Feet and Inches to Centimeters: Height Conversion Made Simple
October 21, 2026
To convert a height in feet and inches to centimeters, first change it all to inches (feet × 12 + inches), then multiply by 2.54. A height of 5 ft 10 in is 5 × 12 + 10 = 70 inches, and 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm. The factor 2.54 is exact, because the inch is defined as precisely 2.54 centimeters.
Skip the math and get your answer instantly:
Open the Length Converter →Step by Step
Take 6 ft 0 in: 6 × 12 = 72 inches, and 72 × 2.54 = 182.88 cm. Take 5 ft 4 in: 5 × 12 + 4 = 64 inches, and 64 × 2.54 = 162.56 cm. Most people round to the nearest centimeter, so 182.88 becomes 183 and 162.56 becomes 163.
Healthcare and BMI formulas usually require height in meters, so divide centimeters by 100: 177.8 cm is 1.778 m.
| Feet and inches | Total inches | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 0 in | 60 | 152.4 |
| 5 ft 4 in | 64 | 162.6 |
| 5 ft 8 in | 68 | 172.7 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 70 | 177.8 |
| 6 ft 0 in | 72 | 182.9 |
| 6 ft 4 in | 76 | 193.0 |
Converting Centimeters Back
Divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12 for feet and keep the remainder as inches. For 180 cm: 180 ÷ 2.54 = 70.87 inches. 70.87 ÷ 12 = 5.906, so 5 feet, and the leftover is 70.87 − 60 = 10.87 inches. The height is about 5 ft 10.9 in, or roughly 5 ft 11 in.
Be careful with rounding in the middle of a calculation. Keep the decimals until the last step, then round.
Common Mistakes
The most common error is treating 5.10 as 5 feet 10 inches in decimal form. 5.10 feet is 5 feet 1.2 inches, because the decimal part of a foot is a fraction of 12 inches. Another is using 2.5 instead of 2.54, which makes a 6-foot person look 1.4 cm shorter.
For quick mental math, remember that each inch is about 2.5 cm and each foot about 30.5 cm, so 6 feet is about 183 cm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many centimeters is 5 feet 7 inches?
5 × 12 + 7 = 67 inches, and 67 × 2.54 = 170.2 cm.
Is the inch exactly 2.54 cm?
Yes, since the international yard and pound agreement of 1959.
How do I convert 175 cm to feet and inches?
175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.9 inches, which is 5 feet 8.9 inches, close to 5 ft 9 in.
Why does my BMI calculator ask for meters?
The BMI formula uses weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.