Convert height or distance between metric and customary units, with separate feet-and-inches input and a normalized mixed-unit result.
Convert a height or distance
Use Decimal units for a value such as 180 cm or 5.75 ft. Use Feet + inches for a tape or height measurement such as 5 ft 9 in. Enter a half inch as 0.5 and a quarter inch as 0.25. Choose any destination unit to see the decimal result alongside feet and inches. Mixed results round the remaining inches to six decimal places and carry a full 12 inches into the feet.
Decimal feet are different from feet and inches
5.9 feet is 5 feet plus 0.9 × 12 inches, or 5 ft 10.8 in. It does not mean 5 ft 9 in. Entering the two components in the mixed mode avoids this common error. A remainder larger than 12 inches is accepted and normalized.
International feet and distance units
The foot is exactly 0.3048 meters and the inch is exactly 0.0254 meters. All feet, miles, chains and furlongs here use the international definition, not the former US survey foot. A nautical mile is exactly 1,852 meters. This tool converts an existing height; it does not predict adult height or apply a growth model.
Formula
total inches = feet × 12 + inches
centimeters = total inches × 2.54
feet = meters ÷ 0.3048
Examples
A height in feet and inches
5 ft 9 in is 69 inches, or 175.26 cm.
A metric height
180 cm is approximately 5 ft 10.866142 in. The decimal feet result is about 5.905512 feet.
Precision and definitions
Calculations retain unrounded values internally. Displayed digits do not increase the accuracy of measurements. NIST unit definitions provide the conversion reference.