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Convert between centimeters and feet/inches easily. Compare your height with celebrities, use quick presets, and calculate BMI.
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Convert between the metric and imperial measurement systems with precision
The centimeter (cm) is a unit in the metric system, equal to one-hundredth of a meter. It is used globally in science, medicine, engineering, and everyday measurement in most countries. A foot is an imperial unit equal to 12 inches, and an inch is exactly 2.54 cm by international agreement since 1959.
People commonly need to convert between these systems when traveling (US visa forms ask for height in feet/inches), at medical appointments (height charts differ by country), or in construction (some drawings mix metric and imperial). The conversion formula is simple and exact: 1 inch = 2.54 cm.
While almost every country officially uses the metric system, the United States, Myanmar, and Liberia still use imperial units for everyday measurements. The UK uses a hybrid — metric for official purposes but imperial informally for height and distances.
Divide centimeters by the exact conversion factor 2.54 to get total inches.
Divide total inches by 12 for whole feet; the remainder gives the leftover inches.
Convert feet and inches back to centimeters using the exact 2.54 factor.
| Person / Object | Centimeters | Feet & Inches | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA average height | 200 cm | 6'7" | Tallest major sport average |
| US male average | 175.4 cm | 5'9" | CDC 2021 data |
| US female average | 161.5 cm | 5'3.5" | CDC 2021 data |
| Typical doorframe | 203.2 cm | 6'8" | Standard US interior door height |
| Standard ceiling | 243.8 cm | 8'0" | Most common residential ceiling height |
| Mount Everest (summit above base) | 884,813.6 cm | 29,032' | 2020 official height (sea level) |
John Wilkins proposes a decimal measurement system (proto-metric)
French metric system officially established after the Revolution
Metre Convention signed by 17 nations (Treaty of the Metre)
International Yard and Pound Agreement: 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly
US Metric Conversion Act passed (voluntary adoption, largely ignored)
EU mandates metric system for trade; UK retains imperial for some everyday purposes
Official US metric usage guidelines and conversion factors for all SI units.
View Source →Global average heights by country and year from the World Health Organization.
View Source →Maintains global measurement standards including the metre definition and SI system.
View Source →The metric system is harder to use
Metric is decimal-based (multiply/divide by 10, 100, 1000), making calculations far simpler than imperial (12 inches/foot, 3 feet/yard, 1760 yards/mile).
The US will never go metric
The US scientific community, military, and most manufacturing already uses metric. FDA, NASA, and NIST all primarily use SI units.
1 foot is exactly 30 cm
1 foot = 30.48 cm exactly. Using 30 cm introduces a 1.6% error that compounds in engineering and construction.
Height in feet/inches is more precise than centimeters
Centimeters offer more granularity — 175 cm vs 5'9" (which is actually 175.26 cm). Rounding to the nearest inch loses precision.
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