in | 5′ 5.0″ |
| 170 cm | 1.70 m | 66.9 in | 5′ 6.9″ |
| 175 cm | 1.75 m | 68.9 in | 5′ 8.9″ |
| 180 cm | 1.80 m | 70.9 in | 5′ 10.9″ |
| 185 cm | 1.85 m | 72.8 in | 6′ 0.8″ |
| 190 cm | 1.90 m | 74.8 in | 6′ 2.8″ |
| 195 cm | 1.95 m | 76.8 in | 6′ 4.8″ |
Feet and inches to centimetres
| Feet and inches | Total inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 4′ 0″ | 48 in | 121.9 cm |
| 4′ 2″ | 50 in | 127.0 cm |
| 4′ 4″ | 52 in | 132.1 cm |
| 4′ 6″ | 54 in | 137.2 cm |
| 4′ 8″ | 56 in | 142.2 cm |
| 4′ 10″ | 58 in | 147.3 cm |
| 5′ 0″ | 60 in | 152.4 cm |
| 5′ 2″ | 62 in | 157.5 cm |
| 5′ 4″ | 64 in | 162.6 cm |
| 5′ 6″ | 66 in | 167.6 cm |
| 5′ 8″ | 68 in | 172.7 cm |
| 5′ 10″ | 70 in | 177.8 cm |
| 6′ 0″ | 72 in | 182.9 cm |
| 6′ 2″ | 74 in | 188.0 cm |
| 6′ 4″ | 76 in | 193.0 cm |
| 6′ 6″ | 78 in | 198.1 cm |
| 6′ 8″ | 80 in | 203.2 cm |
| 6′ 10″ | 82 in | 208.3 cm |
Average adult height
According to the US National Center for Health Statistics (Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2015–2018, Vital and Health Statistics Series 3, No. 46, 2021), the mean height of adults aged 20 and over is about 175.4 cm (5 ft 9.1 in) for men and 161.3 cm (5 ft 3.5 in) for women. Heights vary between countries and between generations, and individuals are distributed widely around these means.
Measuring your height accurately
- Stand barefoot against a flat wall, heels, buttocks and shoulders touching it, looking straight ahead.
- Use a flat object such as a book to mark the top of your head, then measure from the floor to the mark.
- Measure at the same time of day. You can be about 1 to 2 cm taller in the morning than at night.
- Do not use shoes or hair volume, which add a centimetre or more.
Where height matters
Height is the second ingredient of BMI (see the BMI Calculator) and of most body-size formulas, including the Ideal Weight Calculator, Healthy Weight Range Calculator and Body Surface Area Calculator. Parents can see the Child Height Predictor for an estimate of a child’s adult height from the parents’ heights.
This page is for information only and is not medical advice. Speak to a doctor about your own health and any treatment decisions.
Sources
- National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST Handbook 44 and Special Publication 811 (the international inch, 2.54 cm exactly).
- Fryar CD, Gu Q, Ogden CL, Flegal KM. Anthropometric reference data for children and adults: United States, 2015–2018. Vital Health Stat 3(46), National Center for Health Statistics, 2021.
Frequently asked questions
How many centimetres are in a foot?
One foot is 12 inches, which is exactly 30.48 centimetres, because an inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres. So 5 feet is 152.4 cm and 6 feet is 182.88 cm.
How do I convert feet and inches to centimetres?
Multiply the feet by 12, add the inches, then multiply by 2.54. For 5 ft 10 in: (5 × 12 + 10) × 2.54 = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm.
How do I convert centimetres to feet and inches?
Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches. Divide by 12 for the whole feet; the remainder is the inches. For 170 cm: 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 in = 5 ft 6.93 in, or about 5 ft 7 in.
What is the average height?
Data from the US National Center for Health Statistics for 2015–2018 give a mean height of about 175.4 cm (69.1 in) for adult men and 161.3 cm (63.5 in) for adult women in the United States. Averages differ between countries and generations.
Why is my height slightly different in the morning and evening?
The spine compresses during the day, so people are typically 1 to 2 cm taller in the morning after lying down. For consistent records, measure at the same time of day, barefoot, standing against a wall.