Height in cm: Feet and Inches to cm Chart (Free)
Convert your height from feet and inches to cm, or cm back to feet. 5'6" is 167.6 cm. A chart of common heights and a free unit converter.
Published · 5 min read
To get your height in cm, turn it into inches first (feet × 12, plus the extra inches), then multiply by 2.54. So 5'6" is 66 inches, and 66 × 2.54 = 167.64, which you'd write as 167.6 cm or 168 cm. The free unit converter does the multiplying for you on your own device, and the chart below covers the heights most people need.
Many people know their height in feet and inches but get asked for it in centimetres: on exam and job application forms, passport and visa applications, medical records, gym apps and fitness trackers. The conversion is simple once you know one rule: never type "5.6" for 5 feet 6 inches.
The one mistake everyone makes
Five feet six inches is not 5.6 feet. A foot has 12 inches, not 10, so 6 inches is half a foot: 5'6" is 5.5 feet.
| What you typed | What it means | In cm |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 ft | 5 feet 6 inches (correct) | 167.6 cm |
| 5.6 ft | 5 feet 7.2 inches (wrong) | 170.7 cm |
That small slip adds about 3 cm, which is enough to put the wrong number on an official form. Converting through inches avoids it completely.
Feet and inches to cm chart
Each row is worked out as (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54, rounded to one decimal place.
| Height | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 4'10" | 58 | 147.3 cm |
| 4'11" | 59 | 149.9 cm |
| 5'0" | 60 | 152.4 cm |
| 5'1" | 61 | 154.9 cm |
| 5'2" | 62 | 157.5 cm |
| 5'3" | 63 | 160.0 cm |
| 5'4" | 64 | 162.6 cm |
| 5'5" | 65 | 165.1 cm |
| 5'6" | 66 | 167.6 cm |
| 5'7" | 67 | 170.2 cm |
| 5'8" | 68 | 172.7 cm |
| 5'9" | 69 | 175.3 cm |
| 5'10" | 70 | 177.8 cm |
| 5'11" | 71 | 180.3 cm |
| 6'0" | 72 | 182.9 cm |
| 6'1" | 73 | 185.4 cm |
| 6'2" | 74 | 188.0 cm |
| 6'3" | 75 | 190.5 cm |
| 6'4" | 76 | 193.0 cm |
A handy anchor: 5 feet is exactly 152.4 cm, and each extra inch adds 2.54 cm.
How to convert with the unit converter
The converter takes one unit at a time, so give it your height in inches.
- Open the free unit converter and choose Length.
- Work out your height in inches: feet × 12, plus the extra inches. For 5'6", that's 5 × 12 + 6 = 66.
- Type 66 in Value.
- Set From to Inches (in) and To to Centimetres (cm).
- Read the result (167.64 centimetres) and press Copy result if you want to paste it into a form.
If you'd rather not do the inches step, convert the feet and the inches separately and add them: 5 ft is 152.4 cm, 6 in is 15.24 cm, and together that's 167.64 cm.
cm back to feet and inches
Going the other way, divide by 2.54 to get inches, then split the inches into feet:
- 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches.
- 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet, with 6.93 inches left over (66.93 − 60).
- Round the leftover: 170 cm is about 5'7".
In the converter, type your height in cm, set From to Centimetres (cm) and To to Inches (in), or press Swap if the units are already the other way round. Then do the split into feet yourself. Setting To to Feet (ft) gives a decimal like 5.58 ft, which is correct but isn't the same as 5'7"; the 0.58 is a fraction of a foot, not inches.
What forms usually want
- Whole centimetres. Many forms have a box for a whole number. Round to the nearest centimetre: 167.6 becomes 168, 172.7 becomes 173.
- One decimal place. Medical and fitness forms sometimes allow 167.6. Use what the box accepts.
- Metres. Some forms ask for height in metres, like 1.68 m. Divide the cm figure by 100.
- Measured height. Recruitment rules for police, army and similar jobs often set a minimum height in cm and measure you on the day. Your converted figure is only a guide; the official measurement decides. Check the official notice for the exact rule and any relaxation for your category.
If you only know your height roughly, measure it: stand barefoot against a wall, heels touching it, rest a flat book on your head, mark the wall and measure from the floor with a tape that shows cm. That avoids converting at all.
Height for BMI
BMI uses height in metres, squared. If you know your height in feet and inches, the free BMI calculator has an Imperial (ft, lb) option with separate feet and inches boxes, so you don't need to convert first. With Metric (cm, kg) selected, type the cm figure from the chart. The guides on how to calculate BMI and ideal weight for your height explain what the number means. BMI is a rough screening figure, not medical advice; a doctor can tell you what's healthy for you.
For other everyday conversions, such as kg to pounds or Celsius to Fahrenheit, see the metric to imperial conversions chart.
Convert your height now
Turn your height into inches, then let the free unit converter give you the exact centimetres. It works in your browser, there's nothing to sign up for, and you can copy the result straight into your form.
Frequently asked questions
- What is 5'6" in cm?
- 167.6 cm. Five feet six inches is 66 inches, and 66 × 2.54 = 167.64.
- How do I convert feet and inches to cm?
- Multiply the feet by 12, add the inches, then multiply the total by 2.54. For 5'2": 5 × 12 + 2 = 62 inches, and 62 × 2.54 = 157.5 cm.
- What is 170 cm in feet and inches?
- About 5'7". 170 ÷ 2.54 = 66.9 inches, which is 5 feet and 6.9 inches.
- Is 5.6 feet the same as 5 feet 6 inches?
- No. 5 feet 6 inches is 5.5 feet, because a foot has 12 inches. 5.6 feet is about 5 feet 7 inches.
- Should I round my height up or down on a form?
- Round to the nearest whole centimetre unless the form says otherwise. Where height decides eligibility, the official measurement on the day counts, not the number you type.
Calculators
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