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Feet and inches to centimetres (height)

Convert a height in feet and inches to centimetres and back, with a table from 4 ft 6 in to 7 ft.

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Heights are given as feet plus inches (5 ft 9 in, or 5′9″), which a plain unit converter handles badly. Enter the feet and the inches in their own boxes and the centimetres appear, or type centimetres to get feet and inches back. The formula is cm = (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54, exact because an inch is defined as 2.54 cm: 5 ft 9 in = 69 in = 175.26 cm, and 6 ft = 182.88 cm.

Visa and passport application forms, medical records and many sports registrations outside the US and UK ask for height in centimetres. Going the other way, the converter rounds inches to one decimal and carries 12 inches into the next foot, so 182.9 cm shows as 6 ft 0 in rather than 5 ft 12 in.

How to use it

  1. Type the feet in the first box and the inches in the second (decimals such as 9.5 are fine).
  2. Read the centimetres, or type in the centimetres box to convert back to feet and inches.
  3. Use the height chart to look up other heights at a glance.

Frequently asked questions

What is 5 ft 9 in in cm?

175.26 cm: 5 × 12 + 9 = 69 in, and 69 × 2.54 = 175.26.

How do I convert cm to feet and inches by hand?

Divide by 2.54 to get inches, then divide by 12: the whole number is feet and the remainder is inches. 170 cm = 66.93 in = 5 ft 6.9 in.

Should I round up or down on a form?

Round to the nearest whole centimetre unless the form says otherwise. 175.26 cm becomes 175 cm.

Can I use this for BMI?

Yes. Convert your height here, then enter the centimetres in the BMI calculator.

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