Feet to CM Converter: Complete Guide to Converting Feet and Inches to Centimeters
Converting feet and inches to centimeters is a daily need for millions of people navigating between the imperial and metric measurement systems. The United States, Liberia, and Myanmar are the only countries that have not officially adopted the metric system for everyday use. Everyone else — from Europe to Asia to South America — uses centimeters and meters. When Americans travel abroad, read international clothing labels, or access foreign medical records, they need to convert their height from feet and inches to centimeters instantly and accurately.
The Exact Conversion Formula
The conversion between feet and centimeters is defined by exact international standards. One inch equals 2.54 centimeters exactly (since 1959, by international treaty). One foot equals 12 inches, so one foot equals exactly 30.48 centimeters. To convert any height in feet and inches: multiply feet by 30.48, multiply inches by 2.54, and add both results. For example, 5 feet 7 inches = (5 × 30.48) + (7 × 2.54) = 152.4 + 17.78 = 170.18 cm.
1 inch = 2.54 cm (defined)
Formula: cm = (feet × 30.48) + (inches × 2.54)
Decimal feet only: cm = feet × 30.48
Common heights:
5′0″ = 152.40 cm
5′7″ = 170.18 cm
5′10″ = 177.80 cm
6′0″ = 182.88 cm
6′2″ = 187.96 cm
Height Chart: Most Common Human Heights
Average heights around the world: Dutch men average 182.9 cm (6′0.05″), making the Netherlands the tallest nation on average. American men average 175.4 cm (5′9″). American women average 161.5 cm (5′3.6″). South Korean men average 174.5 cm (5′8.7″). Indonesian women average 151.3 cm (4′11.6″). NBA players average 200 cm (6′7″). The tallest person in recorded history, Robert Wadlow, stood 272 cm (8′11.1″). Converting these heights between systems is common in sports, medicine, and international comparison studies.
Medical Records and Healthcare
In the US, patient height is recorded in feet and inches. When a patient receives care abroad, their records must be converted. A patient listed as 5′8″ in US records = 172.72 cm for European records. This matters for dosing calculations, surgical equipment sizing, and diagnostic criteria. BMI requires height in meters: 5′8″ = 1.7272 m. Drug dosing in oncology uses body surface area calculated with height in cm. Understanding that 5′8″ = 172.72 cm is not just a math exercise — it directly affects clinical decisions.
Clothing and Shoe Sizing
International sizing uses both systems. European clothing lines list model height in cm; US brands use feet and inches. "Tall" sizing in the US typically starts at 5′9″ (175.26 cm) for women and 6′2″ (187.96 cm) for men. Shoe size correlates with foot length: US men's size 10 = approximately 27.9 cm foot length. Understanding the height conversion helps when purchasing tailored clothing from European brands, as length measurements on trousers, shirts, and dresses are calibrated for heights specified in centimeters.
Sports and Athletics
Athlete profiles in American sports list height in feet and inches; international databases list them in centimeters. Cristiano Ronaldo is listed at 187 cm (6′1.6″) on FIFA player cards. LeBron James is listed as 6′9″ (205.74 cm) in NBA records. In swimming, Michael Phelps stands 6′4″ (193.04 cm). The height requirements for military service in the US (between 5′0″ and 6′8″ = 152.4–203.2 cm) must be translated for international recruits. Track and field hurdle heights are set in centimeters for international competition, requiring coaches to convert from the feet-based training specifications used in the US.
Architecture and Construction
US construction uses feet and inches; international projects use centimeters and millimeters. Standard US ceiling height of 8 feet = 243.84 cm. A 6′8″ door = 203.2 cm. Standard US countertop height of 36 inches = 91.44 cm. When US architects collaborate with European firms, all measurements must be converted. Building codes in Germany (DIN standards) specify ceiling heights in millimeters: minimum residential ceiling height 2,400 mm = 7′10.6″. An American contractor reading European plans must convert centimeters to feet for material ordering and installation.
How to Use This Converter
Enter your height in feet in the first field and inches in the second field (leave inches at 0 for whole feet). Quick-value buttons provide the most commonly searched heights from 4′11″ to 6′2″. The height visualizer shows two animated silhouettes representing your feet input and the centimeter result. The animated ruler canvas renders a scale ruler with your measurement marked. All units display simultaneously: feet decimal, centimeters, total inches, meters, and millimeters. The reference table covers 4′6″ to 7′0″ in 1-inch increments, the full practical range of human height.