About this tool
This converter uses the exact international standard (1 inch = 2.54 cm) to convert a centimeter measurement into feet and inches, or the reverse. It's most commonly used for converting a person's height between metric and imperial units.
Also covers: feet to cm. Type a height in the Feet and Inches boxes and the Centimeters box fills in.
How to use it
- Type a height or length in the Centimeters box.
- Read the Feet and Inches boxes. Inches are rounded to the nearest whole inch, and 12 inches roll over into an extra foot.
- To go the other way, type feet in Feet and the remainder in Inches; the Centimeters box fills in.
- For decimal inches instead of a rounded height, use the formula and table further down this page.
Worked example
Type 170 in Centimeters. 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches; 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 6.93 inches left over, which rounds to 7. The boxes show 5 feet and 7 inches. Going the other way, 5 feet 8 inches is 68 inches, and 68 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm.
Quick reference table
| Centimeters | Feet & Inches |
|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4' 11" |
| 160 cm | 5' 3" |
| 170 cm | 5' 7" |
| 180 cm | 5' 11" |
| 190 cm | 6' 3" |
| 200 cm | 6' 7" |
Common use cases
- Converting a person's height between metric and imperial measurement systems
- Checking a doorway, furniture, or space measurement given in the unit you're not used to
- Converting a height requirement listed on a form or application
Things to watch out for
Height in feet and inches is conventionally rounded to the nearest whole inch (or sometimes half-inch) rather than shown with decimal precision, since sub-inch precision isn't meaningful for most everyday height purposes. The underlying conversion (2.54 cm per inch) is exact, so any small differences you see between tools come from rounding display choices, not the math itself.
Height chart: centimeters to feet and inches
Heights are usually shown in feet and inches in the US and in centimeters almost everywhere else. Here are common values, rounded to one decimal place.
| Centimeters | Feet and inches |
|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11.1 in |
| 155 cm | 5 ft 1.0 in |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 3.0 in |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 5.0 in |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.9 in |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.9 in |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.9 in |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.8 in |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 2.8 in |
| 195 cm | 6 ft 4.8 in |
| 200 cm | 6 ft 6.7 in |
How the conversion works
First divide the centimeters by 2.54 to get total inches. Then divide by 12: the whole number is the feet, and the remainder is the inches. For 175 cm, 175 / 2.54 = 68.9 inches, which is 5 feet with 8.9 inches left over, or about 5 ft 9 in. If the inches come out as 11.6 you may see 5 ft 11.6 in or 6 ft 0 in depending on rounding, so decide whether you want the nearest whole inch or one decimal.
Where you need this conversion
Height fields on forms, dating profiles, medical records, clothing size guides and sports rosters often switch between units. If you are filling out a form from another country, convert once and double check the result: the most common mistake is subtracting from the wrong number of feet when the inches round up to 12. For smaller measurements, the cm to inches converter is quicker.
CM to feet and inches: the formula
- Divide the centimeters by 2.54 to get total inches. 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches.
- Divide the inches by 12. The whole number is the feet: 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with a remainder.
- The remainder is the inches: 66.93 − 60 = 6.93 inches.
So 170 cm is 5 feet 6.93 inches, usually written 5′7″ when rounded to the nearest inch.
| Centimeters | Feet and inches | Rounded height |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11.06 in | 4′ 11″ |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 2.99 in | 5′ 3″ |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 4.96 in | 5′ 5″ |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.93 in | 5′ 7″ |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.90 in | 5′ 9″ |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.87 in | 5′ 11″ |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.83 in | 6′ 1″ |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 2.80 in | 6′ 3″ |
Going the other way
To change feet and inches to centimeters, multiply the total inches by 2.54. Six feet is 72 inches, which is 182.88 cm, and 5 feet 10 inches is 70 inches, or 177.8 cm. Type feet and inches into the boxes above for that direction, use CM to Inches for inches only, and the Calorie Calculator if you are working out calorie needs from your height.
Frequently asked questions
170 cm is approximately 5 feet 7 inches. This comes from converting 170 cm to inches (66.93 in), then dividing by 12 to get whole feet, with the remainder as inches.
Feet and inches together are the standard way height is expressed in the US and a few other countries, while centimeters are the standard nearly everywhere else — this specific unit pairing is almost always about converting a person's height between the two systems.
Height in feet and inches is conventionally shown as a whole number of feet plus a separate whole (or rounded) number of inches, like 5'7", rather than as a decimal like 5.6 feet — this tool converts to that familiar format automatically.
180 cm is 5 feet 10.87 inches, which rounds to 5'11". Divide 180 by 2.54 to get 70.87 inches, then split that into 5 feet and 10.87 inches.
Divide the centimeters by 2.54 to get inches, divide by 12 for whole feet, and keep the remainder as the inches. For 175 cm that gives 68.9 inches, or 5 feet 8.9 inches.
Six feet is 72 inches, which is 182.88 cm. Five feet ten inches is 177.8 cm.