cm to Feet and Inches: Height Conversion With a Full Chart
Divide cm by 2.54 for inches, then by 12 for feet: 170 cm is 5 ft 7 in. Exact factors, a 140 to 200 cm chart, the 5.6 ft mistake and recruitment cut-offs.
To convert a height in centimetres to feet and inches, divide by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12: the whole number is feet and the remainder is inches. 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches, which is 5 feet 6.93 inches, or 5 ft 7 in rounded. To go the other way, turn the height into inches and multiply by 2.54: 5 ft 7 in is 67 inches, and 67 × 2.54 = 170.18 cm.
The free height converter does both directions: type feet and inches to get centimetres, or type centimetres to get feet and inches. Below are the exact factors, a chart from 140 to 200 cm, a reverse chart for feet and inches, and the mistakes that put the wrong height on a form.
The exact factors
These are definitions, not approximations, so they never change:
- 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly.
- 1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48 cm exactly.
- 1 cm = 0.3937 inch, and 1 metre = 39.37 inches = 3.28 feet (both rounded).
Because the inch is defined in centimetres, multiplying by 2.54 is always exact. Dividing by 2.54 gives a long decimal, which is why charts round to the nearest inch.
How to convert cm to feet and inches
- Divide the height in cm by 2.54. This gives total inches.
- Divide the total inches by 12. The whole number is the feet.
- Multiply the feet by 12 and subtract from the total inches. What is left is the inches.
Worked example, 163 cm: 163 ÷ 2.54 = 64.17 inches. 64.17 ÷ 12 = 5 and a bit, so 5 feet. 5 × 12 = 60, and 64.17 − 60 = 4.17 inches. The answer is 5 ft 4.17 in, or 5 ft 4 in rounded. Enter 163 in the converter's centimetres box and it shows 5' 4", with total inches 64.2 and 1.63 metres.
A shortcut for adult heights: 5 feet is exactly 152.4 cm. Subtract 152.4 from your height and divide what is left by 2.54 to get the inches over 5 feet. For 163 cm: 163 − 152.4 = 10.6, and 10.6 ÷ 2.54 = 4.17, so 5 ft 4 in. For anything above 182.88 cm, start from 6 feet instead.
How to convert feet and inches to cm
- Multiply the feet by 12 and add the inches to get total inches.
- Multiply the total inches by 2.54.
Worked example, 5 ft 9 in: 5 × 12 + 9 = 69 inches. 69 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm. The converter shows 175.3 cm and 1.75 metres. A quick check: each extra inch adds 2.54 cm, so 5 ft 9 in is 152.4 + 9 × 2.54 = 175.26 cm.
Height chart: 140 to 200 cm in feet and inches
Every value below comes from the height converter, which rounds to the nearest whole inch. Read down the first pair of columns, then the second.
| cm | Feet and inches | cm | Feet and inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 140 | 4 ft 7 in | 171 | 5 ft 7 in |
| 141 | 4 ft 8 in | 172 | 5 ft 8 in |
| 142 | 4 ft 8 in | 173 | 5 ft 8 in |
| 143 | 4 ft 8 in | 174 | 5 ft 9 in |
| 144 | 4 ft 9 in | 175 | 5 ft 9 in |
| 145 | 4 ft 9 in | 176 | 5 ft 9 in |
| 146 | 4 ft 9 in | 177 | 5 ft 10 in |
| 147 | 4 ft 10 in | 178 | 5 ft 10 in |
| 148 | 4 ft 10 in | 179 | 5 ft 10 in |
| 149 | 4 ft 11 in | 180 | 5 ft 11 in |
| 150 | 4 ft 11 in | 181 | 5 ft 11 in |
| 151 | 4 ft 11 in | 182 | 6 ft 0 in |
| 152 | 5 ft 0 in | 183 | 6 ft 0 in |
| 153 | 5 ft 0 in | 184 | 6 ft 0 in |
| 154 | 5 ft 1 in | 185 | 6 ft 1 in |
| 155 | 5 ft 1 in | 186 | 6 ft 1 in |
| 156 | 5 ft 1 in | 187 | 6 ft 2 in |
| 157 | 5 ft 2 in | 188 | 6 ft 2 in |
| 158 | 5 ft 2 in | 189 | 6 ft 2 in |
| 159 | 5 ft 3 in | 190 | 6 ft 3 in |
| 160 | 5 ft 3 in | 191 | 6 ft 3 in |
| 161 | 5 ft 3 in | 192 | 6 ft 4 in |
| 162 | 5 ft 4 in | 193 | 6 ft 4 in |
| 163 | 5 ft 4 in | 194 | 6 ft 4 in |
| 164 | 5 ft 5 in | 195 | 6 ft 5 in |
| 165 | 5 ft 5 in | 196 | 6 ft 5 in |
| 166 | 5 ft 5 in | 197 | 6 ft 6 in |
| 167 | 5 ft 6 in | 198 | 6 ft 6 in |
| 168 | 5 ft 6 in | 199 | 6 ft 6 in |
| 169 | 5 ft 7 in | 200 | 6 ft 7 in |
| 170 | 5 ft 7 in |
Reverse chart: feet and inches to cm
Find your feet in the column headings and your extra inches in the first column. Values are in centimetres, rounded to one decimal place as the converter shows them.
| Extra inches | 4 ft | 5 ft | 6 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 in | 121.9 | 152.4 | 182.9 |
| 1 in | 124.5 | 154.9 | 185.4 |
| 2 in | 127 | 157.5 | 188 |
| 3 in | 129.5 | 160 | 190.5 |
| 4 in | 132.1 | 162.6 | 193 |
| 5 in | 134.6 | 165.1 | 195.6 |
| 6 in | 137.2 | 167.6 | 198.1 |
| 7 in | 139.7 | 170.2 | 200.7 |
| 8 in | 142.2 | 172.7 | 203.2 |
| 9 in | 144.8 | 175.3 | 205.7 |
| 10 in | 147.3 | 177.8 | 208.3 |
| 11 in | 149.9 | 180.3 | 210.8 |
Common mistakes
Reading 5.6 feet as 5 feet 6 inches
A foot has 12 inches, not 10, so decimal feet and feet-and-inches are different numbers. 5 ft 6 in is 5.5 feet (167.64 cm). 5.6 feet is 5 ft 7.2 in (170.69 cm), about 3 cm taller. If you type 5.6 in the converter's Feet box and leave Inches empty, it treats it as decimal feet and shows 170.7 cm. To convert inches to decimal feet, divide by 12: 3 in = 0.25 ft, 6 in = 0.5 ft, 9 in = 0.75 ft.
Trusting a rounded figure near a cut-off
The converter rounds to the nearest inch, so 169 cm, 170 cm and 171 cm all show as 5 ft 7 in. If a rule says 170 cm, compare centimetres with centimetres. 169.5 cm also appears as 5 ft 7 in and 1.7 metres, but it is still below 170.
Leaving a number in the cm box
When the centimetres box has a value, the converter uses it and ignores the feet and inches boxes. Clear it before converting feet and inches.
Using 2.5 or 30 as the factor
Rounded factors add up. 69 inches × 2.5 = 172.5 cm, almost 3 cm short of the true 175.26 cm. Use 2.54 and 30.48.
Where height is asked for in India
Recruitment physical tests measure height in centimetres and apply exact cut-offs. The Staff Selection Commission's notice for the Constable (GD) in CAPFs and SSF and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2026 sets the physical standard at 170 cm for men and 157 cm for women, with lower limits for some groups (for example 162.5 cm and 150 cm for Scheduled Tribe candidates). Converted:
- 170 cm = 66.93 inches. 5 ft 7 in (170.18 cm) clears it by under 2 mm, while 5 ft 6.5 in (168.91 cm) does not.
- 157 cm = 61.81 inches. 5 ft 2 in (157.48 cm) clears it; 5 ft 1.5 in (156.21 cm) does not.
If you only know your height in feet and inches from a home measurement, get it measured in centimetres before applying for any post with a height rule. Each year's notice has the current figures, so read the one you are applying under.
Clinics and health check-ups record height in centimetres too, and BMI needs it in metres (divide cm by 100). The BMI calculator takes height in cm, and the guide to BMI for Indians explains why the standard chart can mislead. For weight in kg and pounds, see the kg to lbs guide, and for other lengths the length converter accepts decimal feet (5.5 feet shows as 167.64 cm).
Frequently asked questions
What is 5 feet 5 inches in cm?
165.1 cm. 5 × 12 + 5 = 65 inches, and 65 × 2.54 = 165.1.
How many feet is 160 cm?
5 ft 3 in. 160 ÷ 2.54 = 62.99 inches, which is 5 feet 2.99 inches, so it rounds to 5 ft 3 in.
Is 5.5 feet the same as 5 feet 5 inches?
No. 5.5 feet is 5 feet 6 inches (167.64 cm). 5 feet 5 inches is 5.42 feet (165.1 cm).
How tall is 6 feet in cm?
182.88 cm, which the converter shows as 182.9 cm. 6 × 30.48 = 182.88.
Why does 182 cm show as 6 ft 0 in?
182 cm is 71.65 inches. The converter rounds to the nearest whole inch, so 71.65 becomes 72 inches, which is 6 ft 0 in. Exactly, it is 5 ft 11.65 in.
Sources: International Yard and Pound Agreement, 1959 (1 inch = 2.54 cm); NIST Special Publication 811; Staff Selection Commission, Notice for Constable (GD) in CAPFs and SSF, and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles Examination, 2026 (published 1 December 2025), para 12.5.
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