How to convert cm to feet and inches
An inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres, and there are 12 inches in a foot, so one foot is 30.48 cm. To turn centimetres into feet and inches, divide by 2.54 to get the total in inches, then divide by 12. The whole number is the feet and the remainder is the inches.
inches = cm ÷ 2.54
feet = inches ÷ 12 (whole number), remaining inches = inches − feet × 12
To go from feet and inches to centimetres, turn everything into inches first, then multiply by 2.54.
cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54
A rough rule of thumb: 30 cm is about a foot and 100 cm is about 3 ft 3 in.
Worked examples
What is 175 cm in feet and inches?
175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 inches. 68.9 ÷ 12 = 5 whole feet (60 inches), with 8.9 inches left over. So 175 cm is 5 ft 8.9 in, which most people would round to 5 ft 9 in.
How many cm is 5 ft 10 in?
5 × 12 = 60 inches, plus 10 makes 70 inches. 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm, or 1.78 m.
What is 6 ft in cm?
6 × 12 = 72 inches, and 72 × 2.54 = 182.9 cm (182.88 cm exactly).
Height chart in feet and cm
The chart in the results runs from 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 6 in, and highlights the row closest to the height you've entered. These are some of the most searched heights.
| Feet and inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 152.4 cm |
| 5 ft 3 in | 160.0 cm |
| 5 ft 4 in | 162.6 cm |
| 5 ft 6 in | 167.6 cm |
| 5 ft 8 in | 172.7 cm |
| 5 ft 9 in | 175.3 cm |
| 5 ft 10 in | 177.8 cm |
| 5 ft 11 in | 180.3 cm |
| 6 ft 0 in | 182.9 cm |
| 6 ft 2 in | 188.0 cm |
Where you'll need it
- Your height: most people in the UK know their height in feet and inches, but forms for passports, driving licences and hospitals often ask for cm or metres.
- Children's growth: health visitors and the NHS red book record height in cm, while grandparents may want it in feet.
- Clothes and bikes: European and online size guides usually give height in cm, and bike frame charts often do too.
- DIY and furniture: older tape measures, timber and doors are often in imperial sizes. A standard UK internal door is 6 ft 6 in (198.1 cm) tall in imperial sizing, or 1,981 mm.
Tips
- Inches are shown to one decimal place. If you need a whole number, round to the nearest inch: anything from 0.5 up rounds up.
- Don't confuse 5.5 feet with 5 ft 5 in. 5.5 feet is 5 ft 6 in (167.6 cm), because half a foot is 6 inches.
- Working out your BMI? The BMI calculator accepts feet and inches or cm, and the stone to kg calculator converts your weight. For room sizes, the square metre calculator works in feet or metres.
Frequently asked questions
How many cm is 5 ft 10 in?
5 ft 10 in is 70 inches, and 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm.
What is 170 cm in feet and inches?
170 cm is 66.9 inches, which is 5 ft 6.9 in, or about 5 ft 7 in.
How do I convert cm to feet?
Divide the centimetres by 30.48 for decimal feet, or divide by 2.54 for inches and then by 12 for feet and inches. 180 cm is 70.9 inches, so 5 ft 10.9 in.
How many cm are in a foot?
There are exactly 30.48 cm in a foot, because a foot is 12 inches and an inch is 2.54 cm.
Is 6 foot 180 cm?
Not quite. 6 ft is 182.88 cm, and 180 cm is 5 ft 10.9 in.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.