Height Converter
Height Calculator – Convert Height Between Centimetres and Feet & Inches
What Is the Height Calculator?
The Height Calculator on CalcoraTools is a free online tool that instantly converts height between the two most widely used measurement systems in the world — the metric system (centimetres) and the imperial system (feet and inches). Enter your height in centimetres and get the equivalent in feet and inches, or enter feet and inches and get the result in centimetres — the conversion is instant and accurate in both directions.
Height conversions are needed constantly in everyday life. Medical forms, health calculators, fitness apps, clothing size guides, sports records, online profiles and international travel documents all require height in a specific format — and the format varies depending on the country. The United States, United Kingdom and a handful of other countries primarily use feet and inches, while the majority of the world uses centimetres and metres.
Our free Height Calculator eliminates all conversion confusion, giving you an exact result in under a second — no sign-up, no fees, no app download required.
Use the free Height Calculator above to convert your height instantly in either direction.
How to Convert Height Between Centimetres and Feet & Inches
The conversion between centimetres and feet and inches is based on two exact, internationally standardised relationships:
1 foot = 30.48 centimetres 1 inch = 2.54 centimetres 1 foot = 12 inches
Formula 1 — Centimetres to Feet and Inches
Step 1: Convert centimetres to total inches:
Total Inches = Centimetres ÷ 2.54
Step 2: Calculate feet and remaining inches:
Feet = Floor (Total Inches ÷ 12) Remaining Inches = Total Inches − (Feet × 12)
Formula 2 — Feet and Inches to Centimetres
Step 1: Convert feet and inches to total inches:
Total Inches = (Feet × 12) + Inches
Step 2: Convert total inches to centimetres:
Centimetres = Total Inches × 2.54
Example 1 — Convert 175 cm to Feet and Inches:
Total Inches = 175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.90 inches Feet = Floor (68.90 ÷ 12) = 5 feet Remaining Inches = 68.90 − (5 × 12) = 8.9 inches ≈ 8⅞ inches Result: 175 cm = 5 feet 8.9 inches
Example 2 — Convert 5 Feet 10 Inches to Centimetres:
Total Inches = (5 × 12) + 10 = 70 inches Centimetres = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm Result: 5 feet 10 inches = 177.8 cm
Height Conversion Chart — Centimetres to Feet and Inches
The table below covers the most common heights across the adult range for quick reference:
| Centimetres | Feet & Inches | Decimal Feet |
|---|---|---|
| 150 cm | 4 ft 11.1 in | 4.92 ft |
| 152 cm | 4 ft 11.8 in | 4.99 ft |
| 155 cm | 5 ft 1.0 in | 5.09 ft |
| 157 cm | 5 ft 1.8 in | 5.15 ft |
| 160 cm | 5 ft 3.0 in | 5.25 ft |
| 163 cm | 5 ft 4.2 in | 5.35 ft |
| 165 cm | 5 ft 5.0 in | 5.41 ft |
| 168 cm | 5 ft 6.1 in | 5.51 ft |
| 170 cm | 5 ft 6.9 in | 5.58 ft |
| 173 cm | 5 ft 8.1 in | 5.68 ft |
| 175 cm | 5 ft 8.9 in | 5.74 ft |
| 178 cm | 5 ft 10.1 in | 5.84 ft |
| 180 cm | 5 ft 10.9 in | 5.91 ft |
| 183 cm | 6 ft 0.1 in | 6.00 ft |
| 185 cm | 6 ft 0.9 in | 6.07 ft |
| 188 cm | 6 ft 2.0 in | 6.17 ft |
| 190 cm | 6 ft 2.8 in | 6.23 ft |
| 193 cm | 6 ft 4.0 in | 6.33 ft |
| 195 cm | 6 ft 4.8 in | 6.40 ft |
| 200 cm | 6 ft 6.7 in | 6.56 ft |
Height Conversion Chart — Feet and Inches to Centimetres
| Feet & Inches | Centimetres | Metres |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 147.3 cm | 1.473 m |
| 4 ft 11 in | 149.9 cm | 1.499 m |
| 5 ft 0 in | 152.4 cm | 1.524 m |
| 5 ft 1 in | 154.9 cm | 1.549 m |
| 5 ft 2 in | 157.5 cm | 1.575 m |
| 5 ft 3 in | 160.0 cm | 1.600 m |
| 5 ft 4 in | 162.6 cm | 1.626 m |
| 5 ft 5 in | 165.1 cm | 1.651 m |
| 5 ft 6 in | 167.6 cm | 1.676 m |
| 5 ft 7 in | 170.2 cm | 1.702 m |
| 5 ft 8 in | 172.7 cm | 1.727 m |
| 5 ft 9 in | 175.3 cm | 1.753 m |
| 5 ft 10 in | 177.8 cm | 1.778 m |
| 5 ft 11 in | 180.3 cm | 1.803 m |
| 6 ft 0 in | 182.9 cm | 1.829 m |
| 6 ft 1 in | 185.4 cm | 1.854 m |
| 6 ft 2 in | 187.9 cm | 1.879 m |
| 6 ft 3 in | 190.5 cm | 1.905 m |
| 6 ft 4 in | 193.0 cm | 1.930 m |
| 6 ft 5 in | 195.6 cm | 1.956 m |
Metric vs. Imperial Height — Which Countries Use Which?
Understanding which measurement system a country uses explains why height conversions are needed so frequently in daily life:
| System | Unit | Countries That Use It Primarily |
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Centimetres / Metres | Most of the world — Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia |
| Imperial | Feet & Inches | United States, parts of United Kingdom, Canada (informal use) |
| Both (dual use) | cm and ft/in | United Kingdom (medical: cm; everyday: ft/in), Canada, Philippines |
Even within countries that officially use the metric system, feet and inches remain in common informal use for describing personal height — particularly in the UK where most people know their height in both systems. This dual-system reality is precisely why a fast, reliable height converter is one of the most frequently needed free online tools.
Where Height Conversions Are Commonly Needed
Knowing your height in both centimetres and feet and inches is practically useful across a wide range of everyday situations:
- Health calculators and medical forms — the BMI calculator, Ideal Weight Calculator, Calorie Calculator and most clinical health tools require height as an input, often in a specific unit depending on the tool or country
- International travel and immigration documents — visa applications, passport forms and border control documents in different countries request height in different formats
- Online shopping for clothing — international clothing size guides from European, American and Asian brands use different height systems; converting your height correctly ensures you order the right size
- Sports and fitness — sports profiles, competition registration forms and fitness tracking apps often require height in a specific unit; basketball statistics use feet and inches internationally, while athletics records use metres and centimetres
- Social profiles and dating apps — many platforms allow users to display their height, and the default unit varies by country; converting ensures your profile displays correctly for an international audience
- Architecture and interior design — understanding ceiling heights, furniture dimensions and room specifications often requires switching between metric and imperial measurements
- Children’s growth tracking — paediatricians in different countries record children’s heights in different units; converting between systems allows parents to track growth consistently across international medical records
- Fitness equipment — treadmills, rowing machines and exercise bikes often display height in imperial units even in metric countries; knowing your height in feet and inches allows you to set equipment settings correctly
Average Height by Country — Global Reference
Heights vary significantly across the world due to genetics, nutrition and economic factors. The table below shows approximate average adult heights by region for reference:
| Region | Average Male Height | Average Female Height |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe (Netherlands, Denmark) | 181–183 cm (5 ft 11 in) | 170–172 cm (5 ft 7 in) |
| Western Europe (UK, Germany, France) | 176–180 cm (5 ft 9–11 in) | 164–167 cm (5 ft 5–6 in) |
| North America (USA, Canada) | 176–178 cm (5 ft 9–10 in) | 162–165 cm (5 ft 4–5 in) |
| East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea) | 170–174 cm (5 ft 7–8 in) | 158–162 cm (5 ft 2–4 in) |
| South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) | 165–170 cm (5 ft 5–7 in) | 152–157 cm (5 ft 0–2 in) |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 168–174 cm (5 ft 6–8 in) | 158–163 cm (5 ft 2–4 in) |
| Latin America | 169–173 cm (5 ft 6–8 in) | 156–161 cm (5 ft 1–3 in) |
| Middle East | 170–176 cm (5 ft 7–9 in) | 157–163 cm (5 ft 2–4 in) |
These are general regional averages. Height varies significantly within countries and regions based on ethnicity, socioeconomic background and generational factors.
How Height Is Used in Other Free Online Calculators
Your height in the correct unit is a key input for many of the free online health calculators on CalcoraTools. Here is how height is used across the platform:
| Calculator | How Height Is Used |
|---|---|
| BMI Calculator | Combined with weight to calculate Body Mass Index |
| Healthy Weight Calculator | Used alone to determine the healthy weight range for your height |
| Ideal Weight Calculator | Combined with gender to estimate target weight using medical formulas |
| Calorie Calculator | Combined with age, gender, weight and activity level to estimate daily calorie needs |
| BMR Calculator | Combined with age, gender and weight to calculate basal metabolic rate |
| Lean Body Mass Calculator | Combined with gender and weight to estimate lean tissue mass |
| Body Fat Calculator | Used alongside waist, neck and hip measurements for body composition estimates |
If your height is recorded in a different unit than a calculator requires, use our Height Calculator to convert it instantly before entering it into any other tool.
Limitations of the Height Calculator
The Height Calculator performs mathematically exact conversions using the internationally standardised conversion factors — there is no estimation involved. The conversion between centimetres and feet and inches is precise. However, a few practical points are worth noting:
- Rounding affects displayed results — because 1 inch equals exactly 2.54 cm, most conversions produce decimal inches that are rounded for display. For example, 170 cm converts to 66.929 inches, displayed as 5 feet 6.9 inches. The rounding is cosmetic and does not affect the accuracy of the underlying conversion
- Measurement method affects accuracy — the accuracy of your converted height is only as good as the accuracy of your original measurement. Height measured at different times of day can vary by up to 1–2 cm due to spinal compression from daily activity; measure in the morning for the most consistent result
- Standing posture matters — height should be measured standing straight against a flat wall with feet together, heels touching the wall and eyes looking straight ahead. Slouching can reduce a recorded height by 2–3 cm, which affects all downstream calculations that use height as an input
Who Should Use the Height Calculator?
Our free Height Calculator is useful for virtually anyone who needs to express their height in a different unit. It is particularly valuable for:
- People completing health forms or medical questionnaires — quickly convert your height into whatever unit the form requires without mental arithmetic
- International travellers and expatriates — people living in or moving between metric and imperial countries often need their height in a format different from what they are used to
- Parents tracking children’s growth — convert paediatric height measurements between metric and imperial for use across different health records, apps and growth charts
- Athletes and sports professionals — convert height for international competition registrations, sports databases and professional profiles
- Online shoppers — convert height for clothing and footwear size guides from international brands
- Anyone filling in a fitness or health app — many health tracking apps default to imperial units; this calculator ensures you can enter your height correctly regardless of which system you normally use
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many centimetres is 5 feet?
5 feet is exactly 152.4 centimetres (5 × 30.48 = 152.4 cm).
How many centimetres is 5 feet 10 inches?
5 feet 10 inches equals 177.8 centimetres ((5 × 12) + 10 = 70 inches × 2.54 = 177.8 cm).
How many centimetres is 6 feet?
6 feet is exactly 182.88 centimetres (6 × 30.48 = 182.88 cm), commonly rounded to 182.9 cm.
How many feet and inches is 170 cm?
170 cm equals 5 feet 6.9 inches (170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches; 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 6.93 remaining inches).
How many feet and inches is 180 cm?
180 cm equals 5 feet 10.9 inches (180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.87 inches; 70.87 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 10.87 remaining inches).
Is 1 foot always 30.48 cm?
Yes. The international foot has been defined as exactly 0.3048 metres (30.48 centimetres) since 1959 under the International Yard and Pound Agreement. This is an exact, fixed definition — not an approximation.
Why do some countries use feet and inches while others use centimetres?
The metric system was developed in France in the late 18th century and has been adopted as the official measurement system by most countries worldwide. The imperial system — which includes feet and inches — originated in Britain and was widely adopted across the British Empire. The United States retained the imperial system after independence and continues to use it today, making the US and a few other nations the primary holdouts from global metrication. This historical divergence is why height conversions remain practically necessary in the modern world.
Tips for Accurate Height Measurement
For the most accurate height input into any health calculator:
- Measure in the morning — your spine compresses slightly throughout the day as you stand and sit; morning measurements are typically 1–2 cm taller than evening measurements
- Stand against a flat wall — remove shoes, stand with heels, buttocks and shoulders touching the wall, and keep your chin level
- Use a book or flat object — place a flat, rigid object on top of your head parallel to the floor and mark where it meets the wall for an accurate measurement point
- Measure twice — take two consecutive measurements and use the average to reduce single-measurement error
- Convert before entering — use our Height Calculator to convert your measured height into the correct unit before entering it into the BMI Calculator, Calorie Calculator or any other health tool on CalcoraTools
Final Thoughts
The Height Calculator is one of the most practical and frequently needed free online tools for anyone who regularly moves between metric and imperial measurement systems. Whether you need your height in centimetres for a European health form, in feet and inches for a US sports profile, or anywhere in between, this calculator delivers an accurate, instant result every time.
Use it alongside the full suite of free online health calculators on CalcoraTools — the BMI Calculator, Ideal Weight Calculator, Healthy Weight Calculator, Calorie Calculator and more — all of which use height as a key input and work best when you enter your height in the correct unit for each tool.
Convert your height now — free, instant and no sign-up required.