Free Height Converter
Convert height units instantly — centimeters to feet and inches, meters, and millimeters. Shows exact feet and inches display. Free, symmetrical, no sign-up.
Exact Conversion Formula & Multipliers
Human height conversion uses the same fixed length constants as general length conversion — 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly and 1 foot = 30.48 cm exactly — but is commonly displayed in the feet-and-inches combined format (e.g. 5'10") rather than decimal feet. This converter computes the whole-foot component by integer division and the remainder in inches. It rounds the total to two decimal places of an inch before splitting it, so a value such as 182.87 cm is shown as 6′ 0″ rather than an impossible 5′ 12″.
Practical Real-World Scenarios
- Medical and fitness records: height is charted in centimeters on most international medical forms but in feet and inches on US driver's licenses and passports.
- Sports statistics: international sports databases list athlete height in centimeters, while US sports media almost universally reports feet and inches.
- Travel and visas: some countries require height listed in centimeters on official documents, catching US travelers off guard when filling out forms abroad.
Historical & Technical Background
Feet-and-inches height reporting is a direct holdover from British imperial measurement culture exported to the US and a handful of other countries, while centimeter-based height became the global default following widespread metrication in the 20th century. The persistence of the feet-and-inches format specifically for height — even in otherwise metric-leaning contexts — reflects how deeply it's embedded in everyday speech ('he's six foot two') rather than any technical advantage.
Precision & Accuracy Statement
Conversion factors use the exact defined values given in NIST Special Publication 811 and the BIPM SI Brochure wherever such a definition exists (for example 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 US gal = 3.785411784 L, g₀ = 9.80665 m/s²); derived factors are computed from those definitions rather than copied as rounded figures. Results are calculated in double-precision floating point and shown to 10 significant digits, so the last digit can differ by one unit of rounding. The rounded figures in the text and tables above are for reading convenience.
How This Converter Works
Height is expressed in centimeters across most of the world, but feet and inches remain the common format in the US, UK, and Canada for personal height. Our converter shows the exact feet and inches display alongside all metric values.
Common Conversions
| Centimeters (cm) | Feet & Inches | Meters (m) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155 cm | 5' 1" | 1.55 m | Short adult height |
| 165 cm | 5' 5" | 1.65 m | Above-average female height |
| 170 cm | 5' 7" | 1.70 m | Roughly average global male height |
| 175 cm | 5' 9" | 1.75 m | Average male height (US/UK) |
| 180 cm | 5' 11" | 1.80 m | Above-average male height |
| 183 cm | 6' 0" | 1.83 m | Six feet exactly |
| 190 cm | 6' 3" | 1.90 m | Tall — NBA point guard average |