Feet and inches to centimetres
The conversion is two steps, and the second one is exact.
- Get the total inches. Multiply the feet by 12, then add the inches. A height of 5′ 8″ becomes (5 × 12) + 8 = 68 inches.
- Multiply by 2.54. 68 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm. That is the answer, with no rounding error introduced — the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres.
Centimetres to feet and inches
Reversing it takes three steps because feet and inches is a mixed unit.
- Divide by 2.54 to get inches. 165 cm ÷ 2.54 = 64.96 inches.
- Divide by 12 and keep the whole number as your feet. 64.96 ÷ 12 = 5.41, so 5 feet.
- Convert the remainder. 0.41 × 12 ≈ 4.96 inches, which rounds to 5. So 165 cm is about 5′ 5″.
Rounding to the nearest inch loses up to about 1.3 cm either way. That is fine for a passport form and not fine for a growth chart — use the centimetre value when precision matters.
Height conversion chart
Common heights in all three units. Centimetre values are exact; inches are rounded for display where needed.
| Feet & inches | Inches | Centimetres | Metres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4′ | 48″ | 121.92 cm | 1.2192 m |
| 4′ 1″ | 49″ | 124.46 cm | 1.2446 m |
| 4′ 2″ | 50″ | 127 cm | 1.2700 m |
| 4′ 3″ | 51″ | 129.54 cm | 1.2954 m |
| 4′ 4″ | 52″ | 132.08 cm | 1.3208 m |
| 4′ 5″ | 53″ | 134.62 cm | 1.3462 m |
| 4′ 6″ | 54″ | 137.16 cm | 1.3716 m |
| 4′ 7″ | 55″ | 139.7 cm | 1.3970 m |
| 4′ 8″ | 56″ | 142.24 cm | 1.4224 m |
| 4′ 9″ | 57″ | 144.78 cm | 1.4478 m |
| 4′ 10″ | 58″ | 147.32 cm | 1.4732 m |
| 4′ 11″ | 59″ | 149.86 cm | 1.4986 m |
| 5′ | 60″ | 152.4 cm | 1.5240 m |
| 5′ 1″ | 61″ | 154.94 cm | 1.5494 m |
| 5′ 2″ | 62″ | 157.48 cm | 1.5748 m |
| 5′ 3″ | 63″ | 160.02 cm | 1.6002 m |
| 5′ 4″ | 64″ | 162.56 cm | 1.6256 m |
| 5′ 5″ | 65″ | 165.1 cm | 1.6510 m |
| 5′ 6″ | 66″ | 167.64 cm | 1.6764 m |
| 5′ 7″ | 67″ | 170.18 cm | 1.7018 m |
| 5′ 8″ | 68″ | 172.72 cm | 1.7272 m |
| 5′ 9″ | 69″ | 175.26 cm | 1.7526 m |
| 5′ 10″ | 70″ | 177.8 cm | 1.7780 m |
| 5′ 11″ | 71″ | 180.34 cm | 1.8034 m |
| 6′ | 72″ | 182.88 cm | 1.8288 m |
| 6′ 1″ | 73″ | 185.42 cm | 1.8542 m |
| 6′ 2″ | 74″ | 187.96 cm | 1.8796 m |
| 6′ 3″ | 75″ | 190.5 cm | 1.9050 m |
| 6′ 4″ | 76″ | 193.04 cm | 1.9304 m |
| 6′ 5″ | 77″ | 195.58 cm | 1.9558 m |
| 6′ 6″ | 78″ | 198.12 cm | 1.9812 m |
| 6′ 7″ | 79″ | 200.66 cm | 2.0066 m |
| 6′ 8″ | 80″ | 203.2 cm | 2.0320 m |
| 6′ 9″ | 81″ | 205.74 cm | 2.0574 m |
| 6′ 10″ | 82″ | 208.28 cm | 2.0828 m |
| 6′ 11″ | 83″ | 210.82 cm | 2.1082 m |
| 7′ | 84″ | 213.36 cm | 2.1336 m |
Why 2.54 exactly?
Before 1959 the inch meant slightly different lengths in different countries — the US and the UK disagreed in the eighth decimal place, which was enough to matter for precision engineering. The international yard and pound agreement settled it by defining the yard as exactly 0.9144 metres. Divide that by 36 and the inch lands on exactly 0.0254 metres, or 2.54 centimetres. Every inch-to-centimetre conversion since has been a definition rather than a measurement.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert feet and inches to centimetres?
Multiply the feet by 12 and add the leftover inches to get the total in inches, then multiply that by 2.54. For 5′ 8″: (5 × 12) + 8 = 68 inches, and 68 × 2.54 = 172.72 cm.
How do I convert centimetres back to feet and inches?
Divide the centimetres by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12. The whole number is your feet; multiply what is left over by 12 for the remaining inches. 165 cm ÷ 2.54 = 64.96″, which is 5 feet with 4.96 inches left — so about 5′ 5″.
Why is one inch exactly 2.54 cm?
It is a defined value, not a measurement. In 1959 the main English-speaking countries agreed the international yard as exactly 0.9144 metres, which fixes the inch at exactly 2.54 cm. There is no rounding involved in that step.
What is the average adult height?
It varies a lot by country and generation. Globally, adult men average roughly 171 cm (5′ 7″) and adult women roughly 159 cm (5′ 3″), but national averages differ by more than 20 cm between the tallest and shortest populations.
Should I round to the nearest inch?
For everyday purposes — forms, profiles, ID documents — yes, and this tool shows the rounded feet-and-inches result alongside the exact decimal. For anything medical or technical, use the centimetre figure, which carries no rounding.
Is my height stored anywhere?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser with JavaScript. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved.