One constant does all the work
Since 1959, the inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm — not approximately, exactly. That single definition generates every conversion on this page.
inches = mm ÷ 25.4
feet = meters × 3.28084
So 170 cm ÷ 2.54 = 66.93 inches. Divide by 12 to split into feet: 66.93 ÷ 12 = 5 feet with 6.93 inches left over — 170 cm is 5′6.9″, which rounds to 5′7″.
Height chart: 150–200 cm
| cm | Inches | Feet & inches |
|---|---|---|
| 150 | 59.06 | 4′11.1″ |
| 155 | 61.02 | 5′1.0″ |
| 160 | 62.99 | 5′3.0″ |
| 165 | 64.96 | 5′5.0″ |
| 170 | 66.93 | 5′6.9″ |
| 175 | 68.90 | 5′8.9″ |
| 180 | 70.87 | 5′10.9″ |
| 185 | 72.83 | 6′0.8″ |
| 190 | 74.80 | 6′2.8″ |
| 195 | 76.77 | 6′4.8″ |
| 200 | 78.74 | 6′6.7″ |
Two heights trip people up constantly: 180 cm is not six feet — it is 5′10.9″, about an inch short. Six feet is 182.88 cm. And 165 cm lands almost exactly on 5′5″, one of the few clean matches in the whole range. The height converter does the feet-and-inches split for any value, and cm to inches handles plain lengths.
Millimeters: same constant, shifted a decimal
A millimeter is a tenth of a centimeter, so the divisor becomes 25.4. This is the conversion for drill bits, socket sizes and product specs:
| mm | Inches | Close to |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0.197 | 3/16″ |
| 10 | 0.394 | 13/32″ |
| 13 | 0.512 | 1/2″ |
| 20 | 0.787 | 25/32″ |
| 25.4 | 1.000 | 1″ exactly |
| 50 | 1.969 | 2″ |
| 100 | 3.937 | 4″ |
The “close to” column is why a 13 mm socket substitutes for a 1/2″ one in a pinch (they differ by 0.3 mm) — and why a 19 mm and 3/4″ are near-twins. Exact decimals come from the mm to inches converter.
Meters to feet
One meter is 100 ÷ 2.54 ÷ 12 = 3.28084 feet. Useful anchors:
| Meters | Feet | Feet & inches |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.28 | 3′3.4″ |
| 1.5 | 4.92 | 4′11.1″ |
| 2 | 6.56 | 6′6.7″ |
| 2.5 | 8.20 | 8′2.4″ |
| 3 | 9.84 | 9′10.1″ |
| 10 | 32.81 | 32′9.7″ |
A quick mental version: meters × 3.3 gets you within half a percent. A 2.4 m ceiling is about 2.4 × 3.3 ≈ 7.9 feet (exact: 7.87). For anything that matters — a doorway, a vehicle clearance — use meters to feet and keep the decimals.
Run your own numbers
FAQ
How tall is 170 cm in feet and inches?
Is 180 cm the same as 6 feet?
How do I convert cm to inches without a calculator?
Why is a 13 mm socket interchangeable with a 1/2 inch socket?
How many feet is 1 meter?
Sources
Primary references used for the figures and rules on this page.
- International yard and pound agreement (1 in = 2.54 cm) — NIST
- SI units and conversion factors — NIST Special Publication 811