You’ve probably been in that conversation—someone asks your height, and you’re caught between two different measurement systems. Centimeters and feet-inches don’t play nicely together, and small rounding differences can shift what people assume about your height. This guide cuts through the confusion with verified conversion data so you can settle the debate for good.

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1 cm equals: 0.032808 feet · 1 inch equals: 2.54 cm · 173 cm equals: 5 feet 8 inches · 180 cm equals: 5 feet 10.9 inches

Quick snapshot

1Quick CM to Feet Converter
2Popular Height Equivalents
3Confirmed facts
4What to watch
  • Rounding choices create the confusion: 180 cm is NOT 6 feet (that’s 182.88 cm) (The Calculator Site conversion reference)
  • 173 cm falls between 5’8″ and 5’9″ on official charts (The Calculator Site conversion reference)
  • Casual notation rounds more aggressively than professional contexts (Inch Calculator comparison chart)

Five common height measurements, one consistent pattern: metric precision rarely survives the transition to imperial notation.

The table below presents the exact conversion factors and common height equivalents used throughout this guide.

Label Value
Conversion Factor 1 cm = 0.032808 ft
1 Foot 30.48 cm
1 Inch 2.54 cm
170 cm 5 ft 6.93 in
180 cm 5 ft 10.87 in

Is 173 cm 5’7″ or 5’8″?

The precise conversion puts 173 cm at 5 feet 8.11 inches (RapidTables height converter). This breaks down as: 173 ÷ 2.54 = 68.11 inches total, then 68.11 ÷ 12 = 5 remainder 8.11 inches (The Calculator Site conversion tool). The decimal is what creates the rounding debate.

Where 173 cm actually sits

173 cm lands between 5’8″ (172.72 cm) and 5’9″ (175.26 cm) on standard conversion charts (The Calculator Site conversion reference). Since 173 is closer to 172.72 than to 175.26, the closer whole-inch reading is 5’8″. The 8.1 inches technically rounds to 8 inches in casual notation, which is why most people write it as 5’8″.

The implication: the debate only exists because charts round to the nearest whole inch. In professional contexts like medical records or aviation, you’ll see 5’8.1″ or 5’8″. In everyday conversation, 5’8″ is the standard reading.

Why rounding differences persist

Charts often round to the nearest 0.1 inch for practicality rather than displaying the precise decimal (Inch Calculator comparison chart). Medical sources sometimes use discrete increments without decimals at all (UHSussex NHS height chart). The underlying math doesn’t change—only how much precision the context demands.

The catch

173 cm is definitively closer to 5’8″ than 5’7″ or 5’9″. Claiming otherwise means you’re either using a different base unit or ignoring the decimal point.

Is 180 cm 6 feet?

No. 180 cm equals 5 feet 10.87 inches—nearly 5’11” but noticeably short of 6 feet (Inch Calculator height converter). True 6 feet is 182.88 cm. The gap between 180 cm and 6 feet is 2.88 cm, which is substantial enough that rounding up to 6 feet introduces meaningful error.

Precise 180 cm calculation

Working through the math: 180 × 0.393701 = 70.8662 inches, then 70.8662 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 10.8662 inches remaining (MiniWebTool conversion tool). Different sources round this slightly differently—The Calculator Site shows 5’10.9″ while Inch Calculator rounds to 5’10.9″ or 5’11” depending on display settings (The Calculator Site height chart). MiniWebTool lists it as 5’10.87″. The minor decimal differences are rounding variation, not calculation errors.

The pattern: all reputable sources place 180 cm between 5’10” and 5’11”. None place it at exactly 6 feet.

Difference from true 6 feet

6 feet = 182.88 cm exactly (12 × 12 × 2.54) (Manchester University official unit definitions). If you’re writing a profile for international audiences, calling 180 cm “6 feet” introduces a 2.88 cm discrepancy—about 1.1 inches. Most online height converters show the rounded reading (5’11”) but include the decimal when expanded.

What to watch

When someone says they’re “about 6 feet,” they’re often using the rounded reading. 180 cm is close enough to 6 feet that the rounding seems reasonable in casual contexts, but it falls short in precise measurements.

Is 170 cm 5’5″ or 5’7″?

170 cm converts to 5 feet 6.93 inches—placing it closer to 5’7″ than 5’5″ (MiniWebTool conversion tool). The math: 170 cm × 0.393701 = 66.929 inches, then 66.929 ÷ 12 = 5 remainder 6.929 inches. Many charts round 6.93 inches to 6.9 inches, which rounds to 7 inches in casual notation, giving us 5’7″.

170 cm breakdown

Working backwards from the 5’7″ notation: 5 feet = 152.4 cm, plus 7 inches = 17.78 cm, totaling 170.18 cm. This is only 0.18 cm off from 170 cm—well within rounding margin. The 5’5″ reading (165.1 cm) is too low by nearly 5 cm.

What this means: 170 cm is commonly listed as 5’7″ in height charts because the rounding math works out that way. Listing it as 5’5″ would require ignoring the 6.9-inch remainder.

Context in height charts

170 cm sits slightly below average male height in many Western countries (where averages often cluster around 175 cm). It’s considered average to slightly below average for women in many populations. The NHS height chart confirms standard conversions but doesn’t provide context for what these heights mean relative to population averages (UHSussex NHS height chart).

The upshot

The 5’7″ reading is mathematically sound for 170 cm. If you’re filling out forms or writing profiles where precision matters, use 5’7″ or note the precise decimal. The 5’5″ reading is only 165.1 cm—too low by nearly 5 centimeters.

Is 175 cm 5’7″ or 5’8″?

175 cm converts to 5 feet 8.90 inches—closer to 5’9″ than either 5’7″ or 5’8″ (MiniWebTool conversion tool). The decimal is 8.90 inches, which rounds to 9 inches in most notation systems. This puts 175 cm at approximately 5’9″.

175 cm to feet and inches

The calculation: 175 × 0.393701 = 68.90 inches, then 68.90 ÷ 12 = 5 remainder 8.90 inches. Since 8.90 is closer to 9 than to 8, the rounded reading is 5’9″. Casual notation often drops the decimal entirely, listing it as 5’9″.

Rounding comparisons

175 cm falls between 5’8″ (172.72 cm) and 5’9″ (175.26 cm). It’s 2.28 cm above the 5’8″ threshold and only 0.26 cm below the 5’9″ threshold. The math clearly favors 5’9″. Listing it as 5’7″ (170.18 cm) would be off by nearly 5 cm.

There are 30.48 centimeters in one foot. This is an exact definition established by international agreement. — The Calculator Site conversion reference

The international yard and pound agreement of July 1959 defined the yard as exactly 0.9144 meters, which fixed the foot at exactly 30.48 cm and the inch at exactly 2.54 cm. — Manchester University official unit definitions

The trade-off: rounding to 5’9″ loses precision but matches how most people would read the height. Keeping it as 5’8.9″ is more accurate but less commonly used in casual settings.

What height is 5ft 4 in cm?

5 feet 4 inches equals 162.56 cm. Working through the reverse formula: (5 × 12 + 4) × 2.54 = 64 × 2.54 = 162.56 cm (Unitarium height conversion table). This is a common height reference for women in many countries and for shorter adults more broadly.

Reverse conversion method

The formula for converting feet and inches to centimeters: total inches × 2.54 = centimeters. For any height in feet and inches, first multiply feet by 12, add the remaining inches, then multiply by 2.54. This works because 2.54 cm/inch is an exact conversion factor (Manchester University official unit definitions).

Common height equivalents

For reference: 5’4″ = 162.56 cm, 5’7″ = 170.18 cm, 5’9″ = 175.26 cm, 5’11” = 180.34 cm, 6’0″ = 182.88 cm. The pattern holds consistently because the conversion factor never changes.

What this means: once you know the base conversions, you can calculate any height without needing a lookup table. The math is exact, and the only variable is how much rounding you apply at the end.

How to Convert CM to Feet and Inches

Converting centimeters to feet and inches requires two steps: first get the total feet, then calculate the remaining inches. Here’s how to do it manually, followed by a quick-reference table for common heights.

The Conversion Formula

  • Step 1: Divide the centimeter value by 30.48 to get total feet. The integer (whole number) portion is your feet value.
  • Step 2: Take the remainder from Step 1 and multiply by 12 to get inches.
  • Step 3: Round inches to your desired precision (1-2 decimal places is typical).

Alternative formula: multiply cm by 0.393701 to get total inches, then divide by 12. The integer portion is feet; the remainder (× 12) is inches. Both methods produce identical results (Unitarium height conversion table).

Bottom line: Height conversion myths persist because rounding decisions vary by context. 173 cm is closer to 5’8″ than any other reading. 180 cm is NOT 6 feet—it’s 5’10.9″. For everyday use: round to the nearest inch. For medical, professional, or legal contexts: keep the decimal precision. Conversions from the University of Manchester (official unit definitions) and NHS clinical charts (UHSussex NHS) are the most authoritative references.

Related reading: EU Shoe Size Conversion Guide · Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula & Table

Additional sources

thecalculatorsite.com, perinatal.org.uk

Our height chart for queries like 173 cm to 5’8″ pairs seamlessly with step-by-step conversion guide that breaks down formulas for 170 cm, 175 cm, and beyond.

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Frequently asked questions

How many cm is a 5’11” person?

5’11” equals 180.34 cm (71 inches × 2.54 cm/inch). This is slightly taller than the commonly debated 180 cm measurement, which converts to 5’10.9″.

Is 182cm actually 6ft?

Yes—182 cm rounds to 6 feet exactly (182.88 cm = 6 feet). The 0.88 cm difference is less than 1 millimeter, which is negligible in most contexts.

Is 173cm close to 5’9″?

173 cm converts to 5’8.1″, which falls between 5’8″ and 5’9″ on official charts. It’s closer to 5’8″ (172.72 cm) than 5’9″ (175.26 cm), so 5’9″ isn’t accurate for this height.

Is 5’7″ tall for a man?

5’7″ (170.18 cm) is slightly below average male height in many Western countries, where averages typically range from 171-178 cm depending on the country. It’s not considered short, but it’s not tall either.

60 cm to feet and inches?

60 cm equals 1 foot 11.62 inches (23.62 inches total). This is just under 2 feet, commonly written as 1’11.6″ or rounded to 1’11”.

How many feet are in 180 cm?

180 cm equals 5.905 feet (before separating into feet and inches). Once separated, it’s 5 feet 10.87 inches. The confusion between decimal feet and feet-inches notation is a common source of height debates.

20 cm in inches and feet?

20 cm equals 7.87 inches, or approximately 0.66 feet. In height notation, this would be written as 7.87 inches (no full feet component since it’s less than 12 inches).

For anyone filling out international forms or comparing height data across countries, the standard conversion factor (2.54 cm per inch) applies universally with no regional variations. The only variable is how aggressively you round the final result.