How many feet is 170 cm?

One hundred and seventy centimetres equals approximately 5 feet 6.93 inches, which is usually rounded to 5 foot 7. This is close to the average height for a UK adult woman (5 ft 3 in) and slightly below the average UK adult male height (5 ft 9 in).

How do I convert cm to feet and inches?

First divide the cm value by 2.54 to get total inches. Then divide total inches by 12 to get feet and use the remainder as inches. For example, 180 cm / 2.54 = 70.87 inches. 70.87 / 12 = 5 feet with 10.87 inches remaining, so 180 cm is approximately 5 ft 11 in.

Why is height given in cm on medical forms?

The NHS and most healthcare systems worldwide use the metric system for clinical measurements. Recording height in centimetres avoids ambiguity and conversion errors, and it integrates with BMI calculations and drug dosing formulas that require metric inputs.

Centimetres to Feet Converter

Convert centimetres to feet and inches, or feet to centimetres

Published by UltraCalculatorsLast reviewed: 1 Apr 2026v1.0Report an issue

Converting centimetres to feet and inches is one of the most common measurement tasks for people living in or visiting the United Kingdom. Medical records, European clothing sizes, and international height charts use centimetres, but British people overwhelmingly describe their height in feet and inches. When your passport renewal form asks for your height in centimetres but you think of yourself as "five foot nine," a reliable converter becomes essential. The conversion relies on the defined relationship: one foot equals exactly 30.48 centimetres, and one inch equals exactly 2.54 centimetres. These are internationally agreed definitions, not approximations, so the conversion is perfectly precise. To convert centimetres to feet and inches, you divide by 2.54 to get total inches, then split into feet (groups of 12) and remaining inches. This tool handles both directions, so you can also enter feet and inches to get centimetres for filling in forms or comparing with metric measurements. The result in metres is shown alongside for additional reference.

How to Use This Calculator

To use the centimetres to feet converter: 1. Select the conversion direction. Choose "Centimetres to Feet and Inches" if you have a metric measurement. Choose "Feet and Inches to Centimetres" for the reverse. 2. For cm to feet: Enter the centimetre value. The converter shows the result split into feet and inches, with the metres equivalent. 3. For feet to cm: Enter feet and inches separately. For example, for 5 ft 10 in, enter 5 in the feet field and 10 in the inches field. 4. Results update instantly as you type, making it easy to check multiple values quickly.

How It Works

The conversion uses exact international definitions: 1 foot = 30.48 cm, 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Centimetres to Feet and Inches: Total inches = cm / 2.54 Whole feet = floor(total inches / 12) Remaining inches = total inches - (whole feet x 12) Example: 183 cm / 2.54 = 72.047 inches = 6 ft 0.047 in (6 feet flat) Feet and Inches to Centimetres: cm = (feet x 30.48) + (inches x 2.54) Example: 5 ft 4 in = (5 x 30.48) + (4 x 2.54) = 152.4 + 10.16 = 162.56 cm

Worked Examples

Example 1: Converting height for a dating app profile

Inputs: Centimetres: 178. Direction: cm to feet.

Total inches = 178 / 2.54 = 70.079 inches.
Feet = 70.079 / 12 = 5 with 10.079 remaining.
Result: 5 ft 10.1 in.

Result: 178 cm is 5 feet 10 inches, which is just above the UK male average height.

Example 2: Filling in a visa application in centimetres

Inputs: Feet: 5. Inches: 6. Direction: feet to cm.

Centimetres = (5 x 30.48) + (6 x 2.54).
= 152.4 + 15.24 = 167.64 cm.
Metres = 167.64 / 100 = 1.6764 m.

Result: 5 ft 6 in equals 167.64 cm or 1.68 metres.

Example 3: Checking child height against growth charts

Inputs: Centimetres: 120. Direction: cm to feet.

Total inches = 120 / 2.54 = 47.244 inches.
Feet = 47.244 / 12 = 3 with 11.244 remaining.
Result: 3 ft 11.2 in.

Result: 120 cm is 3 feet 11 inches. Typical for a 6 to 7 year old child in the UK.

Common height conversions: 150 cm = 4 ft 11 in, 155 cm = 5 ft 1 in, 160 cm = 5 ft 3 in, 165 cm = 5 ft 5 in, 170 cm = 5 ft 7 in, 175 cm = 5 ft 9 in, 180 cm = 5 ft 11 in, 185 cm = 6 ft 1 in, 190 cm = 6 ft 3 in, 195 cm = 6 ft 5 in. The average UK male height is 175.3 cm (5 ft 9 in) and the average UK female height is 161.6 cm (5 ft 3.5 in).