Height is commonly recorded in centimeters (most medical charts and most of the world) or feet and inches (common US colloquial use) — this converts between the two.
How it works
Feet and inches are combined into a total inches figure, then multiplied by the exact 2.54 cm-per-inch conversion to get centimeters — or the reverse, splitting a centimeter figure back into whole feet and remaining inches.
What this does not include
This does not include a height percentile comparison against population averages — this is a pure unit conversion, not a growth-chart or percentile tool.
How to use this calculator
- Enter a height in centimeters, or in feet and inches — the calculator converts to the other format.
A worked example
180 cm converts to 5 feet 10.87 inches.
5 feet 11 inches converts to 180.34 cm — the reverse calculation.
What the variables mean
| Variable | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Centimeters | Height in the metric unit |
| Feet and inches | Height in US customary units |
Edge cases worth knowing
Feet-and-inches conversions rarely land on a clean whole number of inches. 180 cm converts to almost 11 full inches beyond 5 feet, not an even number — a common surprise for anyone doing the conversion in their head.
Entering no height value at all makes the conversion impossible, so the calculator declines to show a result without one.
Frequently asked questions
Why is feet-and-inches trickier to convert than a single unit?
Because it’s really two numbers combined (feet and a remainder of inches, capped below 12), not one continuous value — converting correctly means combining them into total inches first before applying the cm conversion.
Where is this conversion most commonly needed?
Medical records and forms (often requiring centimeters), and everyday conversation or clothing/product sizing (often using feet and inches) in the US.
Does this calculator round the inches result?
It shows a decimal inches value (like 10.87 inches) rather than rounding to the nearest whole or fractional inch, for maximum precision.
