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Height in → cm

Convert height from in to cm

Sources last checked: 2026-11-03

Height in → cm

Convert height from in to cm

Fill in every field to see the result.

Converts units only; reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the assay and the patient.

Source: NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — Appendix B.8/B.9 conversion factors: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa, t/°C = (t/°F − 32)/1.8.Open

What is the Height in → cm?

Height is recorded in inches (often as feet and inches) in the USA and partly in the UK, and in centimetres in Europe, Turkey and in BMI and body-surface-area formulas. The inch is defined as exactly 2.54 cm, so the conversion is exact.

When to use it

  • Calculating BMI, body surface area or predicted body weight from a height in inches
  • Reading US records, growth data or trial tables
  • Ventilation settings based on predicted body weight, which depends on height

When not to use it

  • Heights in feet and inches entered as a decimal (e.g. '5.10' for 5 ft 10 in) — convert to total inches first (1 ft = 12 in)
  • Paediatric length versus standing height — the measurement method differs, not just the unit

How it is calculated

cm = in × 2.54

Clinical pearls and limitations

  • Converts units only; reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the assay and the patient.
  • Exact: 1 in = 2.54 cm; 1 ft = 12 in = 30.48 cm.
  • 5 ft 10 in is 70 in, not 5.10 ft — a classic entry error in electronic forms.
  • Height errors propagate into BMI (squared) and predicted body weight; small unit slips matter for tidal-volume settings.
  • Round to one decimal place in cm; stadiometers are not more precise.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert inches to centimetres?

Multiply by 2.54. Example: 70 in × 2.54 = 177.8 cm; 64 in × 2.54 = 162.6 cm.

How do I convert 5 feet 10 inches to cm?

First convert to inches: 5 × 12 + 10 = 70 in. Then 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm.

Is the inch-to-cm factor exact?

Yes. Since 1959 the international inch has been defined as exactly 2.54 cm.

Evidence and guidelines

  1. Primary source: NIST Special Publication 811 (2008), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — Appendix B.8/B.9 conversion factors: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa, t/°C = (t/°F − 32)/1.8.

Have a follow-up question?

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For healthcare professionals and medical students. These tools support, and do not replace, clinical judgement. Always check results against the original source and your local protocols.