Centimeters to Feet Converter
Feet & Inches to CM
The conversion
An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres, so the conversion is exact rather than approximate.
Worked example
Converting 175 cm:
- 175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 inches
- 68.9 ÷ 12 = 5 feet, remainder 8.9
- 5 feet 8.9 inches, usually rounded to 5'9"
The decimal-feet trap
Dividing centimetres straight to decimal feet gives 5.74 ft — and 0.74 is not 7.4 inches. Decimal feet must be multiplied by 12 to get inches: 0.74 × 12 = 8.9 inches.
Treating the decimal as inches is the single most common error here and produces a result over an inch out.
Common heights
| cm | ft & in | cm | ft & in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 | 4' 11" | 175 | 5' 9" |
| 155 | 5' 1" | 180 | 5' 11" |
| 160 | 5' 3" | 185 | 6' 1" |
| 165 | 5' 5" | 190 | 6' 3" |
| 170 | 5' 7" | 195 | 6' 5" |
Where you'll need it
Height on medical forms, visa and passport applications, sports registrations, and driving licences — most of the world records height in centimetres, while the US and UK commonly use feet and inches.
It also matters for furniture and doorways when buying from an overseas supplier, and for clothing size charts, which are frequently published in the manufacturer's home units.
For measuring your own height accurately, stand against a wall without shoes, heels together, and look straight ahead. Height compresses slightly through the day, so morning measurements run marginally taller than evening ones.