Feet to Centimeter Calculator
Enter a height or length in feet and inches and get the exact centimeter equivalent — built for anyone converting a US or UK imperial measurement into the metric units used on forms, labels, and international specs.
Convert Feet & Inches to Centimeters
Enter feet and (optionally) inches — the centimeter value updates instantly.
170.18 cm
Why Convert Feet to Centimeters?
The foot is the everyday unit for height and room measurements in the US, and it still shows up in casual conversation in the UK and a handful of other countries. But most of the world — along with nearly all international forms, medical records, and product specifications — runs on centimeters, so a feet-to-cm conversion is one of the most frequently needed everyday calculations.
Unlike currency, which shifts with exchange rates, the relationship between feet and centimeters is a fixed constant: 1 foot equals exactly 30.48 centimeters, defined precisely under the 1959 international yard-and-pound agreement. That means a feet-to-cm conversion is always exact — never an estimate — regardless of which calculator or method is used to get there.
The Feet to Centimeter Formula
Converting feet (and inches) to centimeters is a two-step process when inches are involved, and a single multiplication when they aren't.
Whole Feet Only
Centimeters = Feet × 30.48
If there's no inches component, simply multiply the number of feet by 30.48.
Example: 6 ft × 30.48 = 182.88 cm
Feet and Inches Combined
Centimeters = (Feet × 30.48) + (Inches × 2.54)
Convert the feet portion and the inches portion separately, then add them together, since 1 inch equals exactly 2.54 cm.
Example: 5'7" → (5 × 30.48) + (7 × 2.54) = 152.4 + 17.78 = 170.18 cm
Feet & Inches to Centimeters — Height Table
A ready reference for common heights, from 4'0" to 7'0", since this is the most-searched use of this conversion.
| Feet & Inches | Centimeters | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| 4' 6" | 137.16 cm | 1.3716 m |
| 4' 11" | 149.86 cm | 1.4986 m |
| 5' 0" | 152.40 cm | 1.5240 m |
| 5' 3" | 160.02 cm | 1.6002 m |
| 5' 7" | 170.18 cm | 1.7018 m |
| 5' 9" | 175.26 cm | 1.7526 m |
| 5' 11" | 180.34 cm | 1.8034 m |
| 6' 0" | 182.88 cm | 1.8288 m |
| 6' 3" | 190.50 cm | 1.9050 m |
| 6' 6" | 198.12 cm | 1.9812 m |
| 7' 0" | 213.36 cm | 2.1336 m |
For a height not listed here, the calculator at the top of this page computes the exact figure instantly, down to any inch fraction.
Worked Examples: Step by Step
Example 1: Convert 5'9" to centimeters
- Feet portion: 5 × 30.48 = 152.4 cm
- Inches portion: 9 × 2.54 = 22.86 cm
- Add together: 152.4 + 22.86 = 175.26 cm
- Answer: 5'9" = 175.26 cm
Example 2: Convert 12 feet (a room length) to centimeters
- Formula: cm = feet × 30.48
- 12 × 30.48 = 365.76
- Answer: 12 ft = 365.76 cm
Example 3: Convert 6'2.5" to centimeters using the total-inches shortcut
- Convert to total inches: (6 × 12) + 2.5 = 74.5 in
- Multiply by 2.54: 74.5 × 2.54 = 189.23
- Answer: 6'2.5" = 189.23 cm
Where This Conversion Comes Up
Filling Out International Forms
Visa applications, medical intake forms, and ID documents outside the US frequently ask for height in centimeters, requiring a quick conversion from the feet-and-inches figure most Americans know by heart.
Buying Furniture or Fixtures from Metric Markets
When ordering furniture, curtains, or fittings from a metric-based supplier, a room or opening measured in feet needs to be converted to centimeters to match the listed product dimensions.
Sports, Modeling, and Casting Profiles
International sports federations, modeling agencies, and casting databases often standardize on centimeters, so an athlete's or model's height in feet and inches needs a one-time conversion for their profile.
Construction Drawings Crossing Unit Systems
Architects and contractors working across US and international teams sometimes need to convert feet-based measurements into centimeters to match metric blueprints or building codes.
Comparing Heights Across Media
News, sports commentary, and social media often report a person's height in feet and inches in the US and in centimeters elsewhere, so converting between the two makes cross-referencing easier.
Common Mistakes When Converting
- Forgetting the inches component. Converting only the "feet" part of a height (e.g. treating 5'9" as just "5 feet") drops the inches entirely and undercounts the result by several centimeters.
- Using 12 instead of 2.54 for the inches conversion. The inches-to-cm constant is 2.54, not 12 — 12 is the number of inches in a foot, a completely separate conversion.
- Rounding intermediate steps. Rounding the feet or inches portion before adding them together can shift the final centimeter figure by a noticeable amount — round only the final total.
- Mixing up feet and yards. A yard is 3 feet (91.44 cm), not the same unit as a foot (30.48 cm) — treating them interchangeably is a common and sizeable error.
Cheat Sheet: Common Round Numbers
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| 1 in | 2.54 cm |
| 1 ft (12 in) | 30.48 cm |
| 1 yard (3 ft) | 91.44 cm |
| 1 m | 3.2808 ft / 39.37 in |
| 1 cm | 0.3937 in / 0.0328 ft |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 5'7" in centimeters?
5 feet 7 inches equals 170.18 centimeters.
How many centimeters are in a foot?
One foot equals exactly 30.48 centimeters.
How do I convert feet and inches to centimeters by hand?
Multiply the feet by 30.48, multiply the inches by 2.54, and add the two results together. Alternatively, convert the whole height to total inches first (feet × 12 + inches), then multiply by 2.54.
Is the feet to centimeter conversion exact or approximate?
It's exact. Since 1 foot is defined as precisely 0.3048 meters, the conversion never requires rounding unless you choose to round the final displayed answer.
What is 6 feet in centimeters?
6 feet equals 182.88 centimeters (6 × 30.48).
Why is my centimeter answer slightly different from what I expected?
This is usually because the inches portion was skipped or rounded early. Convert both the feet and inches parts fully, then add them, for the exact figure.
Does this calculator also work in reverse, from centimeters to feet?
Yes. Enter a value directly into the Centimeters field and the feet, inches, meters, and millimeters fields all update automatically.