Height in Feet to cm Converter & Formula

This calculator converts a height given in feet and inches (e.g., 5′ 9″) into centimeters. You enter the feet and inches values, and it returns the exact height in centimeters, rounded to two decimal places. The conversion is based on the standard international definitions: 1 foot = 30.48 cm and 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

Formula

The height in centimeters is calculated by first converting the total height into inches, then multiplying by 2.54 (the exact length of one inch in centimeters).

cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54

• feet – the whole-foot part of the height (unit: ft)
• inches – the remaining inches after the whole feet (unit: in, 0–11)
• cm – the resulting height in centimeters (unit: cm)

For example, 6 feet 0 inches becomes (6 × 12 + 0) × 2.54 = 182.88 cm.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator (feet = 5, inches = 9):

1. Convert feet to inches: 5 × 12 = 60 inches
2. Add the extra inches: 60 + 9 = 69 inches
3. Multiply by 2.54: 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm

The calculator shows 175.26 cm as the result, matching the manual calculation.

Why Use Feet and Inches?

The imperial system (feet and inches) is still the everyday standard for height in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other countries. Most of the world uses centimeters or meters. This converter is useful when you need to communicate a height across systems – for example, filling out a medical form, comparing your height to a chart, or buying clothes from an international store. Even in metric countries, people often know their height in feet/inches from movies or travel, so a quick conversion is handy.

How to Use the Calculator

Enter your height in the two fields:

• Feet – the whole number of feet (e.g., 5 for 5 feet).
• Inches – the remaining inches (0–11). For example, 5′ 9″ means feet=5, inches=9.

The result appears instantly in centimeters. If you only know your height in inches (e.g., 69 inches), you can enter 0 for feet and 69 for inches – the formula still works because it adds 0×12 + 69 = 69 inches.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

One frequent error is mixing up the order – entering inches in the feet field or vice versa. Another is forgetting that there are 12 inches in a foot, not 10. For instance, 5′ 10″ is 70 inches, not 60.10. Also, some people round 1 inch to 2.5 cm, which is close but not exact; using 2.54 gives the precise conversion. Finally, be careful with decimal feet: 5.5 feet is 5 feet 6 inches, not 5 feet 5 inches. If you have a decimal like 5.5, multiply the decimal part by 12 to get inches (0.5 × 12 = 6).

Reverse Conversion (cm to Feet)

If you have a height in centimeters and want feet/inches, divide by 2.54 to get total inches, then divide by 12 to get feet, and the remainder is inches. For example, 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches. 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with a remainder of 6.93 inches, so 170 cm is approximately 5′ 7″. This converter only does feet→cm, but the reverse is easy with a calculator.

Accuracy and Rounding

The conversion factor 2.54 is exact by definition (since 1959). The calculator rounds to two decimal places, which is more precise than most everyday uses – a fraction of a centimeter is not noticeable in height. For medical or scientific purposes, you might keep more decimals, but for clothing or general comparison, two decimals are enough. Remember that rounding errors can accumulate if you do multiple steps, so always use the full precision in intermediate calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cm is 5′ 7″?
5′ 7″ = (5×12 + 7) × 2.54 = 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm.

What is 6 feet in cm?
6 feet = 6 × 30.48 = 182.88 cm. (Since 1 foot = 12 inches × 2.54 cm/inch = 30.48 cm.)

Is 1 inch exactly 2.54 cm?
Yes, since 1959 the international inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters. This makes conversions precise.

How do I convert 5.5 feet to cm?
5.5 feet is 5 feet and 6 inches (because 0.5 × 12 = 6). So it’s (5×12 + 6) × 2.54 = 66 × 2.54 = 167.64 cm.

Why do some charts show 5′ 10″ as 178 cm?
5′ 10″ = (5×12 + 10) × 2.54 = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm, which rounds to 178 cm. The calculator gives 177.80 cm exactly.

What is the difference between cm and meters?
1 meter = 100 centimeters. So 175 cm = 1.75 m. To convert cm to meters, divide by 100.

Related

• Decimal Feet to Inches Calculator & Formula
• Decimal Inches to Fraction Calculator: How It Works
• Decimal Feet to Fraction Calculator: Step-by-Step

in ft | Feet | ft | 5 | 0
in in | Inches | in | 9 | 0
out cm | Height in centimeters | cm | (ft * 12 + in) * 2.54 | 2