Feet times twelve, plus the inches
A foot is exactly 12 inches, so a height like 5'7" becomes (5 × 12) + 7 = 67 inches. Collapsing feet and inches into a single number is what BMI formulas, medical forms and size charts expect. To multiply by 12 in your head, times by 10 and add double the number.
Height in inches, and in centimetres
| Feet + inches | Total inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 5'0" | 60 | 152.4 |
| 5'2" | 62 | 157.5 |
| 5'4" | 64 | 162.6 |
| 5'6" | 66 | 167.6 |
| 5'7" | 67 | 170.2 |
| 5'8" | 68 | 172.7 |
| 5'9" | 69 | 175.3 |
| 5'10" | 70 | 177.8 |
| 5'11" | 71 | 180.3 |
| 6'0" | 72 | 182.9 |
| 6'2" | 74 | 188.0 |
| 6'4" | 76 | 193.0 |
One inch is exactly 2.54 cm, so each extra inch adds 2.54 cm. Average US adult height is about 69 inches (5'9") for men and 63.5 inches (5'3.5") for women.
Two easy mistakes
- 5'10" is not 5.10 feet. The inches are a fraction of twelve, not a decimal. 5 feet 10 inches is 5.83 feet, or 70 inches.
- Inches cap at 11. "5 ft 14 in" is not valid — 14 inches rolls over into another foot, making it 6 ft 2 in, or 74 inches.
Common questions
How many inches is 5 foot 7?
67 inches. Multiply the feet by 12 and add the extra inches: 5 times 12 is 60, plus 7 is 67. That is also 170.2 cm.
How do I convert height to inches?
Multiply the number of feet by 12, then add the leftover inches. For 5 feet 11 inches: 5 times 12 is 60, plus 11 is 71 inches.
Is 5'10" the same as 5.10 feet?
No, and this is the most common mistake. 5 feet 10 inches is 5 plus 10 divided by 12, which is 5.83 feet. As a total it is 70 inches.
