5'7" in CM

Understanding 5 feet 7 inches in Centimetres

5 feet 7 inches equals exactly 170.18 centimetres (1.70 metres). This height sits interestingly between the UK averages for men and women, making it a common height for people of all genders in Britain.

UK Height Percentiles

At 5'7" (170 cm), where do you stand among the UK population?

• For men: You're around the 25th percentile - shorter than about 75% of British men
• For women: You're around the 85th percentile - taller than about 85% of British women

This makes 5'7" a particularly versatile height - not considered short for women at all, while being below the male average of 5'9".

Why Convert to Centimetres?

In the UK, we commonly use feet and inches in casual conversation, but official documents require metric measurements. You'll need to know your height in centimetres for NHS medical records, passport applications, driving licence forms, and gym equipment settings.

BMI Calculations at 170 cm

For someone 5'7" (170 cm) tall, here are healthy weight ranges based on BMI:

• Underweight (BMI <18.5): Under 53.5 kg (8 st 6 lb)
• Healthy (BMI 18.5-24.9): 53.5 - 72 kg (8 st 6 lb - 11 st 5 lb)
• Overweight (BMI 25-29.9): 72 - 86.4 kg (11 st 5 lb - 13 st 8 lb)

Clothing Sizes at 5'7"

At 170 cm, you typically fall into regular length clothing rather than petite or tall ranges. For UK high street shops, you'll usually find standard leg lengths (30-32") work well. This height is well-served by most ready-to-wear clothing lines.

Famous People at 5'7"

Many notable British personalities stand at 5'7" (170 cm), including actors, musicians, and athletes who prove that height is no barrier to success in any field.

Understanding the Height Conversion Formula

Converting between feet/inches and centimetres is straightforward once you understand the two key conversion factors. One foot equals exactly 30.48 centimetres, and one inch equals exactly 2.54 centimetres. These are exact values defined by international agreement, not approximations:

CM = (Feet x 30.48) + (Inches x 2.54)

For 5 feet 7 inches: (5 x 30.48) + (7 x 2.54) = 152.40 + 17.78 = 170.18 cm. To convert to metres, simply divide by 100: 170.18 / 100 = 1.7018 m, typically rounded to 1.70 m. The total in inches is 67 inches (5 x 12 + 7 = 67), and you can verify the conversion by multiplying 67 x 2.54 = 170.18 cm.

Height Comparison: Where Does 5'7" Stand?

UK Average Heights (ONS/NHS Data)

Understanding where 5'7" (170.18 cm) falls within the UK population provides valuable context. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Health Survey for England and NHS records, the average heights for adults in the United Kingdom are:

• UK men average: 175.3 cm (5 feet 9 inches) - so 5'7" is approximately 5 cm below the male average
• UK women average: 161.6 cm (5 feet 3.6 inches) - so 5'7" is approximately 8.5 cm above the female average
• UK overall adult average: 168.4 cm (5 feet 6.3 inches) - so 5'7" is just slightly above the combined average

These averages have been steadily increasing over the past century due to improved nutrition, healthcare, and living standards. In the early 1900s, the average British man was approximately 5'6" (167.6 cm), meaning today's 5'7" individual would have been above average a century ago.

Celebrity Height Comparisons at 5'7"

Understanding your height in the context of well-known personalities can provide a relatable frame of reference. Notable individuals who stand at approximately 5'7" (170 cm) include:

• Daniel Craig - The James Bond actor, often perceived as taller on screen due to camera angles and footwear
• Ed Sheeran - The Grammy-winning Suffolk-born singer-songwriter
• Robert Downey Jr. - Known for the Iron Man franchise, frequently wears platform shoes at events
• Bruno Mars - The internationally acclaimed musician and performer
• Taylor Swift is 5'11" - for comparison, she stands approximately 4 inches taller
• Princess Diana was 5'10" - she stood approximately 3 inches taller than 5'7"

BMI and Healthy Weight at 5'7" (170 cm)

Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations at 170 cm provide important health guidance. The NHS uses BMI as a screening tool, though it should be considered alongside other health indicators. For someone standing at 5'7" (170 cm), the weight ranges by BMI category are:

The NHS emphasises that BMI is a guide rather than a definitive measure. It does not distinguish between muscle mass and fat, nor does it account for body composition, age, sex, or ethnicity. For a more comprehensive health assessment at this height, the NHS recommends also measuring waist circumference - for men, a waist over 94 cm indicates increased health risk, and for women, over 80 cm.

Common Height Conversions Reference Table

This table covers the most commonly searched height conversions from 5'0" to 6'2", providing a quick reference for understanding heights in both imperial and metric systems:

UK Height Statistics

Regional Variations Across the United Kingdom

Height varies notably across different regions of the UK. According to the Health Survey for England and equivalent surveys in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, there are measurable differences in average adult heights. People in the South East of England tend to be slightly taller on average than those in other regions, while Scottish men average approximately 176 cm and Welsh men average approximately 174.5 cm.

These regional variations are influenced by a complex interplay of genetic factors, historical nutrition patterns, socioeconomic conditions, and demographic composition. Urban areas tend to show slightly higher averages than rural areas, which researchers attribute to differences in access to healthcare and nutrition during childhood growth years.

How UK Heights Compare Globally

The UK ranks approximately 30th in the world for average male height. The tallest populations are found in the Netherlands (average male height 182.5 cm / 5'11.9"), followed by Montenegro, Denmark, and Norway. At 5'7" (170 cm), a British man would be of average height in many Asian and Latin American countries but below average in Scandinavian nations.

For women, the global picture is similar. A woman standing at 5'7" (170 cm) would be notably above average height in virtually every country worldwide, including the Netherlands where the average woman stands at approximately 168.7 cm (5'6.4").

Height Trends Over Time

British people have grown significantly taller over the past 150 years. In 1870, the average British man stood at approximately 167 cm (5'5.7"), compared to today's 175.3 cm (5'9"). This increase of over 8 cm reflects dramatic improvements in public health, childhood nutrition, disease prevention, and living standards. However, research suggests that this growth trend may be plateauing in the UK and other developed nations, as genetic potential is being more fully realised across the population.

When You Need Your Height in Centimetres

There are numerous practical situations in UK life where knowing your height in centimetres is essential. NHS medical records use metric measurements exclusively, so your GP will record your height as 170 cm rather than 5'7". Passport applications require height in centimetres, and driving licence forms may also request metric measurements. Gym equipment, particularly cardiovascular machines like treadmills and rowing machines, often require your height in centimetres for accurate calorie calculations and workout programming.

International contexts also demand metric heights. European travel documents, international sporting registrations, overseas medical consultations, and global online forms almost universally use centimetres. Having your metric height memorised - 170 cm for someone at 5'7" - saves time and avoids errors when completing these forms.

Clothing and Fashion at 5'7"

At 170 cm, you sit comfortably within the "regular" category for most UK clothing brands. For women at 5'7", you are at the top of the regular range and may occasionally find that "tall" trousers and jeans provide a better fit, particularly in brands where regular length corresponds to an inside leg of 30 inches. For men at 5'7", standard sizes work well, with inside leg lengths of 30-31 inches typically fitting correctly. Major UK retailers including M&S, ASOS, Next, and John Lewis all offer comprehensive ranges that fit this height well without requiring specialist sizing.

Related Conversion Calculators