Feet & Inches ↔ Centimeters
Last reviewed: January 2026
A height converter translates measurements between feet and inches, centimeters, meters, and other units. It is frequently used for medical records, international travel documents, and comparing heights across countries that use different measurement systems.
Height is expressed in feet and inches in the U.S. and in centimeters or meters in most other countries. One inch equals exactly 2.54 centimeters, and one foot equals 30.48 centimeters.[1] To convert feet and inches to centimeters: multiply feet by 30.48, add inches multiplied by 2.54. For example, 5 feet 9 inches = (5 × 30.48) + (9 × 2.54) = 152.4 + 22.86 = 175.3 cm.[2] Medical records internationally use centimeters, and passports in most countries list height in centimeters, making accurate conversion essential for travel documents and international healthcare.[3] Use the Length Converter for additional length unit conversions.
| Feet/Inches | Inches Total | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | 60 | 152.4 | 1.524 |
| 5'5" | 65 | 165.1 | 1.651 |
| 5'9" | 69 | 175.3 | 1.753 |
| 6'0" | 72 | 182.9 | 1.829 |
| 6'3" | 75 | 190.5 | 1.905 |
Height is measured using two primary systems worldwide. The imperial system (used in the US, UK for informal purposes, and a few other countries) expresses height in feet and inches — one foot equals 12 inches, and the average American adult male stands 5 feet 9 inches (5'9") tall. The metric system (used by most of the world and all scientific/medical contexts) measures height in centimeters or meters — the same average male height is 175.3 cm or 1.753 m. Converting between systems is straightforward: multiply inches by 2.54 to get centimeters, or divide centimeters by 2.54 to get inches. One foot equals 30.48 cm. While simple, these conversions come up constantly in international contexts — medical records, athletics, immigration documents, online dating profiles, and international travel all require height conversion. For related measurement tools, see our Unit Converter.
| Feet/Inches | Centimeters | Meters | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | 152.4 | 1.524 | Below average for both sexes |
| 5'4" | 162.6 | 1.626 | Average US female |
| 5'7" | 170.2 | 1.702 | Above average female |
| 5'9" | 175.3 | 1.753 | Average US male |
| 6'0" | 182.9 | 1.829 | Above average male |
| 6'2" | 188.0 | 1.880 | Tall (90th percentile male) |
| 6'6" | 198.1 | 1.981 | Very tall (99th percentile) |
Average adult height varies significantly by country and region, reflecting differences in genetics, nutrition, and healthcare access. The tallest populations are found in Northern Europe: the Netherlands leads with an average male height of approximately 183 cm (6'0") and female height of 170 cm (5'7"). Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany follow closely. The shortest average heights are found in parts of Southeast Asia, Central America, and sub-Saharan Africa, with average male heights of 160–165 cm (5'3"–5'5") in countries like Guatemala, the Philippines, and parts of Indonesia. The United States averages 175.3 cm (5'9") for men and 161.3 cm (5'3.5") for women — ranking approximately 40th globally.
Global average height has increased dramatically over the past century due to improved nutrition, sanitation, and healthcare. The average Dutch male was approximately 165 cm in 1860 versus 183 cm today — an 18 cm (7-inch) increase in 160 years. South Korea has seen one of the most dramatic increases: average female height increased from 142 cm to 162 cm (nearly 8 inches) between 1914 and 2014. These secular trends are now plateauing in wealthy countries where nutritional needs are fully met, but continue in developing nations as living standards improve. Height is approximately 60–80% determined by genetics and 20–40% by environmental factors (nutrition during childhood, illness frequency, and overall health). Track child growth patterns with our BMI Calculator for Children and Age Calculator.
Height is a critical input for numerous medical calculations. Body Mass Index (BMI) uses height squared in its formula (weight in kg / height in m²), making accurate height measurement essential for health screening. Small measurement errors compound: reporting 5'10" instead of your actual 5'9" reduces calculated BMI by approximately 0.5 points, potentially shifting you from one BMI category to another. Drug dosing for certain medications (particularly chemotherapy and some anesthetics) uses body surface area, which requires accurate height. Lung function tests (spirometry) compare measured values against predicted values based on age, sex, height, and ethnicity — incorrect height input leads to incorrect predicted values and potentially misdiagnosis.
Height loss is a normal part of aging — adults lose approximately 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 inches) per decade after age 40 due to disc compression, postural changes, and vertebral bone density loss. More rapid height loss can indicate osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, or excessive disc degeneration. Regular height measurement at annual physicals provides an early warning system for bone health issues. Height also affects caloric needs — taller individuals require more calories to maintain body weight because they have more tissue to sustain. Basal metabolic rate increases approximately 50–100 calories per day for each additional inch of height. Calculate your health metrics with our BMI Calculator, Healthy Weight Calculator, and Calorie Calculator.
Several methods estimate a child's eventual adult height. The mid-parental height formula provides a rough estimate: for boys, average both parents' heights and add 2.5 inches (6.5 cm); for girls, average both parents' heights and subtract 2.5 inches. This method has a margin of error of approximately ±4 inches (10 cm) — useful for general expectations but imprecise for individual predictions. The bone age method (using an X-ray of the left hand to assess skeletal maturity) combined with current height provides the most accurate clinical prediction, with a margin of approximately ±2 inches. Children who are tall or short for their age don't necessarily become tall or short adults — growth velocity and timing vary enormously, particularly around puberty when growth spurts range from 2 to 5 inches per year.
Growth chart percentiles track whether a child's height is following a normal trajectory. A child consistently at the 25th percentile is growing normally — that's their genetic growth pattern. Concern arises when a child crosses percentile lines (dropping from 50th to 10th, for example), which may indicate a nutritional deficiency, hormonal issue, or chronic illness requiring medical evaluation. Pediatric growth hormone treatment is considered for children with growth hormone deficiency or certain genetic conditions (Turner syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome) but is not appropriate for constitutionally short but otherwise healthy children. Track your child's developmental milestones with our age tracking tools and health metrics with our Protein Calculator for age-appropriate nutrition planning.
Most of the world measures height in centimeters, while the US and UK primarily use feet and inches. Medical records increasingly use centimeters globally because they offer more precision and eliminate the awkward fractions inherent in inches. When converting, note that 5'10" (70 inches) = 177.8 cm, not 178 cm — this 0.2 cm rounding error matters in clinical settings for medication dosing and BMI calculations. Human height fluctuates roughly 1–2 cm throughout the day: you are tallest in the morning (spinal discs are fully hydrated) and shortest at night (compression from gravity throughout the day).
See also: Length Converter · Body Weight Converter · BMI Calculator · CM to Inches · Feet to Meters
→ 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly — this is a defined conversion, not an approximation. Since 1959, the international inch has been defined as exactly 25.4 millimeters. So 5'10" = 70 inches = 177.8 cm. For quick mental math: multiply inches by 2.5 and add 1% for a close estimate.
→ Most of the world uses centimeters for height. Only the US, Liberia, and Myanmar primarily use feet and inches. If you're filling out international forms, medical records abroad, or fitness assessments using metric equipment, you'll need centimeters. Check related conversions with our Length Converter.
→ Height measured at a doctor's office may vary by time of day. You're tallest in the morning (spinal discs are fully hydrated after sleeping) and shortest in the evening (gravity compresses discs throughout the day). The difference can be 1–2 cm (about 0.5–0.75 inches).
→ When converting for BMI, use meters — not centimeters. BMI = weight(kg) ÷ height(m)². A common error is using centimeters instead of meters, which gives a wildly wrong result. 178 cm = 1.78 m. Calculate your BMI with our BMI Calculator.
See also: Length Converter · BMI Calculator · CM to Inches · Body Weight Converter