To convert feet to cm, multiply by 30.48: one foot is exactly 30.48 centimeters. For example, 5 ft = 152.4 cm, and 5 ft 6 in = 167.64 cm.
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How to use the feet to cm converter
- Enter feet and inches, for example 5 ft 11 in.
- Multiply feet by 30.48 and inches by 2.54: 152.4 + 27.94 = 180.34 cm.
- Round heights to the nearest centimeter: 180 cm.
What is the feet to CM formula?
centimeters = feet × 30.48
The reverse is feet = centimeters × 0.032808399 (approximately).
The inch, foot, yard and mile are defined exactly in meters (1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 ft = 0.3048 m, 1 yd = 0.9144 m, 1 mi = 1,609.344 m), so these factors are exact.
What are feet and centimeters?
Length measures distance. The SI base unit is the meter. Since 1959 the international inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so the foot is exactly 0.3048 m and the mile exactly 1,609.344 m.
- Foot (ft): 1 ft = 0.3048 m (US/Imperial unit).
- Centimeter (cm): 1 cm = 0.01 m (Metric unit).
Feet to cm worked examples
- 5.5 feet: 5.5 × 30.48 = 167.64 cm
- A 6-foot table: 6 × 30.48 = 182.88 cm
- An 8-foot ceiling: 8 × 30.48 = 243.84 cm
Conversion chart
| ft | cm | ft | cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 15.24 | 5.5 | 167.64 |
| 1 | 30.48 | 6 | 182.88 |
| 1.5 | 45.72 | 6.5 | 198.12 |
| 2 | 60.96 | 7 | 213.36 |
| 3 | 91.44 | 8 | 243.84 |
| 4 | 121.92 | 10 | 304.8 |
| 4.5 | 137.16 | 12 | 365.76 |
| 5 | 152.4 | 20 | 609.6 |
Values are rounded to four decimal places, or two for results of 100 or more.
Quick mental conversion
Multiply by 30 for a quick estimate, then add 1.6%: 5 ft ≈ 150 cm (exact 152.4 cm).
Height in feet and inches to cm
| Height | cm |
|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in | 147.3 |
| 5 ft 2 in | 157.5 |
| 5 ft 6 in | 167.6 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 177.8 |
| 6 ft 2 in | 188.0 |
Feet from centimeters: reverse chart
Going the other way, feet = centimeters × 0.032808399. Common values:
| centimeters | feet |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0328084 |
| 2 | 0.0656168 |
| 5 | 0.164042 |
| 10 | 0.328084 |
| 20 | 0.656168 |
| 50 | 1.64042 |
| 100 | 3.28084 |
| 500 | 16.4042 |
| 1,000 | 32.8084 |
Decimal feet are not feet and inches
5.5 ft is 5 ft 6 in, not 5 ft 5 in. Mixing the two gives errors of several centimeters:
| Written as | Means | Centimeters |
|---|---|---|
| 5.5 ft | 5 ft 6 in | 167.64 |
| 5 ft 5 in | 5.4167 ft | 165.1 |
| 5.10 ft | 5 ft 1.2 in | 155.45 |
| 5 ft 10 in | 5.8333 ft | 177.8 |
Always check whether a height uses a decimal point or a feet-and-inches mark.
Ceilings and doors in cm
A standard 8 ft ceiling is 243.84 cm, and a 9 ft ceiling 274.32 cm. A common US interior door is 80 in (6 ft 8 in) tall, which is 203.2 cm. Use the cm to feet converter for the reverse, the feet to meters converter for longer lengths and the inches to cm converter for small ones.
Beds, hoops and nets
Bed sizes are a common feet to cm question. A US queen mattress is 60 × 80 inches, or 5 × 6.67 feet, which is 152.4 × 203.2 cm. European doubles are often 140 or 160 cm wide and 200 cm long, so US sheets may not fit a European mattress well. A 6 ft bed length is 182.9 cm, short for anyone over about 6 feet tall.
Sports equipment is set in feet in some games and metric in others. A basketball hoop is 10 feet high, exactly 304.8 cm. A men’s volleyball net is 2.43 m, which is just under 8 feet. Coaches setting up equipment in a gym that uses the other unit can use the feet to cm figure to mark heights accurately.
Handling fractions
Measurements such as 5 ft 7.5 in need the inches converted separately. Turn the whole thing into inches (67.5) and multiply by 2.54 to get 171.45 cm. Doing feet and inches separately and adding gives the same answer, but it is easier to slip. Round heights to the nearest centimeter and furniture to the nearest half centimeter.
Doors and ceilings in older homes are often odd sizes, so measure rather than assume. A 7 ft door opening is 213.4 cm, and the feet to cm figure lets you check whether a European-made door slab will fit. Measure in several places, because older openings are rarely square. A feet to cm conversion of each measurement is quicker than converting the total area later.
Related converters and calculators
Related conversions:
- cm to feet: height
- Feet to meters: ft to m
- Inches to cm: in to cm
- Feet to inches: ft to in
- Height calculator: height
Sources
NIST Special Publication 811, Appendix B; NIST: SI units – length.
Questions about this calculator
How many cm are in a foot?
30.48 cm exactly.
How do I convert feet to cm?
Multiply by 30.48. For example, 6 ft = 182.88 cm.
What is 5 ft 6 in in cm?
167.64 cm.
Is 5.5 ft the same as 5 ft 5 in?
No; 5.5 ft is 5 ft 6 in (167.64 cm).
How tall is an 8 ft ceiling in cm?
243.84 cm.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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