cm to Feet Calculator

How to Convert Centimetres to Feet and Inches

Converting centimetres to feet and inches is a two-step process that uses two fixed relationships: 1 foot = 30.48cm and 1 inch = 2.54cm. These exact values were established when the international yard and pound agreement was signed in 1959.

The conversion formula works as follows:

1. Divide your cm measurement by 30.48 to get total feet as a decimal.
2. The integer part of the result is your number of feet.
3. Multiply the fractional part by 12 to get inches.

Example: Convert 175cm to feet and inches.

175 ÷ 30.48 = 5.7414 feet
Feet = 5
Inches = 0.7414 × 12 = 8.90 inches
Result: 5ft 8.90in

Converting Feet and Inches Back to Centimetres

To reverse the conversion — going from feet and inches back to centimetres — multiply the feet by 30.48 and the inches by 2.54, then add both together:

5ft 8in = (5 × 30.48) + (8 × 2.54)
= 152.4 + 20.32
= 172.72cm

UK Height: Metric and Imperial Comparison

The United Kingdom is in an interesting position regarding height measurement. The NHS officially records patient heights in centimetres, yet most British people still describe their height in feet and inches in everyday conversation. If someone tells you they are "five foot ten," they mean 177.8cm. This dual-system reality makes a reliable cm-to-feet converter essential for UK residents.

Height is recorded in centimetres on driving licences issued in the UK (since 2000), on medical records, and in official statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). However, passport forms, dating profiles, and casual conversation overwhelmingly favour feet and inches.

Average UK Height: cm and Feet Reference

According to NHS Health Survey data and the ONS:

• Average UK male height: 175.3cm (5ft 9.0in)
• Average UK female height: 161.6cm (5ft 3.6in)
• Tallest UK region (men): Northern Ireland, approx. 177cm
• Shortest UK region (women): Wales, approx. 160cm

Height Conversion Table: 150cm to 210cm

The table below covers the full range of human adult heights most commonly encountered in the UK, from shorter statures to exceptionally tall individuals. All values are exact to two decimal places.

Centimetres vs Feet: UK and US Context

The difference between UK and US height conventions is subtle but important. Both countries predominantly use feet and inches in casual speech, but the UK has legally adopted the metric system for most official purposes. In the United States, the imperial system remains dominant across nearly all contexts, including medical records, construction, and retail. A UK person stating their height as "5ft 11" and an American doing the same are using an identical format — but the British person's passport records 180.3cm while the American's driving licence says 5'11".

When Centimetres Matter in the UK

Centimetres are the standard unit for:

• NHS medical records and prescriptions
• School growth charts (using WHO centile charts in cm)
• Furniture and interior design measurements
• Clothing size guides (waist, chest, and inseam in cm)
• Travel — European hotel rooms, car hire specifications
• Engineering, construction, and architecture

When Feet and Inches Are Still Used in the UK

• Personal height in conversation and on social media profiles
• Real estate — ceiling heights often quoted in feet
• Aviation — altitude is measured in feet worldwide
• Maritime — depth of water, boat measurements
• Some older building plans and property deeds

Understanding the Conversion Formula

The fundamental unit relationship is: 1 inch = 2.54cm exactly. This was agreed internationally in 1959 when the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand signed the International Yard and Pound Agreement. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, one foot = 12 × 2.54 = 30.48cm exactly.

These are not approximations — they are exact definitions. This means any conversion between centimetres and feet, done correctly, is perfectly precise. The only source of rounding error comes from displaying results to a limited number of decimal places.

Common Height Conversions (Quick Reference)

Some heights come up so frequently that they are worth memorising:

• 5ft = 152.4cm
• 5ft 5in = 165.1cm
• 5ft 6in = 167.64cm
• 5ft 8in = 172.72cm
• 5ft 10in = 177.8cm
• 6ft = 182.88cm
• 6ft 2in = 187.96cm

Metres to Feet Conversion

Since 100cm = 1 metre, and 1cm = 0.0328084 feet, we can quickly calculate that 1 metre = 3.28084 feet. This is a useful anchor point. A 2-metre doorway is 6ft 6.74in tall. A person described as "just under 2 metres" is just under 6ft 7in.

History of the Foot as a Unit

The foot as a unit of measurement has roots going back thousands of years, originally based on the average length of a human foot. It appeared in ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman measurement systems. In medieval England, different local definitions of the "foot" varied by trade and region. King Edward II of England standardised the foot in 1324, defining it as the length of 36 barleycorns placed end to end. The modern international foot of exactly 0.3048 metres (30.48cm) was codified in 1959 and is now used worldwide wherever imperial measurements are referenced.

Using the cm to Feet Calculator Above

This calculator supports three bidirectional conversion modes:

• cm to Feet: Enter centimetres, get feet+inches and metres
• Feet to cm: Enter feet and inches separately, get centimetres and metres
• Metres to Feet: Enter metres, get feet+inches and centimetres

All conversions update instantly as you type. No need to press a button. The calculator handles decimal input (e.g. 170.5cm) and is accurate to four decimal places.