About the CM to Feet and Inches
This CM to feet and inches converter changes a length in centimeters into the feet-and-inches format used in the US and UK — the way people usually say their height. Enter any value in cm and you get the whole feet plus remaining inches, the length in decimal feet, and the total number of inches.
It is most useful for heights: filling in a form or dating profile that asks for feet and inches, comparing a metric doctor's measurement with a US growth chart, or checking whether furniture or a TV will fit. The table lists common adult heights from 150 cm to 200 cm so you can scan without typing.
The conversion uses the exact international definition of 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Inches are shown to one decimal place and carried into the next foot when they round up to 12, so you will never see an answer like "5 ft 12 in".
How to use the cm to feet and inches
- 1Enter the length or height in centimeters.
- 2Read the result in feet and inches (e.g. 5 ft 8.9 in).
- 3Use decimal feet or total inches if a form asks for a single number.
- 4Scan the height chart for other common heights.
Formula and method
Since 1959 the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters, so dividing by 2.54 gives the length in inches with no approximation. Dividing that by 12 gives decimal feet; the whole-number part is the feet and whatever is left over (inches − 12 × feet) is the remaining inches.
Remaining inches are rounded to one decimal. If rounding reaches 12.0 inches, the calculator carries it into an extra foot, so 182.8 cm shows as 6 ft 0 in rather than 5 ft 12 in.
- cm
- Length in centimeters
- 2.54
- Centimeters per inch (exact)
- 12
- Inches per foot
Worked examples
175 cm tall
175 ÷ 2.54 = 68.90 inches. 68.90 ÷ 12 = 5 whole feet (60 in) with 8.9 inches left over, so 175 cm is about 5 ft 9 in.
160 cm tall
160 ÷ 2.54 = 62.99 inches, which is 5 feet (60 in) plus 2.99 in — rounded to one decimal that is 5 ft 3 in.
Exactly six feet: 182.88 cm
182.88 ÷ 2.54 = 72 inches exactly, and 72 ÷ 12 = 6 feet with nothing left over.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert cm to feet and inches?+
Divide the centimeters by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12. The whole number is feet; multiply the decimal part by 12 to get the leftover inches. 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.9 in = 5 ft 6.9 in.
How tall is 170 cm in feet?+
170 cm is 5 feet 6.9 inches, or about 5 ft 7 in. In decimal feet it is 5.58 ft.
How many cm is 6 feet?+
Six feet is exactly 182.88 cm (72 inches × 2.54). People often round it to 183 cm.
How many centimeters are in one foot?+
One foot is exactly 30.48 centimeters, because a foot is 12 inches and each inch is 2.54 cm.
Why is 5.5 feet not 5 ft 5 in?+
Decimal feet are tenths of a foot, not inches. 5.5 ft is 5 feet plus half a foot, which is 6 inches — so 5.5 ft = 5 ft 6 in.