Anyone who has ever tried to figure out their height in centimeters after years of thinking in feet and inches knows the frustration of mismatched numbers, especially when one source says 170 cm is 5’7″ and another says 5’6″. This guide clears up the confusion by showing you the exact formula, common height equivalents, and why rounding sometimes creates two different answers.

4 related posts

1 foot = 12 inches ·
1 inch = 2.54 cm ·
1 foot = 30.48 cm ·
Average US male height = 5’9″ (175.26 cm) ·
Average US female height = 5’4″ (162.56 cm)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Six key conversion values in one table show where the numbers come from and how they connect.

Label Value
Feet to cm base 1 foot = 30.48 cm
Inch to cm 1 inch = 2.54 cm
Total inches formula ft × 12 + inches
Exact 5’4″ in cm 162.56 cm
Exact 5’2″ in cm 157.48 cm (Calculator Soup worked example)
Exact 5’11” in cm 180.34 cm (RapidTables chart)
Exact 6’0″ in cm 182.88 cm (RapidTables chart)
170 cm in feet/inches (exact) 66.93 inches = 5’6.93″
170 cm rounded 5’7″

How tall is 5’4″ in cm?

The exact conversion for 5 feet 4 inches is straightforward when you use the right steps. First convert the feet to inches: 5 × 12 = 60 inches. Add the remaining 4 inches to get 64 total inches. Multiply by 2.54 to reach 162.56 cm (The Calculator Site height converter).

How many cm is 5’3″?

  • 5 feet = 60 inches, plus 3 inches = 63 total inches
  • 63 × 2.54 = 160.02 cm (Calculator Soup formula)

How many cm is 5’5″?

  • 5 feet 5 inches = 65 total inches
  • 65 × 2.54 = 165.1 cm (RapidTables conversion)

What is 5′ in cm?

  • 5 feet = 60 inches
  • 60 × 2.54 = 152.4 cm (RapidTables chart)
Bottom line: For anyone needing precision in medical or official records, 5’4″ always equals 162.56 cm when you follow the feet‑to‑inches‑to‑cm formula. Using the rounded 163 cm could shift BMI classification or dosing.
Why this matters

Medical records and international forms require centimeters — a 0.5 cm rounding error in height can affect BMI classification or prescription dosing. Using 162.56 cm instead of a rounded 163 cm keeps the number accurate.

How many cm is 5’11 feet?

5 feet 11 inches converts to 71 total inches (60 + 11). Multiply by 2.54 to get 180.34 cm (RapidTables chart). This is a common height for men in many countries and often appears on driver’s licenses.

How many cm is 5’10”?

  • 5 feet 10 inches = 70 total inches
  • 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm (Calculator Soup result)

How many cm is 6’0″?

  • 6 feet = 72 inches
  • 72 × 2.54 = 182.88 cm (RapidTables chart)
Bottom line: For official documents, 5’11” = 180.34 cm. If you see 180 cm listed for a 5’11” person, it’s rounded down by 0.34 cm — tiny, but sufficient to affect height-dependent standards like BMI categories.

Is 170 cm 5’7″ or 5’6″?

This is the most common source of confusion in height conversion. The math: 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches. That’s 5 feet (60 inches) with 6.93 inches left over. So the exact height is 5’6.93″, which rounds to 5’7″ (Math Salamanders rounding explanation). Many online charts and apps round to the nearest inch, which turns 5’6.93″ into 5’7″.

Why do conversions vary?

  • Some sources round to the nearest whole inch, others keep decimal places
  • A person who says “170 cm” may actually be 170.18 cm (5’7″) when measured precisely
  • In casual conversation, 170 cm and 5’7″ are interchangeable; in medicine, the exact decimal matters

Exact conversion of 170 cm to feet and inches

  • 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches
  • 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet, remainder 6.93 inches
  • Exact: 5’6.93″ (The Calculator Site calculation)
Bottom line: 170 cm is technically 5’6.93″. Saying 5’7″ is a rounding convention, not a measurement error. For official documents, use the exact cm value, not the rounded feet/inches.
The catch

Rounding to the nearest inch means a person who is 5’6.5″ and a person who is 5’7.4″ both get reported as 5’7″. This 0.9‑inch gap can push a borderline BMI from healthy to overweight on metric charts.

The implication: relying on rounded height can misclassify weight status in medical contexts, so always use the exact decimal.

Is 5’7″ tall for a girl?

Context matters. 5’7″ (170.18 cm) is above the average height for women in many countries, but not exceptionally tall worldwide.

What is the average height for women in the US?

Is 5’7″ considered tall globally?

  • In the Netherlands, where average female height is about 5’7″, it is average (World Population Review data)
  • In many Asian and Latin American countries, 5’7″ is above average
Bottom line: For a US woman, 5’7″ is tall relative to the average of 5’4″, but it is average in countries like the Netherlands. The perception depends entirely on the reference population.

How many cm is 5 ft 3 height?

5 feet 3 inches equals 63 total inches. 63 × 2.54 = 160.02 cm (Calculator Soup conversion).

How many cm is 5’2″?

  • 5 feet 2 inches = 62 total inches
  • 62 × 2.54 = 157.48 cm (Calculator Soup worked example)

How many cm is 5’4″?

  • 5 feet 4 inches = 64 total inches
  • 64 × 2.54 = 162.56 cm (The Calculator Site result)
Bottom line: 5’3″ = 160.02 cm, 5’2″ = 157.48 cm, 5’4″ = 162.56 cm. Each differs by exactly 2.54 cm per inch, so anyone using a rounded value loses that linear precision.

Four online converters, one pattern: all use the same formula, but their rounding defaults vary.

Height RapidTables Calculator Soup The Calculator Site Math Salamanders
5’2″ 157.48 cm 157.48 cm 157.48 cm 157.48 cm
5’4″ 162.56 cm 162.56 cm 162.56 cm 162.56 cm
5’7″ 170.18 cm 170.18 cm 170.18 cm 170.18 cm
5’11” 180.34 cm 180.34 cm 180.34 cm 180.34 cm

How to convert height from feet to centimeters step by step

The process is the same for any height, whether you’re converting 5’4″ or 6’2″.

  1. Convert feet to inches. Multiply the number of feet by 12. For 5’4″, that’s 5 × 12 = 60 inches (Calculator Soup method).
  2. Add the remaining inches. If you have 4 extra inches, add them: 60 + 4 = 64 total inches.
  3. Multiply total inches by 2.54. 64 × 2.54 = 162.56 cm (The Calculator Site multiplication).
The trade‑off

Using the full formula gives you an exact decimal, but many people prefer a rounded number for everyday use. The trade‑off is between medical accuracy and conversational convenience.

The pattern: each additional inch adds exactly 2.54 cm, so the formula remains the only reliable method for precision.

Clarity check: what’s confirmed vs what’s still uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • 165.1 cm = 5’5″ exactly (RapidTables chart)
  • 170.18 cm = 5’7″ exactly (if no rounding) (The Calculator Site calculation)
  • The formula (ft × 12 + in) × 2.54 works for every height (Math Salamanders formula)

What’s unclear

  • Whether 170 cm is 5’7″ or 5’6″ depends on rounding convention (RapidTables rounding note)
  • Whether 164 cm is 5’4″ or 5’5″ depends on the rounding threshold used by different charts

Expert perspectives on height conversion

“The formula for feet to centimeters is simply multiply by 30.48.”

— RapidTables conversion guidelines (RapidTables reference)

“For height conversions, a feet-and-inches input should be converted by multiplying the feet by 12, adding the inches, and then multiplying the total inches by 2.54.”

— Calculator Soup conversion tool (Calculator Soup height converter)

“Feet-to-centimeters conversion can also be done by first converting feet to inches using 1 foot = 12 inches.”

— The Calculator Site (The Calculator Site step-by-step)

For anyone who needs to report their height on a medical form, in a passport application, or for international sports registration, the decision is clear: use the exact formula (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54, or use the direct feet × 30.48 shortcut, and keep the full decimal value rather than rounding to the nearest inch.

Additional sources

feettometres.com, youtube.com, uhsussex.nhs.uk

For those who need to convert the other way, a general cm to feet converter can also handle any measurement you throw at it.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 164 cm 5’4″ or 5’5″?

164 cm ÷ 2.54 = 64.57 inches, which is 5’4.57″. Most charts round to 5’5″ because 0.57 inches rounds up. Exactly, it is closer to 5’4.5″.

Is 168 cm 5’5″ or 5’6″?

168 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.14 inches = 5’6.14″. So it rounds to 5’6″.

How many cm is a 5’4″ female?

A female who is 5’4″ tall measures exactly 162.56 cm. This is the average height for women in the US.

Is 180 cm 5’11”?

180 cm ÷ 2.54 = 70.87 inches = 5’10.87″. So it rounds to 5’11”. The exact height for 5’11” is 180.34 cm, so 180 cm is slightly shorter.

How do you convert height from feet to centimeters?

Use the formula: (feet × 12 + inches) × 2.54. For example, 5’4″ = (5×12 + 4) × 2.54 = 162.56 cm. Or multiply feet directly by 30.48 and add inches × 2.54.

Related reading: 200 cm to Inches: Quick Conversion Guide · 189 cm in Feet – 6 Feet 2.4 Inches Exact Guide