About the CM to Feet and Inches Converter
Heights are quoted in centimetres in most of the world and in feet and inches in the United States and for people's heights in the UK. This converter turns centimetres into feet and inches, writing the inches to the nearest eighth, and does the reverse as well: type the feet and inches and get centimetres. It also shows decimal feet, total inches and metres. A table lists common heights from 150 cm to 190 cm in feet and inches. The conversion is exact, based on the inch being defined as 2.54 centimetres.
Updated October 2026
How to use the CM to Feet and Inches Converter
- 1Choose centimetres to feet and inches, or the reverse.
- 2Enter the centimetres, or the feet and inches.
- 3Read the converted height in the large result.
- 4Check decimal feet, total inches and metres.
- 5Use the height table for quick reference.
Common heights
- 150 cm = 4 ft 11 in.
- 160 cm = 5 ft 3 in.
- 170 cm = 5 ft 6 7/8 in.
- 175 cm = 5 ft 8 7/8 in.
- 180 cm = 5 ft 10 7/8 in.
- 190 cm = 6 ft 2 3/4 in.
Using the converter
When filling in a form that asks for height in feet and inches, enter the centimetres on the left and copy the answer. For the opposite case, such as an online shop that wants centimetres, enter the feet and inches. Round fractions to the nearest inch for forms that don't accept fractions. If the form wants decimal feet, use the decimal value in the table.
Sports and fashion use heights constantly. Basketball players are listed in feet and inches in the US, while European leagues list them in centimetres: a player of 198 cm is 6 ft 6 in. Clothing sizes sometimes link height to size, with tall and petite ranges defined in inches in one country and centimetres in another. Passports and licences show height in the unit of the issuing country, and when you fill in a visa form you may have to convert yours, which this tool does in one step.
If you are measuring a child, remember that children are taller in the morning and slightly shorter in the evening, by up to a centimetre or two. Measure without shoes, with heels against a wall and the head level. Write down the date and height in centimetres, and convert for charts that use inches. Growth charts in the US are published in inches and pounds, while most of the world uses centimetres and kilograms, so one conversion saves trouble.
Height and health
Many health tools, such as BMI, accept either unit, but results are best entered in the units the tool expects. Measure your height without shoes, standing straight against a wall, in the morning, because people are a little taller after lying down all night than at the end of the day.
Related tools
The Height Converter offers more units, the Inches to CM Converter and Feet to Meters Converter cover other lengths, the BMI Calculator uses your height, and the Child Height Predictor estimates adult height.
Features
- Both directions
- Inches to the nearest 1/8
- Decimal feet and total inches
- Table of common heights
- Exact 2.54 factor
- Free and private
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cm to feet and inches?
Divide the centimetres 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: 68.9 inches is 5 feet 8.9 inches, shown here as 5 ft 8 7/8 in.
How tall is 170 cm in feet?
170 cm is 5 ft 6 7/8 in, or about 5.58 feet. A height of 180 cm is 5 ft 10 7/8 in.
How do I convert feet and inches to cm?
Multiply the feet by 30.48 and the inches by 2.54, then add them. For 5 ft 9 in: 5 × 30.48 = 152.4 plus 9 × 2.54 = 22.86, a total of 175.26 cm.
How many centimetres are in a foot?
30.48. A foot is 12 inches and an inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres.
Why does the result show fractions?
Tape measures and clothing sizes use fractions of an inch. The converter rounds to the nearest eighth, which is accurate to about 1.6 millimetres. If you need decimals, they appear in the table under the main result.
Which countries use feet and inches for height?
The United States, and in everyday speech the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada and a few others, even though they use metric for most other things.