If you have ever filled out a medical form abroad, bought furniture from a European retailer, or tried to explain your height to someone using the metric system, you have faced the imperial-to-metric conversion challenge. Feet and inches are intuitive for those raised in the US, UK, and Canada, but the rest of the world operates in centimeters and meters. This guide will teach you the exact formulas, provide quick-reference charts, and explain why accurate height and length conversions matter in medicine, travel, sports, and everyday life.
The Exact Conversion Formulas
The relationship between imperial and metric length units is defined by international agreement. These are not approximations — they are exact standards used in science, engineering, and medicine worldwide.
1 Inch = 2.54 cm (exact)
1 Foot = 12 Inches
To convert any feet-and-inches measurement to centimeters, use this simple two-step process:
- Convert feet to centimeters: Feet × 30.48
- Convert inches to centimeters: Inches × 2.54
- Add the two results together
Step-by-Step Example: 5 Feet 9 Inches
Let us convert one of the most common heights — 5 feet 9 inches — to centimeters:
9 inches × 2.54 = 22.86 cm
Total = 152.40 + 22.86 = 175.26 cm
This means someone who is 5'9" is approximately 175 cm tall. In meters, that is 1.75 m.
Why Precision Matters
You might wonder why we bother with decimals like 175.26 cm instead of just saying "about 175 cm." In most casual conversations, rounding is fine. But in several contexts, precision is critical:
- Medical records: Doctors track growth, BMI, and medication dosages using exact measurements. A 2 cm error in height can shift a child's growth percentile.
- Passport applications: Many countries require height in centimeters. An incorrect entry can cause processing delays.
- Sports and fitness: Boxing, gymnastics, and rowing use weight classes and equipment sizing that depend on exact body dimensions.
- Construction and furniture: A sofa that is 2 cm too wide for a doorway is a sofa that will not fit.
Complete Height Conversion Chart
Here is a comprehensive reference for common adult heights:
| Feet & Inches | Total Inches | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4' 10" | 58 in | 147.32 cm | 1.47 m |
| 5' 0" | 60 in | 152.40 cm | 1.52 m |
| 5' 2" | 62 in | 157.48 cm | 1.57 m |
| 5' 4" | 64 in | 162.56 cm | 1.63 m |
| 5' 6" | 66 in | 167.64 cm | 1.68 m |
| 5' 8" | 68 in | 172.72 cm | 1.73 m |
| 5' 10" | 70 in | 177.80 cm | 1.78 m |
| 6' 0" | 72 in | 182.88 cm | 1.83 m |
| 6' 2" | 74 in | 187.96 cm | 1.88 m |
| 6' 4" | 76 in | 193.04 cm | 1.93 m |
Reverse Conversion: Centimeters to Feet and Inches
What if you know your height in centimeters and need to convert back to feet and inches? Here is the process:
- Divide centimeters by 30.48 to get total feet (including decimal).
- The whole number is the feet portion.
- Multiply the decimal portion by 12 to get the remaining inches.
Example: 170 cm ÷ 30.48 = 5.577 feet
Feet = 5
Inches = 0.577 × 12 = 6.93 inches
Result = 5 feet 6.9 inches (approximately 5'7")
Use Our Free Height Converter
For instant, accurate conversions without manual calculation, use our free Feet and Inches to CM Calculator. Simply enter feet and inches, and see the results in centimeters, meters, and total inches — updated in real-time as you type.
Written by Alex Morgan. Last updated August 2026.