Height & Length Converter
Convert imperial feet and inches measurements into metric centimeters, meters, and total inches in real-time.
How to Convert Feet and Inches to Centimeters
Converting height or length measurements from the Imperial system (feet and inches) to the Metric system (centimeters and meters) is straightforward when you know the standard conversion factors:
Fact 1
1 Foot = 12 Inches = 30.48 cm
Fact 2
1 Inch = 2.54 cm Exact
The Standard Formula:
Total Centimeters = (Feet × 30.48) + (Inches × 2.54)
Step-by-Step Example Calculation:
Let's convert 5 feet 9 inches to centimeters:
- Convert feet to cm: 5 ft × 30.48 = 152.4 cm
- Convert inches to cm: 9 in × 2.54 = 22.86 cm
- Add the two values together: 152.4 + 22.86 = 175.26 cm
Common Human Height Conversion Chart
Quick reference table for standard human heights in feet/inches, centimeters, and meters:
| Height (Feet & Inches) |
Total Inches |
Centimeters (cm) |
Meters (m) |
| 5' 0" | 60 in | 152.4 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many centimeters are in 1 foot?
There are exactly 30.48 centimeters in 1 foot.
How many feet is 170 cm?
170 cm is equal to approximately 5 feet and 6.93 inches (or roughly 5' 7").
Why is converting height accurately important?
Accurate height measurement is crucial for medical documents, passport applications, body mass index (BMI) estimations, and selecting properly fitted furniture or clothing.
Using the Height Converter
Enter whole feet and the remaining inches. The result converts the complete measurement to centimeters, meters, and total inches using exact international definitions: 1 foot equals 30.48 centimeters and 1 inch equals 2.54 centimeters. The tool is useful for forms, clothing, travel, furniture, fitness records, and comparing measurements across countries.
Formula and worked example
First calculate total inches as (feet × 12) + inches. Then multiply by 2.54. For 5 feet 9 inches, total inches are 69 and 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm, or 1.7526 m. Keep the decimal during the calculation and round only the final display to the precision requested by the form.
Common mistakes
Five feet nine inches is not 5.9 feet, and 5.5 feet is not five feet five inches. Convert fractional inches first; 3/8 inch is 0.375 inch. Measure barefoot for an official height, keep a tape measure level, and repeat an unusual reading. For a doorway or equipment fit, compare the narrowest clearance and keep a margin rather than relying on a rounded number.
Reverse conversion and limits
To convert centimeters back, divide by 2.54 for total inches, divide by 12 for feet, and keep the remainder as inches. Rounding can make a reverse result differ by a fraction. This tool converts units; it does not judge healthy height or clothing size. For body-weight context, see the BMI calculator, and read the feet and inches guide for charts and examples.
Forms and fit checks
When a form requests one unit, provide the rounded value it asks for and retain the precise conversion in your notes. For a shelf, mattress, or doorway, measure the product and the route separately; a correct unit conversion cannot compensate for a missing handle, trim, or turning space. Use a second measurement when the result is close to a limit.
Height Conversion Details
The calculator first converts feet and inches into total inches: total inches = (feet × 12) + inches. It then uses 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters and 100 centimeters = 1 meter. For 5 feet 9 inches, total inches are 69; 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm, or 1.7526 m. Round the final display only after the exact conversion is complete.
Fractions, forms, and fit
For 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, use 7.5 inches, not 7.2. Record whether a measurement was taken barefoot, with shoes, inside a frame, or across an opening. A form may request whole centimeters, while a furniture clearance may need millimeters. Keep the original value beside the converted value so another person can audit the calculation.
Common Mistakes and FAQs
Five feet nine inches is not 5.9 decimal feet. Do not add feet and inches as though they share a base-ten scale, and do not round each part before converting. Can centimeters return to feet? Divide centimeters by 2.54 for total inches, then divide by 12. Is the result a medical assessment? No, it is a unit conversion. See the feet and inches guide, and use the BMI calculator only when you also have an appropriate weight measurement.
Conversion Reference
One foot contains 12 inches, one yard contains 3 feet, and one meter contains 100 centimeters. A quick estimate is useful: six feet is close to 183 centimeters, so a result near 18 or 1,830 centimeters signals a misplaced decimal. For a cut list, preserve the original fractional inch and document the rounding rule.
Measuring consistently
Place the tape at zero, keep it straight, and read at eye level. For height, stand upright with heels together and measure without shoes when an official method is required. For a product, measure the product and the route separately, including turning clearance and trim.
Quick Reference
One foot is 12 inches, one yard is 36 inches, and one meter is 39.3701 inches. A result near 180 centimeters is close to 5 feet 11 inches. Keep the original fraction in a cut list and write the rounded value only where the project specifies it.
Final check
Estimate first, convert total inches, then reverse the result by dividing by 2.54. This catches misplaced decimals before a form, order, or measurement is submitted.
Feet and inches: a careful conversion guide
This calculator is useful when a form, plan, or measurement uses feet and inches while your calculation uses decimal feet or centimeters. Remember that 5 feet 8 inches is not the decimal number 5.8 feet. There are 12 inches in one foot, so the correct decimal value is 5 plus 8 divided by 12, or 5.6667 feet.
Formulas and worked examples
To convert feet and inches to total inches, use (feet times 12) plus inches. To convert to centimeters, multiply total inches by 2.54. A height of 5 ft 8 in equals 68 in and 172.72 cm. To convert centimeters back, divide by 2.54, divide the result by 12 for whole feet, and keep the remainder as inches. For 180 cm, the result is about 5 ft 10.87 in, which may be rounded to 5 ft 11 in for everyday use.
How to get a reliable result
- Enter whole feet in the feet field and a value from 0 through 11 in the inches field.
- Keep fractions precise when measuring furniture, doors, or building materials.
- Choose a rounding rule before comparing two measurements.
- Write the unit beside the final number so 5.67 ft is not mistaken for 5 ft 7 in.
Assumptions, errors, and FAQs
The conversion assumes a standard international inch of exactly 2.54 centimeters. It does not correct for shoes, posture, a sloping floor, or a measuring tape held at an angle. The most common mistake is treating inches as hundredths of a foot; another is rounding each intermediate step before the final answer. Can I enter 12 inches? It is mathematically equivalent to adding one foot, but normalizing it makes the result easier to read. Which result should a medical form use? Follow the form's requested unit and its rounding instructions. For area work, continue to our square footage calculator.
What does the calculator convert?
It converts feet-and-inch measurements into metric length and helps compare common height formats.
How are inches handled?
Twelve inches make one foot, so the calculator combines the feet and remaining inches before converting.
Why can the result have decimals?
A foot or inch measurement often converts to a metric value that is not a whole number.
Is rounding important?
Yes. Use enough decimal places for the purpose of the measurement and follow any required precision standard.
