The two numbers you need
1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly, and 1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48 cm.
Feet and inches to centimeters
Turn the height into inches first, then multiply by 2.54. For 5 ft 9 in: 5 × 12 + 9 = 69 inches, and 69 × 2.54 = 175.3 cm.
Centimeters to feet and inches
Divide by 2.54 to get inches, then split off the feet. 180 cm ÷ 2.54 = 70.9 inches; 70.9 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 10.9 inches left over, so 5 ft 11 in.
Common heights
- 5 ft 0 in = 152.4 cm
- 5 ft 4 in = 162.6 cm
- 5 ft 6 in = 167.6 cm
- 5 ft 8 in = 172.7 cm
- 5 ft 10 in = 177.8 cm
- 6 ft 0 in = 182.9 cm
- 6 ft 2 in = 188.0 cm
The Feet to CM and Inches to CM converters each print a chart you can keep, and CM to Feet goes the other way. The Length Converter handles meters, yards and miles too.