Foot to Centimeter Converter

This converter turns feet and inches into centimetres and metres using the exact factor of 30.48 centimetres per foot, useful whenever you need to compare a height, length, or building measurement given in imperial units against New Zealand's standard metric system. You enter your measurement one of two ways: choose "feet and inches" and type a whole number of feet plus 0 to 11 inches, for example 5 ft 10 in, or switch to "decimal feet" and enter a single value such as 6.5 ft. As you type, the calculator works out the total inches and equivalent decimal feet, then returns your result in centimetres and metres, alongside a breakdown showing your input, total inches, total feet, and result tiles for feet, inches, centimetres and metres. Below the calculator, a reference table lists common heights from 4 ft 0 in to 7 ft 0 in with matching decimal feet, total inches, centimetres and metres, and highlights whichever row matches your entry. Because 1 inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimetres, every figure returned is an exact conversion, not a rounded estimate, so you can rely on it for medical forms, building plans, or checking a height quoted in feet against New Zealand's metric standard. Use the feet and inches mode for personal height, and decimal feet for surveying or engineering figures already expressed as a single decimal number.

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Exact conversion  1 foot = 30.48 cm (defined exactly, International yard and pound agreement 1959).

1. Enter Your Measurement

ft
in

2. Result

Input 6 ft 0 in
Total inches 72.0000 in
Total feet (decimal) 6.000000 ft
Result in centimetres 182.88 cm
Result in metres 1.8288 m

Conversion Result

Feet
6
ft input
Inches
0
in input
Centimetres
182.88
cm result
Metres
1.8288
m result
Result: Enter a value above to convert.

Common Heights and Lengths Reference Table

Feet and InchesDecimal FeetTotal InchesCentimetresMetres

How to Convert Feet to Centimetres

The conversion from feet to centimetres uses the exact factor of 30.48 centimetres per foot. This is not an approximation: in 1959 the international yard and pound agreement defined 1 inch as exactly 2.54 centimetres. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, 1 foot = 12 x 2.54 = 30.48 cm exactly.

Formula

cm = feet x 30.48

If you have feet and inches together, convert everything to inches first, then multiply by 2.54:

cm = (feet x 12 + inches) x 2.54

Equivalently: cm = feet x 30.48 + inches x 2.54

Worked Example (Default Values)

StepCalculationResult
Input6 feet 0 inches6 ft 0 in
Total inches6 x 12 + 072 inches
Convert to cm72 x 2.54182.88 cm
Convert to m182.88 / 1001.8288 m

A person who is 6 feet tall is exactly 182.88 cm, or 1.8288 metres tall.

Common Conversions

ImperialCentimetresMetres
5 ft 0 in152.40 cm1.524 m
5 ft 4 in162.56 cm1.626 m
5 ft 6 in167.64 cm1.676 m
5 ft 8 in172.72 cm1.727 m
5 ft 10 in177.80 cm1.778 m
6 ft 0 in182.88 cm1.829 m
6 ft 2 in187.96 cm1.880 m
6 ft 4 in193.04 cm1.930 m

Feet and Inches in New Zealand

New Zealand adopted the metric system in stages during the 1970s. Centimetres and metres are the official standard for height, length, and distance in medical, scientific, and government contexts. However, feet and inches remain common in everyday conversation, particularly for personal height. Many New Zealanders know their height in both feet-and-inches and centimetres, and both appear on driver licences issued before the metric changeover as well as in older property documents and building plans. When dealing with imported goods, US publications, or older measurements, converting between feet and centimetres is a frequent need.

Decimal Feet vs Feet and Inches

Some contexts (especially surveying, engineering drawings, and US real estate) express lengths in decimal feet rather than feet and inches. For example, 6.5 ft means 6 feet and 6 inches (because 0.5 x 12 = 6 inches). To convert decimal feet to cm, simply multiply by 30.48. For example: 6.5 ft x 30.48 = 198.12 cm. The calculator above supports both formats.

Related Calculators

Sources and method: International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). International yard and pound agreement (1959), defining 1 inch = 2.54 cm exactly. Therefore 1 foot = 12 x 2.54 = 30.48 cm exactly. Conversion factor is exact with no rounding error.

Frequently asked questions

How many centimetres is one foot?

One foot is exactly 30.48 centimetres. This is an exact definition under the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, which defined 1 inch as exactly 2.54 cm. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, 1 foot equals 12 x 2.54 = 30.48 cm exactly.

How do I convert 5 feet 10 inches to centimetres?

Convert the feet and inches to a total number of inches first, then multiply by 2.54. 5 feet 10 inches equals (5 x 12) + 10 = 70 inches. 70 x 2.54 = 177.8 cm. Alternatively, convert the feet and inches separately and add: 5 x 30.48 = 152.4 cm plus 10 x 2.54 = 25.4 cm gives 177.8 cm.

Why do New Zealanders use both feet and centimetres?

New Zealand officially adopted the metric system in the early 1970s, so centimetres are the standard unit for height and length in official, medical, and scientific contexts. However, feet and inches remain widely used informally, especially for personal height, because many older New Zealanders grew up with imperial measurements and the usage has persisted across generations. It is common for people to know their height in both feet-and-inches and centimetres.

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