Formula
Total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Centimetres = total inches × 2.54. Metres = centimetres ÷ 100. Planning centimetres = centimetres + optional allowance.
Feet and Inches to Centimetres Calculator
Convert feet and inches directly into centimetres, metres and total inches with the exact international-inch basis and a printable height or measurement record.
Worked example
For 5 ft 10 in, total inches = 5 × 12 + 10 = 70 in. Centimetres = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm. Metres = 177.8 ÷ 100 = 1.778 m. With a 2 cm allowance, the planning length is 179.8 cm.
Professional note
Master’s Tip: keep the original feet-and-inches measurement on the printed record. The centimetre result is exact, but the source dimension prevents mix-ups when a height chart, product listing, drawing or site note still uses imperial units.
Regional and unit assumptions
Standard or basis: the page uses the international inch relationship, where 1 inch equals exactly 2.54 centimetres and 1 foot equals exactly 12 inches. It is a length conversion, not a sizing, medical, compliance or material-ordering rule.
Assumptions and limitations
- 1 foot is exactly 12 inches.
- The international inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres, so the conversion factor is exact.
- The optional allowance is a separate planning note; it does not change the measured feet-and-inches conversion.
- Round only after deciding the record, classroom, clothing, clearance, drawing or job tolerance needed.
Methodology & Accuracy
How this calculator is checked
CalculationTime pages are built around visible arithmetic: the formula, assumptions, worked example and practical limitations are shown so the result can be checked rather than simply trusted.
Formula used
Total inches = feet × 12 + inches. Centimetres = total inches × 2.54. Metres = centimetres ÷ 100. Planning centimetres = centimetres + optional allowance.
Standard or basis
Standard or basis: the page uses the international inch relationship, where 1 inch equals exactly 2.54 centimetres and 1 foot equals exactly 12 inches. It is a length conversion, not a sizing, medical, compliance or material-ordering rule.
Where a calculator follows a named legal, trade or industry standard, that standard is cited visibly. Otherwise the page uses transparent general arithmetic and states its limits.Master's Tip
Master’s Tip: keep the original feet-and-inches measurement on the printed record. The centimetre result is exact, but the source dimension prevents mix-ups when a height chart, product listing, drawing or site note still uses imperial units.
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Questions
How do I convert feet and inches to centimetres?
Multiply feet by 12, add the remaining inches, then multiply total inches by 2.54. That gives centimetres.
What is 5 feet 10 inches in centimetres?
5 feet 10 inches is 70 total inches. 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 centimetres.
Is 1 inch exactly 2.54 centimetres?
Yes. The international inch is exactly 2.54 centimetres, so inch-to-centimetre conversion is exact before display rounding.
Can I enter more than 12 inches?
Yes. The calculator uses total inches, so 5 ft 14 in is treated as 74 total inches before converting to centimetres.
What should I print for a feet-and-inches-to-centimetres record?
Print the original feet, inches, total inches, centimetres, metres, any separate allowance, formula, assumptions, page date and notes about what the measurement is for.
Calculation note
Feet-and-inches readings remain common for human height, product dimensions, workshop notes and older plans, while centimetres are standard in many metric records. The safest conversion keeps the imperial source, total inches and centimetre result together instead of replacing one context with another.
The exact conversion runs through total inches
Mixed feet-and-inches measurements are easiest to audit when they are first reduced to total inches. Once the total inch count is known, multiplying by 2.54 gives the centimetre value without an approximate factor.
Centimetres are useful but source units still matter
A centimetre result is easy to compare with metric charts, forms and product specifications. Keeping the original feet and inches beside it helps later readers see whether a number was measured, converted or rounded.
Allowances belong outside the conversion
Clearance, footwear, packaging, cutting tolerance or installation margin can be useful, but those are planning decisions. The printed report separates the exact conversion from the optional allowance so the arithmetic remains clean.
Sources and further readingNIST Handbook 44 Appendix C — General Tables of Units of MeasurementBIPM SI Brochure