Enter the length in centimeters below to convert it to feet.
How to Convert Centimeters to Feet
By
Joe Sexton
Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
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Reviewed by
Ethan Dederick, PhD
Ethan has a PhD in astrophysics and is currently a satellite imaging scientist. He specializes in math, science, and astrophysics.
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Cite As:
Sexton, J. (n.d.). Centimeters to Feet Converter. Inch Calculator. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.inchcalculator.com/convert/centimeter-to-foot/
To convert a measurement in centimeters to a measurement in feet, divide the length by the following conversion ratio: 30.48 centimeters/foot.
Since there are 30.48 centimeters in one foot, you can use this cm to feet formula to convert:
feet = centimeters ÷ 30.48
The length in feet is equal to the length in centimeters divided by 30.48.
For example, here's how to convert 170 centimeters to feet using the formula above.
feet = (170 cm ÷ 30.48) = 5.577428 ft
So, 170 cm in feet is 5.577428.
How to Convert cm to Feet and Inches
Instead of seeing feet in decimal form, they are usually used with inches to represent a fraction of a foot. To convert cm to feet and inches, you'll need to follow a few extra steps.
Step 1: Begin with the cm to feet conversion above to get the resulting feet in decimal form first.
Step 2: Take the number to the left of the decimal as the number of whole feet.
Step 3: Take the number to the right of the decimal point and convert it to inches. To do this, multiply it by 12, since there are 12 inches in one foot.
Step 4: Round that result to the nearest whole number to get the number of inches.
Step 5: Combine the number of whole feet and inches to get your final answer.
Use our inch fraction calculator to convert decimal to fractional inches if needed.
For example, to convert 170 cm to feet and inches, follow these steps:
Begin by dividing the measurement in centimeters by 30.48 to get the total feet as a decimal.
170 cm ÷ 30.48 = 5.577428 ft
Then, multiply the decimal remainder by 12.
0.577428 × 12 = 6.929136
Round this to the nearest whole number; in this case, 6.929136 can be rounded up to 7. This is the number of rounded inches.
Put it all together by using the original whole number for the feet and the rounded decimal conversion as the inches.
170 cm ≈ 5 ft 7 in
Note that we use an "approximately equal" sign instead of an equal sign as we performed some rounding of the measurement since 170 centimeters is not exactly equal to 5 feet, 7 inches.
You can validate this result using our height converter.
Centimeters to Feet and Inches Conversion Chart
The following table shows common lengths in centimeters and their equivalent heights in feet and inches. Our height comparison chart has a more comprehensive list of height conversions.
Centimeters | Feet | Feet & Inches |
---|---|---|
5 cm | 0.164042 ft | 0 ft 2 in |
10 cm | 0.328084 ft | 0 ft 3.9 in |
15 cm | 0.492126 ft | 0 ft 5.9 in |
20 cm | 0.656168 ft | 0 ft 7.9 in |
25 cm | 0.82021 ft | 0 ft 9.8 in |
30 cm | 0.984252 ft | 0 ft 11.8 in |
35 cm | 1.1483 ft | 1 ft 1.8 in |
40 cm | 1.3123 ft | 1 ft 3.7 in |
45 cm | 1.4764 ft | 1 ft 5.7 in |
50 cm | 1.6404 ft | 1 ft 7.7 in |
55 cm | 1.8045 ft | 1 ft 9.7 in |
60 cm | 1.9685 ft | 1 ft 11.6 in |
65 cm | 2.1325 ft | 2 ft 1.6 in |
70 cm | 2.2966 ft | 2 ft 3.6 in |
75 cm | 2.4606 ft | 2 ft 5.5 in |
80 cm | 2.6247 ft | 2 ft 7.5 in |
85 cm | 2.7887 ft | 2 ft 9.5 in |
90 cm | 2.9528 ft | 2 ft 11.4 in |
95 cm | 3.1168 ft | 3 ft 1.4 in |
100 cm | 3.2808 ft | 3 ft 3.4 in |
105 cm | 3.4449 ft | 3 ft 5.3 in |
110 cm | 3.6089 ft | 3 ft 7.3 in |
115 cm | 3.773 ft | 3 ft 9.3 in |
120 cm | 3.937 ft | 3 ft 11.2 in |
125 cm | 4.1011 ft | 4 ft 1.2 in |
130 cm | 4.2651 ft | 4 ft 3.2 in |
135 cm | 4.4291 ft | 4 ft 5.1 in |
140 cm | 4.5932 ft | 4 ft 7.1 in |
145 cm | 4.7572 ft | 4 ft 9.1 in |
150 cm | 4.9213 ft | 4 ft 11.1 in |
155 cm | 5.0853 ft | 5 ft 1 in |
160 cm | 5.2493 ft | 5 ft 3 in |
165 cm | 5.4134 ft | 5 ft 5 in |
170 cm | 5.5774 ft | 5 ft 6.9 in |
175 cm | 5.7415 ft | 5 ft 8.9 in |
180 cm | 5.9055 ft | 5 ft 10.9 in |
185 cm | 6.0696 ft | 6 ft 0.8 in |
190 cm | 6.2336 ft | 6 ft 2.8 in |
195 cm | 6.3976 ft | 6 ft 4.8 in |
200 cm | 6.5617 ft | 6 ft 6.7 in |
Centimeters and feet are both units used to measure length. Keep reading to learn more about each unit of measure.
What Is a Centimeter?
One centimeter is equal to one-hundredth (1/100) of a meter, which is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second. One centimeter is equal to 0.393701 inches.
The centimeter, or centimetre, is a multiple of the meter, which is the SI base unit for length. In the metric system, "centi" is the prefix for hundredths, or 10-2. Centimeters can be abbreviated as cm; for example, 1 centimeter can be written as 1 cm.
Metric rulers typically have 30 cm, which are represented by 30 large tick marks. To get a rough idea of the actual length of a centimeter, a standard number 2 pencil is just about 1 cm thick.
Learn more about centimeters.
What Is a Foot?
The foot is a unit of length measurement equal to 12 inches or 1/3 of a yard. Because the international yard is legally defined to be equal to exactly 0.9144 meters, one foot is equal to 0.3048 meters.[1]
The foot is a US customary and imperial unit of length. Feet can be abbreviated as ft; for example, 1 foot can be written as 1 ft.
Feet can also be denoted using the ′ symbol, otherwise known as a prime, though a single-quote (') is often used instead of the prime symbol for convenience. Using the prime symbol, 1 ft can be written as 1′.
Measurements in feet are most commonly taken using either a standard 12" ruler or a tape measure, though there are many other measuring devices available. Feet are sometimes referred to as linear feet, which are simply a measurement of length in feet.
You might be interested in our feet and inches calculator, which can add feet with other units of measurement such as inches, centimeters, or meters.
Learn more about feet.
We recommend using a ruler or tape measure for measuring length, which can be found at a local retailer or home center. Rulers are available in imperial, metric, or a combination of both values, so make sure you get the correct type for your needs.
Need a ruler? Try our free downloadable and printable rulers, which include both imperial and metric measurements.